001Alrighty. Okay. The time is 6 o'clock and this begins the what is it? November 12th uh Granite Falls School Board meeting and success and education night. So, thank you all for coming. If you'll please join me in the pledge of allegiance >> to the flag >> of the United States of America. to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Thank you. And now I'm going to hand it over to Dr. Geese for our land acknowledgement. >> Thank you, Director Leoo. We honor the first peoples of these lands by acknowledging the area in which we gather is within the traditional territory of the Stilamish tribe of Indians. The Silomish people have inhabited these lands and waters since time immemorial and their descendants have remained
002in this territory to this day. The Silomish people have continued to practice the traditional ways of their ancestors of fishing, hunting, and gathering. The Silomish tribe has had these lands and cultural traditions passed on to them by their ancestors who believe that everything has a spirit and that they are the caretakers of these lands and waters. >> Okay. Thank you. And then uh roll call for tonight. I'll start off. Do we have Director Gaulner on virtually? Do we have Director Gaulner? Just want to make sure if we have him or not. Director Gaulner, is he on? No. Okay. Uh, so in attendance tonight, we have our board representatives up here. We have Director Kerry, Director Concincaid, Director Dayne, myself, Director Leoo, and our superintendent Dr. Geeland. I'd like to make a motion that we excuse
003Director Gawkner for tonight. Motion's been made and seconded. All in favor? I. Okay. And now we'll go on to board comments. We're going to start off tonight a little bit in a reverse. I know I typically go down the line, but um you know, tonight is going to be the last board meeting with the current sitting board. And so I wanted to make sure uh you know we shared our appreciation for the board you know as it is sat. And so you know director Gaulner I know that you're not here but I sincerely do appreciate Eric sto uh stepped in and uh and helped serve the community uh over the past I believe it's been about 10 months. Um you know he's very active within uh you know within his fire service role a huge
004part of the community. Has two kids within the district. um and he's been a great uh great help to us within the community. So, it'll be great to uh it' be great to continue to hear from him, but um this will be his last official board meeting. So, quick round of applause for Director Gaulner. uh director Kinc Kaid uh you know when I joined I think I joined a little bit after you and um you know we were kind of learning some of this stuff together along the way and I've always appreciated your ability and willingness to just chat with me help me understand things bounce different perspectives we definitely don't run in the same circles all the time so it's great to have that diversity when we discuss with one another um I've just
005really always appreciated the cander also that you bring to everything. Um, you are very well known for your cander and I sincerely appreciate that and you will be missed. So, round of applause for Director Concaid. And then last, but certainly not least, Director Kerry. It's been nine years, 10 12. I was way off. 12 years on the board serving this community. Um, you know, you brought me under your wing, taught me all the ins and outs. I remember when I first jumped on like we're going to do XYZ and he was just like okay let me let me show you the trainings that you need to go do and all this stuff before we before you start going buck wild. Um so director Kerry you have been an immense uh mentor you know for me
006when stepping into this role. Um and I'll be forever grateful for the mentorship that you've provided. Um and I I hope that you stay in touch. I have no doubts that you'll stay in touch. Um and just really appreciate your service. to the this community over the past over decade. So, round of applause for Director Kerry. Good evening. Tonight, we are recognizing our three board members who are leaving us but still in the community and will be active. And then also our success and education award winners. So many families and uh kiddos here tonight. and then our bridgeuilders which are our staff members that are nominated for that award and we're looking forward to that. After we do those three things, we will take a 20 minute recess and there's cake and things out there
007and then we'll come back in here for the rest of the regular board meeting. After those three things, if you want to leave, you can. If you'd like to stay, of course, for the rest of the board meeting, you're welcome to do that as well. I I really quick before we jump into those I would like to give them the opportunity also to say their few board comments as well. So I'll start with director. >> All right. Well, it's hard to follow what uh director Leoo has just done acknowledging the board members that we have served with. I think that in the last um couple of years that I've been on the board, the we have made remarkable change and all for the positive uh things that are happening now in the school district. Um
008I think I'm going to be very proud of. I got on this board when I first applied for it. I met with Director Kerry several times over coffee uh talking about the responsibilities of being a board member and he guided me um and and we'll say mentored um is the best word but he has given an awful lot being our state rep um going to meetings down in Olympia making sure that he is looking out for the best of what this school district could get from the state making sure and fighting for our finances to um help guide the state to finance the school district, all school districts properly. We're still not there yet, but without him out there advocating for this school district, we would have been behind. So, um, you know, thank you
009so much and really appreciate you. And Carly, you and I have had some amazing conversations, especially going through the uh superintendent process and um I grew so much to appreciate you and and the ability for us to discuss through the process. um looking at side everything from two different perspectives and um you have been an inspiration and I appreciate all of your community um service that you you were our community representative and came and gave um uh us little talks of what was going on in the community and how we supported it. Um and I appreciate you and I appreciate that you're you are here. Um, Eric, I wish he was here tonight to say goodbye to. Um, he and I are both in the fire service for years and years and didn't know each
010other until we were on this board because that's the way it works. Um, and and he stepped in when um Tina uh had her medical emergency and had to leave. And he helped us, you know, through a lot of stuff. I think one of the biggest accomplishments that we did while Eric was on the board was um uh bring in purchase a curriculum package that made a solid curriculum for our school district um going forward. I didn't know this until the um the employees the the the group um came to us and said, "Hey, we have this curriculum package we want to present. we want to move forward with and that Brenal school district hadn't had an established curriculum for over 31 years blew me away that we didn't have something that would guide our
011students from kindergarten through 12th grade and that could work with all of the teachers and I think it was a huge accomplishment for us to do that. So, um I'm going on and on. I appreciate you guys. You're amazing and I want to thank you >> quick because you two will have your opportunity to speak but after director ga Gizlin says her piece. >> Thank you. Uh tonight we pause to honor three dedicated individuals who have served the students, staff and families of the Granite Falls School District with exceptional commitment and heart. School board service is not always glamorous work. It's long meetings, complex decisions, and countless hours of reading, listening, and advocating all in the service of kids. Each of these directors have given selflessly of their time and talents, always keeping students at
012the center of every decision. Their service has touched every corner of our district from preschool school through 12th grade, ensuring that each student in Granite Falls is supported, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential. Director Gaulner joined the Granite Falls School Board when a seat unexpectedly opened, stepping forward out of a genuine desire to give back to the community and the district his two children proudly attend. From the beginning, Director Gaulner listened deeply, asked heartfelt questions, and approached every conversation with calm and integrity. His steady presence and focus on what's best for kids have been evident in every decision he's made. Director Gner, thank you for your service, for your curiosity, and for your dedication to supporting our students, staff, and schools. We are truly grateful for your leadership and the example you've set.
013Director Quincaid. As a teacher, Director Canincaid understands the behind-the-scenes work of education, the planning, the heart, and the relationships that make learning possible. She knows how essential it is to build strong connections with students, maintain high expectations, and ensure that teachers have the right materials to do their best work. Director Concaid has brought that same insight and passion to her role on the board. With an ear to the community and a gift for telling our district story, she has been a tireless advocate for kids and for Granite Falls. Director Kincaid, thank you for believing in our mission, for believing in the potential of every child, and for fiercely championing our schools. Your voice and dedication have made a lasting impact. Director Kerry has served this community for more than a decade as a steadfast and
014passionate advocate for students. During his years on the board, he helped pass [clears throat] levies, build a stadium, open a steam building, make essential repairs, adopt curricula, and approve budgets, all while keeping student learning and access as his northstar. Director Kerry has spent hundreds, if not thousands of hours reading legislative proposals, meeting with lawmakers, and fighting for what our kids need most. And I suspect his wife has occasionally asked him not to talk about the stuff at dinner. He is known across the state as the kind of board member that every superintendent wishes they had. Deeply informed, relentlessly student- centered, and committed to doing the hard work that truly makes a difference. Director Kerry, you've taught me so much in our short time together, and for that, I'm forever grateful. We'll keep your cell number
015handy. Please answer when we call. Thank you for serving this community so faithfully, and for always putting kids first. And now we will give the departing directors the opportunity to impart their wisdom and say some final words here. >> Make me cry. Um I'm gonna try not to cry. It's been an adventure, that's for sure. Um sorry. Sorry you guys. Um, [laughter] Granite Falls School District [snorts] is the reason I'm leaving. And the reason is is because it inspired me to become a teacher and um I blame you, Ashley. [laughter] >> Ashley had my oldest daughter in kindergarten and I got to volunteer. Um, and that sparked a passion inside me. [snorts] Just being in her classroom, watching her teach in her first year was amazing. She changed my daughter's life. [snorts] She changed my
016life. Both of my daughters. Thank you, Ashley. Sorry. [snorts] [laughter] But it was through that that ignited my passion for teaching. So, I went to school. Well, I joined the school board first of all, but then I I went to school um to become a teacher. and now that's my passion. So, I've decided to leave here um to focus on that and to focus on my oldest daughter who actually took in her arms and just helped her grow into the silly crazy person that she is and she is now working on becoming a star. She made the musical this year. [snorts] So, so we're gonna focus on that. That's gonna be a lot of long nights and stuff. So, I decided that it was time to move on from here. And it's so I was
017talking to Carl, it's so bittersweet. I'm excited to move on and spend more time with the kiddos and spend more time at my school and doing those things. But I loved this so much. I loved standing up for parents. I loved fighting for students. I loved fighting for teachers. And I just loved every minute of it, even the hard times. And for you guys, like [clears throat] director Dane said, we come from all different backgrounds, all different walks of life. And the one thing that really shined with our board is that we were able to respectfully talk to one another and listen to one another and all of our different viewpoints and come to agreements together. Even though we were all very different and sometimes came with very different ideas of what we wanted. And
018we were very respectful for each other. And I think um from day one, the first day on the on the school board, we spoke as a group, the the board then and said that our goal, our main focus is students and students alone. And we focused every decision on students and students alone. And um I'm really proud of the work that we've done. Um, and I'm really proud of how we worked together. Um, so I just wanted to thank all of you guys for an amazing experience. So, thank you. >> I'll try to make this quick because I know no one really cares what I think and we want to move over to to celebrate our students and stuff, but uh, just a couple of things real quick. So serving this community, being a part
019of the Grant Falls School District has been the honor of my life. And um if anything, it's it's reertified in my own mind that communities like ours, beautiful communities like ours, only thrive when people step up to um to engage and they step up to say that it's great and I'm going to do everything I can to make it better. Um that was my goal. Uh not not politics, not moving on to something else political. It was because uh that there was kids in this community as well as my own that needed advocates not only here but at the state level. And I was like, well, if not me, then who? If not now, then when? Um, I'm I believe it or not, you might uh uh not believe it based on my general vibe
020and energy, but I feel very uncomfortable with all of the um focus and attention. Um I I don't want any type of gift or celebration. Uh if there's anything that you guys want to do to honor uh me is then it's to engage. Democracy requires participation, right? And that doesn't matter whether you're a D or you're an R or whatever end of the political spectrum. Uh there's a lot of opportunities in our community uh all the way down to being on the board at the Eagles all the way up to the state or higher if you want to. But again, if you want to do anything if I if I've done anything positive then follow in my footsteps and engage. Um then quickly I just want to say also I have I've been on a
021lot of versions of this board uh and and but this board the version that we are now I I think is fantastic for a number of reasons. I bet you we could all sit down and have a very robust discussion about all of the things that we disagree on from a political spectrum. But we've all really always tried to stay focused on of what's best for kids. And um it was humbling to hear that you guys learned from me because I've learned a lot from you. I quickly just want to say Peter um you're you the thing that you taught me is is that uh you could be passionate about something, you could be unbelievably educated about something and there's someone that could be completely on the other end of the opinion of that thing
022just as well educated just as well spoken and you go wow I mean that person has a really good idea. You've always come to things with a very deep thought and a very deep and and you and I have been on opposite sides of things often, but I've always found you to be unbelievably well informed and unbelievably well uh well suited to be able to deliver your point. And I I appreciate that. Bill, you literally represent what I want to be in this community, my friend. You you are product of this community. You serve this community on the fire department. Uh you serve this community on the school board. like you you've raised your kids in this community. Uh you if I could be anything, I want to be more like Bill one day. Um
023Carly, you're probably one of my favorite surprises ever. Carly and I on this last election we ran during COVID and it was a really weird time and I remember before I even met her, I thought, I don't think she's going to like me. But from the moment I got the chance to sit next to you in a board meeting, I just adored you and being able to see you be more brave and being able to have your voice heard and being so proud of the mama bear that's inside of you and be so passionate about the things that you're passionate about and to see you grow into into a wonderful teacher has just been a blessing for me. And I just I just want you to know that I just want nothing but more growth
024for you because the things that you have planned in the future, I think you're going to be amazing. And you you really are um a great representative for mothers in this community and stuff. So, thank you for that. And then Eric, I know Eric's not here, but I don't know if anybody's seen the video. Eric often brings his kids to board meetings. I I couldn't get my kids to sit down for McDonald's hamburgers when they were his age, but he actually gets his kids here to sit on the board with us and they actually like pay attention and stuff and I was like, man, that's the type of dad I want to be. So, uh, Eric, wherever you are, thanks for showing me how to be a better dad. So, and then last but certainly
025not least, Dana, one of the things that that Dr. Geon that makes me leaving easy is that I know the district is in really good hands. um you're the leader that we need right now and I appreciate your dedication to our community and all of your head hard work and um I I just it's going to be I'm I'm certainly not going to disappear but I'm really excited to see all the great things Grandfall is going to do under your leadership. So thank you very much. >> Okay, thank you. And that brings us to success in education. We do have gifts for them, but we'll give them to them later. All right, now we're on to the the really really fun part of the show. So, our success and education awards, uh we have these
026four times a year, and our principles get to talk about each of the students in their buildings that were um nominated and subsequently chosen and say some really cool things about them. So, we're going to get that started. Uh we'll start off tonight with Granite Falls High School uh presented by assistant principal Dave Banini. Well, we have um four outstanding students and I'm going to start off with our freshmen and uh you get to set the stage, young man. If you do something wrong here or screw it up, the rest of this crowd is not going to know what to do. Jackson Meiselle, come on down. So, just a little bit about Jackson before we start. Um, his elementary days, check. I won this award. His middle school days, check. I won this award. And
027so, he's completed the trifecta tonight by winning it. There's not many kids that get three of these. Um, so that's a huge compliment to his character and and leadership and who he is. He's a 4.0 student at Granite Falls High School for his first quarter here. Um, he's an advanced math for a freshman. He's taking geometry. Right now he's number one in the class of 2029. Um, he usually when you play volleyball and and a mid blocker, you need to be really tall. Check. He's done that. He does play mid blocker on his volleyball team. He's a member of our FFA, enjoys art and drawing and writing. Um, he's a member of our Tiger Tribune, which is our school newspaper, and he's volunteered at the Halloween Bash. Now, the next thing I talk about is
028what the teachers have said. And then the third thing I'll talk about, um, I look up what their names mean and see if the parents can uh, yeah, that's what it means. Or am I way off? So, first off, what the teachers have said, Jackson is a dedicated student who always puts forth his best effort in everything he does. He's hard-working and respectful, consistently completing his assignments on time. Jackson contributes positively to class activities and discussions, bringing thoughtful ideas and great attitude to our classroom environment. Jackson deserves the su success in education award because he is mature beyond his years, intelligent and always includes everyone. He has a keen sense of right and wrong, a wicked sense of humor that makes my day and is a strong leader who sets a great example for others.
029Jackson is a perfect example of why I love teaching. And now for his name, it means son of Jack, which is a derivative of John or God is great. He's outgoing, friendly, and confident. Check. They have a natural uh Jacksons have natural charisma and charm that can make them popular in social situations. Check. Can also be very loyal and protective of his loved ones. He's a natural talent for attracting wealth. That's the kind of guy I want to hang around. And he has a strong sense of creativity and imagination. Please give it up for Jackson Meiso. Now, our second is our sophomore, James Prey. Come on down. James is another outstanding student here. He's a 3.8 GPA. He's in advanced math. He's the top 15 student of the class of 2028. He was one of
030our outstanding football players that helped our team uh make it to the playoffs this last weekend, Saturday, and just had an absolute heartbreaking loss. but um just a fantastic future for him in football. He is also an elite lacrosse player. Uh I look forward to going to some of his games um as the season rolls on. He plays for Lake Stevens. He just told me today he's playing basketball. No, sorry. Tried. Okay. He's a quiet leader that goes about his business on a daily basis, leading by example. He hopes to go to college or join the trades after graduating. Here's what the teachers say about him. He's a type of student that I know will be successful. He is always prepared, helps out when needed, and makes others around him better. James is an outstanding
031student who does his work and participates in class daily. He has a good sense of humor and a laid-back personality that make him fun to have in class. James is a great student who consistently com completes his work on time and to a high standard. He is friendly, respectful, and a positive presence in the classroom. And now what his name means. James actually means a young man in control of his own actions and will. Strong desire for self-discovery and helping others. He's passionate, authentic, wise, inspiring, honest, witty, and positive. Thoughtful, tactful, comforting, responsible, and selfless. I don't know if I can think of better adjectives to describe someone. And and that is who he is. He's very serviceoriented. a need to care for and protect those around him. Uh he has a a a interest
032in creating a comfort presence. He's reliable and strong and he's a powerful force for good. Please give it up for James Prey. Congratulations, James. The next two that I'm going to invite up um they are the same come from the class that when we all came up here together I I came up here they were the freshman when I came up here and so it's pretty awesome and I've known all these kids since they've been 11 but to watch these kids grow up since they've been 11 and earn these awards it's no doubt in my mind they certainly deserve them. So, Ruby Smith, come on up here. So, Ruby, another outstanding student, 3.7 GPA, top 20 in the class of 2027. She is in AP language, marine biology, and she is a phenom in band.
033She plays sussophone and tuba in the marching band. Sousophone is the big instrument that wraps around you and and can see it in marching bands. That's the instrument she plays. They just wrapped up wrapped up the band competition and they had a fantastic season. Many top three finishes in a variety of categories. She's a swim instructor and a lifeguard. She attends the father's house and participates in their youth group. She wants to go straight to a four-year college and major in early education and become either a preschool or primary school teacher. What her teachers say about her? Ruby does a great job in band. Guess who said that? Yeah. She is always willing to help and does uh does so with a positive attitude. She sounds great on a tuba and comes to band with
034her music prepared. I'm sad I only get to have her for one and a half more years. Ruby's dedication to her education sets her apart from other students. She completes assignments on time at a high level that demonstrates both critical thinking and analytical skills in the classroom. Her cheerful attitude and outgoing nature are welcome presence in my class. Ruby is a great student who works hard and participates daily. She has a fun sense of humor and is a great student to have in class. Ruby, what her name means? Precious red gemstone which symbolizes love, vitality, and strength. She has a creative and expressive nature. She has a natural talent for communication which means she talks a lot. Drawn to artistic pursuits such as writing, music, and visual arts. She finds fulfillment in fields such as
035writing, journalism, advertising, entertainment, and counseling. She has an inherent desire to please others. Please give it up for Ruby Smith. >> Congratulations. Let's go down there and check. One last student. Italia Nava, come on up here. another fantastic junior. Um, she's enrolled in AP language, marine biology, and pre-calculus. She's been the team captain on the JV volleyball team for the last three years. She is a setter and a great server, and that will bode well for next year's team. She should be playing basketball and track. She's hooked on volleyball. She participates in her local church. She enjoys hanging out with her friends. She wants to go to college and also become an elementary teacher. Her teachers, when she was in sixth grade, she won this award. And I was able to find one thing um
036that a teacher said, "Quiet student but gets her work done to the highest quality." Now the teachers are saying she's loud, obnoxious, she does Oh, I'm kidding. They say the same thing. Italy is an excellent student whose work shows an advanced level of effort and understanding. She is an asset to the classroom and someone other students can learn from when it comes to being a high school student. Italy is a kind, hard-working student. She asks questions when needed, uses her class time wisely, and overall is a joy to have in class. Italy is a great student who works hard and participates in class. She is kind and treats everyone around her well. She is respectful, engaged, and fun to have around. Her name Italia, it means Italy or land of the bulls. She is a
037bully at sometimes. She's hospitable, resilient, beautiful, and has a passion for life. She has a profound appreciation for tradition and family. She has a powerful mind that seeks knowledge and understanding. Her heart desires harmony, cooperation, and meaningful connections. She seeks deep emotional bonds and are loyal and is loyal and attentive. Give it up for Italia Nava. Congratulations. I'd like to introduce the principal for Crossroads, Brandon Mohler. Come on up, dude. All right, we will be starting this evening with Jacob Boils. If you could come on down. So what we've been working on this year is focusing on school culture, focusing on what can make better connections and bring belonging to all of us. Because when we have that type of culture, that type of support among each other, we're able to grow academically and also
038professionally and have a great career. So we asked teachers what was working for uh Jacob and the things that came out is that he's a hard worker. He provides uh persistence and models persistence in what he does. He shows respect to others and how he interacts with everyone. And one of the biggest things that we noticed is he has the empathy that he shows for others throughout the classroom and throughout his peers and staff. So those are the things that came up that shows that he was providing that type of culture that we want to see. And what we're calling this is pride. So we're looking for persistent respect, inclusion, dedication, and empathy. And Mr. Jacob, you provided that. So thank you so much for making our school better. And then our next person that
039we have this evening is Miss Berkeley Allen. She here tonight. and again we're happy to have her this evening again with the focus being on culture and bringing everyone together. Miss uh Berkeley really showed that with pride, making sure that she showed persistence is what her teachers were talking about that she shows that she's always found a way to work through significant challenges and step up to the plate and take it to the next level. And she showed her dedication. Um when there's different areas that uh she has to work hard on, she's pushed through that. And right now, she's showing her graduation requirements are about halfway through as far as being met. So, she's meeting all those goals and succeeding. And then we're also seeing that she has a profound uh goal for respect
040and making sure that she's inclusive of others, which is really great. So, again, thank you so much for making the school better and congratulations on your success. And then Granite Falls Middle Schools will be up next with Mr. Mayor. >> Good evening everyone. If you are an employee at Grand Falls Middle School, please stand. All right. I want to say thank you guys for uh being here for our students. And the first student at the middle school is our sixth grade student, Pearl Locks. It's Pearl here. Come on up, Pearl. Stand right here. Pearl. I met with Pearl last week and I try to get uh make sure that we call the parents together and make sure that we celebrate this big accomplishment. She's a sixth grader that she wouldn't know she was a sixth
041grader. I had to actually ask how to pronounce her name correctly and she said it's loud man. I said, "Oh, okay." Because I'm trying to get everybody named in the building and it's it's getting a little hard because our sixth graders is 170 of them this year. So So, but I got her name down and this is what our sixth grade teaching uh team said. The sixth grade teaching team is excited to announce Pearl Locks for first quarter success education award winner. Pearl always works hard to improve her skills and challenge herself. One of one of her teachers expressed interest in creative slideshow background photos. Pearl created themed ones for each holiday season that the now that the teacher now can use as the part of their daily slides. When another teacher lost her voice,
042Pearl volunteered to speak to the class on the teacher's behalf so the teacher could communicate by whispering. Pearl also advocates for her classmate by requesting time to rehearse and practice their acting, and she expresses herself clearly and respectfully when doing so. Pearl bring others up with her and helps them stay on task, finish work, and understand class content and rules for the games. Despite not being the loudest and the flashiest in the room, Pearl leads with her actions every time. We are proud of you, Pearl. You are truly a success in education. Congratulations. Our seventh grader, Miss Arya Dau. The seventh grade team is proud to recognize Arya for this quarter success education award. Although this is her first year at Granite Falls Middle School, Arya has quickly become a positive force within our school
043community. She's the kind of student who not only strives for excellence in her academics, but also lift up, excuse me, lift up others around her. Arya approaches learning with curiosity and determination. She doesn't excuse me. She doesn't just complete her work. She makes sure she understands it. Her maturity, focus, and strong work ethic shine through in everything she does. Beyond the classroom, Arya's kindness, and compassion have helped her build strong friendships and make others feel welcome and supported at our school. With her bright smile, positive attitude, and genuine care for others, Arya truly embodies what it means to be a Tiger. We're so proud to celebrate her as a wonderful example of success in education. Congratulations. Our eighth grade student, Mr. Gavin Perau. >> Come on down. I'm I'mma start with I called mom and
044we were just expressing, you know, it was kind of like Gavin's like I won. Okay, I won. It's kind of like nons like Mr. Man, you know, I'm the man. Anyway, so I called mom and she's like I said, "This is Mr. Mayor from Granite Falls Middle School, the principal." And she's like, "Hello." And I'm like I like I I get it. I kind of set them up all the time thinking it's I like to do positive calls because mostly I'm doing some not so positive calls. And mom was like I said this is a good call, Mom. She's like, "Oh, okay." So, uh I wanted to let let her know that Gavin won the award. Gavin has been nominated for this multiple times throughout sixth and seventh grade, but Gavin won this one. Um
045and I had a teacher email me and say, "You know, Mr. man, I I nominated somebody else, but Gavin is the one. And I said, "All right, that works out for me." So Gavin is a bright light at Granite Falls Middle School. He's quick wit, excuse me, his quick wit, sense of humor, and genuine kindness makes him someone everyone enjoys being around. He goes out of his way to make sure others feel included. Whether it's offering a friendly hi, checking in on a classmate, or sharing a laugh that brightens the room, Gavin truly lives out our GFMS rocks standards every single day. He shows up ready to learn, asks thoughtful, asks thoughtful questions, brings great insight to every class discussion. Outside the classroom, Gavin's determination and leadership shine on the soccer field where he continues
046to set an example of hard work and teamwork. We're so proud of you, Gavin, and thrilled to recognize you as our eighth grade success in educational work. Leave me hanging. [laughter] Next, I would like to invite up our Monty Crystal Elementary principal partner, Maria Lo. Good evening. Being a new principal to um Granite Falls, I didn't know what to expect tonight. So, I'm learning from my colleagues that have gone before me and have some great ideas for next time. I want to start tonight with our third grade student, Everly Bernett. So, come on up, Everly. Oh, is Everly not here tonight, Miss Johnson? Okay. Well, I'm going to read what was written by U. Mrs. Johnson about Everly and I'll visit your classroom tomorrow with her award and we'll take pictures. Okay. For the success
047in education award, Miss Johnson nominated Everly Bernett from her third grade class. She's had the pleasure of being Evelyn's teacher not once but twice. Miss Johnson is so proud of the growth that Everly has shown in her education. Her dedication to her learning is inspiring. If she doesn't understand something at first, she will continue to work and practice until she does understand. Everly takes the extra time needed to do her best in every assignment she's given. She is a leader in the classroom, following all classroom routines and helping others whenever she can. Everly is a joy to have in class. And Miss Johnson had her twice because Miss Johnson taught at Mountain Way and then came to our school this year. So, she's been a teacher of many of our younger students who now are
048at Monte Cristo. The fourth grade student that we'd like to honor tonight is Allesi Globin. Is Alleski here tonight? Oh my goodness. Okay. Well, I'll share what Miss uh Dardy wrote about Alleski and do the same thing. Alleski, excuse me. And do the same thing. I'll visit her classroom tomorrow. Miss Dardy wrote about Alleski that she would like to nominate her from her fourth grade class. She shared that Alleski arrives every day eager to learn and demonstrates a consistently positive attitude. Um, holds himself to a high academic expectation, continually seeks new opportunities to challenge his thinking. His strong work ethic and commitment to learning have made him a positive leader within his classroom. During lessons, Alleski offers insights and actively engages in discussions, activities, and assignments. When faced with difficult concepts, he remains resilient and
049uses challenges as opportunities for growth. His determination and enthusiasm inspire those around him and contribute to a supportive learning environment. Mustardi is incredibly proud of Allesk's dedication and positive impact that he has on his peers. For these reasons, he believe she believes that he is highly deserving of this award. For our fifth grade student, I want to welcome Baylor Floyd. I've had the pleasure of getting to know Baylor in her classroom this year as I've been working in your classroom a little bit and been able to get to know a lot of you. and Baylor. Um, I'm I'm gonna read this tonight, but I didn't write it. You know who wrote it? Mr. Shyman. And I when I read this, I said to myself, you are spot on, Mr. Shyman. Just from what I know
050about Baylor, this is all so true. So, I get to read it, but really this is what is thought of, what Mr. Sherman thinks of you and why he nominated you for the success in education award. Mr. Charman nominated Baylor Floyd from fifth grade. A few words to describe Baylor. kind, intelligent, a hard worker, loyal friend, fast, motocross racer, I didn't know that about you, positive, ray of sunshine for sure, and a role model. All these words only begin to describe Baylor. But role model is the one that stands out because she is a wonderful role model not only for her peers but for anyone who spends time around her including adults. That's a pretty high honor, isn't it? You can be a role model for us. There's never been a day in the past
051three years that Mr. Shyman has known her that in the past three years that Mr. Shyman has known her where she did not greet him with good morning and a big smile walking into school. And if you don't know this, Mr. Shyman stands out front of our school every morning and greets every student that's being dropped off by name. And a lot of them are grumpy in the morning. [laughter] They just go and keep walking. But Baylor, you're never grumpy. Always have that smile. We love you. At the end of the day, as she's leaving, she says, "How was your day?" Her kindness and caring for others drives everything she does. She is the first to console someone in need or to put a [laughter] hand out to help them up. She is really what
052we should all strive to be, loving, caring, accepting of others, and helping others to be their own best. Baylor, you are a shining example of a success in education honore. You make this world a better place every day. Congratulations. I think I'm still going to have to go to Baylor's classroom tomorrow, too. That's okay, Miss Bardu. Read that in front of her classmates. That's pretty special. And now, I'd like to welcome my colleague, the U. Principal from Mountain Way, Miss Dela Cruz. Good evening everybody. Got to grab the right school. You're in front of the tab. All righty. We're going to announce our success and ad winner in kindergarten. And we have your teacher here. They wanna they want to cheer you on. Come on up, Miss Whan. All right. Our success and ed winner
053for kindergarten is Autumn. Come on up. What a beautiful dress. Okay, Autumn, we honor you because you shine so brightly every single day. You're absolutely outstanding as a kindergartener, and we often talk about students who come to school ready to learn, but Autumn takes it a step further. She arrives with a positive attitude and a genuine, contagious excitement for everything new. What truly sets Autumn apart is the wonderful person she is inside and out. She's a kind and caring friend who treats everyone with respect and compassion. When little disagreements have happened, Autumn shows maturity beyond her years. She handles conflict thoughtfully, always making sure to consider others feelings and working hard to find fair solutions. She truly leads by example, showing us all what responsibility and empathy look like in action. In the classroom, Autumn
054is a master in focus. She doesn't just listen during lessons. She's engaged and she's eager to participate, and she consistently gives her absolute best effort. We see her impressive problem solving skills at work all the time, asking great questions, looking for answers, and showing that she takes true pride in her learning. Are you sure you're in kindergarten, Autumn? I think you're like in 12th grade. Autumn, thank you for being such a bright, kind, and hardworking star in class. We are so proud of your beautiful focus and your caring heart. Please join me in congratulating the exceptional kindergarten winner of success in education award, Autumn. We should have some background music. All right, Mrs. No. Okay. All right. Our first grade success and education winner is Camila Martinez. Come on up. All right, Camila, we'll miss
055you, but we'll go ahead and read the speech Mrs. Williams wrote up. It is a true honor to recognize a student whose quiet actions speak louder than any words. Tonight, we celebrate the outstanding character and dedication of Camila. Camila is an incredible student and a genuinely important part of her first grade's classroom community. She's a student who reminds us what true character looks like. She's always doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. In her academics, Camila is a model of diligence. She works incredibly hard on every assignment, no matter how big or small a task. She holds herself to an impressively high standard and inspires her classmates to do the same simply by setting that excellent example. Her focus and dedication show that she truly values learning. Her presence in the classroom
056is powerful. She's thoughtful. She's a thoughtful contributor to class discussions and listens intently to her peers, making everyone feel heard. Camila, thank you for your commitment to your excellence, your beautiful character, and the kindness you share every day. Mountain Way is lucky to have you. Please join me in congratulating the exceptionals first grade winners of success in education. Camila. All right. This second grader has a team of teachers and uh you coming up? Okay. He So this fell has Mrs. Singh, Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Nicholls, and Mr. Campbell's here to cheer you on. Second grade success award winner Rios. He's looking mighty sharp. Oh, we got some great dressed little mountain way people. All right, sir. Um, it is an absolute pleasure to recognize a student whose commitment to excellence and thirst for knowledge is truly
057inspiring. Ulyses. He is first and foremost a wonderful student who always tries his absolute best. He sets a fantastic example for everyone in the classroom. He does a great job of following expectations and is always ready to help others when they need it. This combination of strong leadership and excellent effort creates a fantastic learning environment for everyone around him. What really makes Ulisses shine is his powerful academic drive and strong desire to keep growing as a learner. He doesn't just complete his assignments. He actively seeks to challenge himself. He requests extra academic challenges and consistently takes the init initiative to extend his learning and practice at home. Your determination to learn and your desire to always push yourself forward are truly remarkable. Thank you for showing us all the joy that comes from challenging your
058mind. Please join me in congratulating the exceptional second grade winner of success in education awards. Can we get one more round of applause for all of our success in education award winners? All right, we are going to move on to our bridge builder awards and there are four of them tonight and I do realize that I am keeping you from cake. So, we will get through these pretty quickly, but we want to recognize our staff members who go above and beyond to build relationships with kids. We had over 60 nominations. actually the next slide here somewhere. 60 nominations. Some people were nominated more than once. It's always a really tough decision. Um but several people were nominated by students um by families and by their co-workers and it is an absolute pleasure to read those
059and all the incredible relationships that are being built across the system. So our first bridge builder award winner of the night. We're proud to honor someone whose energy, kindness, and unwavering commitment make Granite Falls High School a better place for students every single day. Please join me in welcoming our first Bridgebuilder Award recipient, April Myers. April serves as the counseling secretary at Granite Falls High School and anyone who knows her knows she is so much more than her title. She brings warmth, humor, and a remarkable ability to make students feel immediately at ease. She is often the first person students encounter when they walk into the counseling center. sometimes overwhelmed, sometimes unsure, and she meets them with genuine interest and encouragement. One student wrote, "April always has been a very approachable, understanding, and kind individual
060who clearly takes the time to actually talk to students and learn about them." That line says so much. April connects with students. She listens. She supports them in ways that leave lasting imprints. This student went on to share that April helped them navigate community service opportunities, scholarship information, and college tasks that can feel overwhelming, especially without an older sibling or a mentor at home. They wrote, "I have been very confused about college and scholarship applications, but April is always help always helping me to understand." That is a bridgeuer. Someone who sees a student working hard to figure things out and steps in to walk alongside them. And we know this is just one story among so many. Throughout the year, we hear from students, staff, and families about the impact April has, how she answers
061questions, solves problems, offers reassurance, and helps students find the next step forward. She builds confidence, she builds access, and she builds connection. April, you represent exactly what this award stands for. You help students cross from confusion to clarity. You help them feel seen, supported, and capable. And you make our high school a place where students know they can be met with kindness and genuine care. Congratulations, April, and thank you for being such an essential part of the Granite Falls High School community. As we continue honoring our bridgeuer award recipients, it's my privilege to recognize someone whose impact is written all over the hearts of her students. Please join me in welcoming Miss Tracy our teacher at Crossroads to the stage. Tracy, your students said it best, and I want to share just a glimpse of
062their words. They described you as the person I can go to when something's wrong. Someone who listens, understands, shows up every single time. They told us, "You don't just help them stay on task. You advocate for them. You check on them, and you make sure they know that they matter. Your students spoke about the safe space you create, a space where they feel welcome, supported, and cared for. They talked about your academic help, especially in math, and how you break things down and offer one-on-one support and build their confidence until the impossible suddenly becomes doable. One student said, "She's the reason I've passed my classes and gotten my credit retrieval." Another said, "My math grade is better than it's been since elementary, and I actually want to do math." For a math teacher, that's about
063as high of a compliment as you can get. And then there was one line, a line I think that says it all. Mrs. Or is the reason I don't mind coming to school, which is saying a lot. Your students also shared how you've supported entire families, showing kindness to siblings across multiple years and helping them through tough personal situations. That kind of impact reaches far beyond the classroom. It changes trajectories. It changes lives. Trace, you embody what it means to be a bridgebuilder. You connect, you uplift, and you meet students exactly where they are academically, emotionally, and as young people navigating the world. You make school a place they want to be, and learning something they believe they can do. On behalf of the Granite Falls School District, your colleagues, and most importantly, your students,
064thank you for being a steady presence, a fierce advocate, and a guiding light on campus. Congratulations, Tracy. You are so deserving of this honor. Our third BR bridgeuer award recipient of the evening is someone whose impact stretches across not just one school, but two, Mountain Way Elementary and Monte Cresto Elementary. She is often the first person families turn to when things feel overwhelming, and the steady presence staff rely on when a student or family needs extra care or understanding and a connection. This award goes to someone whose br who builds bridges quietly, consistently, and with profound compassion. Please help me welcome Katherine Burnernhard to the stage. Katherine, as you make your way up, I want to share just a glimpse of what our families had to say because it's truly that they said it best.
065Parents describe you as someone who is a great helping at helping families and staff communicate. Someone who make both families and students feel heard and listened to and someone who has gone above and beyond to support a child with extreme anxiety. Ensuring the entire family's felt understood, supported, and never alone. But what those powerful words don't fully capture is everything you quietly do behind the scenes. You are the person who sees needs the moment they appear, sometimes even before they're spoken aloud. You are the one connecting families to resources, coordinating supports, bridging communication, and helping kids and adults feel seen, safe, and centered. You understand that when a family is struggling, nothing about school feels easy. And you step in not as an extra layer, but as a lifeline. Your work isn't loud. It isn't
066always visible, but it's constant, tireless, and transformational. You build bridges every single day between home and school, between challenges and stability, and most importantly, between what a child is experiencing and what they need to thrive. Tonight, we honor the heart, the persistence, and the extraordinary compassion you bring to Mountain Way and Monte Cristo. Katherine, thank you for quiet heroism of your work, for seeing our students so clearly, and for walking alongside families in their hardest moments. Congratulations on being a Bridgeuilder Award recipient. You have more than earned this. Our final bridgebuilder award of the evening goes to an educator whose impact reaches far beyond academics and deep into the hearts of her students. Tonight we honor Lindsey Grabner, first grade teacher, proud Granite Falls alum, and cornerstone of Mountain Way Elementary. Lindsay, I want to
067share just a glimpse of what parents and colleagues had to say because their words shine a light on the extraordinary educator that you are. They described you as passionate, dedicated, thoughtful, and so much more for the six and sevenyear-olds you serve. For the past 10 years, you have changed lives during the most foundational years of schooling, pouring your energy, creativity, and fierce belief in every child into your classroom. One colleague shared that working alongside of you for a decade has been a gift. But seeing you through the eyes of a parent this year has offered an entirely new appreciation. Their child comes home each day excited about learning, full of stories, and with a confidence that has grown significantly under your guidance. Parents told us you go above and beyond for every single student, ensuring
068they feel seen, supported, and capable. They talked about watching reading skills develop, watching your their excitement for school rise, and witnessing the daily joy that comes from being in your classroom. And then there's the now famous phonics stance, your daily ritual that has students chanting, moving, and joyfully remembering the sounds as they encounter as they encounter as early readers. Families say they hear their children practicing the chance at home. Using them to work through tricky words and sounds, and that is what exceptional teaching looks like, making learning joyful, memorable, and accessible for all. Perhaps the most powerful line shared was this. I see all students thriving in Mrs. Grabber's class. Lindsay, that is the essence of a bridgeuer. Someone who lifts every child, sees their unique gifts, and bridges the gap between where they are
069and where they dream of going. Granite Falls School District is incredibly lucky to have returning alumni like you, educators who choose to come home and pour their talent, heart, and expertise into the next generation. On behalf of our students, families, and your colleagues in our entire community, thank you for the relationships you build, the joy you infuse into learning, and the foundation you lay for every first grader who walks through your door. And Lindsay, since the phonics dance is now legendary across Mountain Way, I have to ask, would you like to share the song with us tonight or do we need to come to your classroom to learn it properly from the true experts, the kids? The latter. Okay. You are a true gri gift to Granite Falls and to every child you serve. Congratulations.
070As Lizzy's making her way across stage, I want to say a huge thank you to Pillchuck Espresso. They continue to donate a gift card to every one of our Bridgebuilder winners. That is something they did on their own. They came to us and said, gosh, we'd just like to honor those bridge builders and all that they do to make relationships with kids. And so, thank you, Phil Espresso, for that. So, each of our bridge builders has that in their envelope as well. And now I'm going to turn it back over to Director Leoo to send us into a a few minutes of recess. >> Yeah, we are going to take a 20 minute recess. There is cake and anything else out there. Cake and water um to celebrate all the success of everybody within this
071room. Give everybody else a round of applause and go and enjoy some cake. Okay, and we are back in session here. The time is 7:33 and we'd like to welcome Trudy Sullivan and Myra Perkins to present on the annual food drive. >> Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate the applause. Uh my name is Trudy Sullivan. Uh I am a high school financial education teacher, theater and multimedia and I have been a food drive advisor for some time now. I'm also and this is the most important thing, Mrs. Claus. So don't forget that. Um my name's on Hello. My name is Myra Perkins. I am a teacher at Crossroads and I also teach financial education and other business and marketing courses as well as work site learning. I am a food uh food drive adviser and
072I've been given the title of great giftgiver by Mrs. Sullivan. Yes. Um and it's not just me and Myra running the show. We have other additional district adviserss for the food drive. Eric Denwitty here at the high school, Robin Bar uh at Crossroads, and Dwayne Johnson at the middle school. So, it takes a village literally to put this event together. Um, and I surely couldn't do it by myself. So, I appreciate all our um co-advisors. What is the food and gift drive? Well, it is a very, very big project that we put on every single year. This is year 24 of the food and gift drive in our district. Um this is a district-wide event that we serve um all grade levels in our community. Um and every single building in our district participates in
073its own way. Uh families are identified and uh they receive food including fresh vegetables and meat. They get gifts uh clothing and all the things for school age uh children or younger. Uh families must have children uh attending within our district to qualify. >> Um besides handling um the family information here at the high school, we have students who run almost every operation besides the confidential family information. This year we have about 30 food drive coordinators. Um and this is a really important part. This is probably the reason why I do the food drive. obviously to serve our community, but also the the impact it makes for our student gear drive coordinators. They really become what what we call servant leaders. They build empathy. They build incredible work ethic. They put in hundreds of hours
074of volunteer time. Uh they develop compassion and really incredible project management skills at the end of the day. So, um I wish I could bring all our food drive coordinators here. Um they are a really remarkable group of student leaders. Um you know and our goal here is to bridge that ever growing wealth gap in our community and our students see that and they understand how to serve. Um and that's why I do it at least. So that's a really important part of the food drive that I think we sometimes forget is our student leaders that are coordinating. >> So now we're looking at uh last year versus this year. What did we meet last year and what are the goals? Last year we served 170 plus families. Um 385 of these uh I guess
075170 families 385 children received gifts. We collected 15,000 food items and household items. Um and we also collected more than $30,000 in cash donations. Our goal this year is to collect 20,000 items and raise $28,000 in cash. Um, and we do feel that there's going to be a really great need in our community this year. >> Um, one of the things that happened last year for the first time in a long time was we had less food items collected. So, this made a big impact. Uh, the blessing was we had more cash donated. So, we were able to purchase more food with that money. Um, but I suspect that that will be the case again this year. So, um, giving cash is a good thing. Um, and that brings us to ways to give. So,
076obviously the cash donation that you give, every cent of that goes to one of two things. To buy non-p perishable food or toiletry items or to adopt a uh or to um to a gift for a child. So, you can give a cash donation. You can also donate the non-p perishable food and toiletry items yourself. And you can adopt a child's gift tag. The gift tags one here look like this. Something like this. These will be at all buildings including the district office. And you can pick up a gift tag and it will have a child's age and the clothing they desire and the gifts they desire. And there will be a turnaround time to get those back to us here at the high school. um the more gifts that the more gift tags that
077are uh adopted, the less money we have to spend on gifts and clothing for students. What every family receives then ultimately is food for weeks. Uh hopefully it's um what we call fresh, obviously fresh and pantry stable food that usually is enough food for several weeks through to get them through the holidays. If money allows us, we can also buy a holiday meal like a turkey or a ham. We tend to focus on hams because they're a little easier to manage. And then essential clothing, clothing for the children and then gifts for the children. So now we have a call to action to all of our community members. We need help identifying families. Um if you know someone, point them to the building secretaries. All of our secretaries are trained at inputting the data into
078the system. You could also refer them to myself or Mrs. Sullivan or Mrs. Bar. Um really anybody in any of the buildings will lead you to one of us. Um we're all trained at entering the data and we have a secure database that we collect all this information on. If you uh also know a local business that might want to donate some money, um please contact myself or Miss Sullivan or maybe you're a business owner yourself. Um, we would love your help. Uh, lastly, donate food or gifts um for a child yourself. Tags, like Miss Sullivan said, they are going to be in every building at the uh district office. They will be everywhere um in our district. Um we'll try to make this short. So, just a few key dates I want to go
079over. The food drive kickoff assembly here at the high school, which is sort of the the official kickoff of the food and gift drive, will be December 1st. That's the Monday after our Thanksgiving break. It'll be a 9:00 a.m. 9:15 a.m. assembly. And that really gets our students into the mindset of, hey, I can go collect food in front of grocery stores, things like that. Our food drive coordinators don't really do that. It's just our general uh population of students will actually go out and collect. It's pretty amazing. Um on the 6th and 7th uh Saturday and Sunday, you will see food drive coordinators downtown at the four corners of Granite Falls there. And they will be doing what we call the cash can donations. And this is a really big event for us. We
080we get thousands of dollars this way. So if you drive by, you know, put a $ five dollar bill in the jar and give them a high five. Um, if you do adopt a gift tag, they will be due on December 12th. The gifts will be due on December 12th. That gives us time to get them entered into our system. Um, then on Saturday, December 13th, I encourage anybody who is in Mary'sville to come by the Fred Meyers. We're there all day. We spend thousands of dollars buying food and gifts um gifts for children that did not get adopted from our giving tags. So, that is a massive event. Fred Meyers accommodates us and uh we spend well 124,000 in a day. It's pretty amazing. And then deliveries will be the 17th and 18th of
081December. If any of you would like to participate in a delivery, I encourage you to reach out to me and I will make sure to schedule one for you. We also have pickups that are happening here at the high school and crossroads on that day. Um, most importantly, I almost forgot. On December 5th, we have what we call the food drive festival/play. This year, backed by popular demand, we are doing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Uh, this is a musical, so come ready to sing along. Uh, we'll have two performances at 5:30 and 7 p.m. Free Santa photos and hot cocoa and apple cider for our kiddos. Last year we filled the pack pretty much twice both shows. So I don't know 700 people here. Uh community members uh from Arlington and Mary'sville. We have people
082all over the place coming. So uh please if you have littles little kids especially enjoy it. So bring them. It's free. We ask for a donation of food or a like $5 cash donation as an entry fee. But if you don't have that, we'll let you in anyway. Um, and last but not least, you're invited to come to the high school on December 15th to see the process anytime after the 15th to see the process. Um, I cannot put into words really what the food and gift drive is. You have to see it to believe it. When you see all the food and you see all the gifts and you see the operation, it is really something that I think is one of a kind. Um, and uh, again, you're welcome to help deliveries on
083September 18th. And I'll let Myra say the last bit. >> Um, okay. So, this year we really, really do need a lot of extra hands. We are down quite a few staff members that were a really big part of this um, in the previous years. Um, so really, if there's anybody out there in the community who really wants to step up and help us out, we would love to take you with open arms. um as we are down basically half of the the staff that ran this in the past. So >> while our students can do a lot, we do need adult supervision, adult leadership to help those students and that's what we're really short this year. So again, please reach out if you would like to volunteer and that's all we have. So thank
084you for your time. Thank you for supporting the food and gift drive uh and making it a really special part of this school district, this high school, and this community. Just try not to get too close so they don't scream at each other. Um, no, thank you very much for that. I do actually have Trudy, one quick question on the tags when those are taken because I know we've we've personally done those in the past. How is there a way for us to track which tags have been taken and if they have been returned? Like if Okay. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. Perfect. Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much. Now we move on to 4A superintendent report uh presented by Dr. Geon. >> Thank you and thank you Myra and Trudy uh for
085being here. Last year was my first year in Granite Falls and it was really fun to be a part of that. um that shopping day on at FredMyer is just like unbelievable and um our students and all the work they do and how they just navigate and looking for sales and all of the things. So, thank you for all of your work on that to take care of of people in need. All right. Um let's move up here because we can give control of this too. No. Yes, you do. All right. Um, so a couple of safety and security updates because I need to send director Kerry off in style with safety and security updates. Um, we have applied for an ADA grant um to get some funding for Monte Crest Elementary and the Early
086Learning Center um really focus on um improving accessibility, ADA accessibility on the playground and then um in the building spaces. We've also applied for emergency repairs grant um it is a six $600,000 grant. Um it would it would be in conjunction with our levy and we have the clean buildings act coming up and we know that we've talked about our levy and some of the asks in the levy. Um we must comply with the clean buildings act or we get we'll have fees assigned to us. Part of the issue at Monte Cristo and Mountain Way is their HVAC system. So this grant could help offset some of that in conjunction with the capital projects levy um be that funding that we need to get the HVAC systems repaired. uh site improvements. Maplewood or Mountain Way
087Elementary, sorry, there's Maplewood in my last district. Mountain Way Elementary has uh a puddle problem on the backside by the portables. And if you've been there in the winter, it's really hard to walk on the backside. And so the the drainage is repaired and gravel's been added to that walkway to keep it um well without puddles. And our our kids have to walk through it. Our staff walked through it. So, uh, thank you to our our grounds crew for taking care of that. We've talked about the water testing for lead, which is a requirement from the state. We should have all of the reports done by the next board meeting, and I will report out on that. Want to talk just a little bit about uh celebrating student voice in Granite Falls. Our entire cabinet
088uh came together on October 30th. Uh, director Paneus was there, director Leoo was there, and Representative Esle was there. um and just engaging with our kids. They they answered 10 or eight essential questions and some of that feedback will inform some of the work that we do with our um administrators and our staff. Um there's a few quotes there that some some of our kids um said. The other thing is they're on big construction paper and they're they're posted in the boardroom. If you have an opportunity, if anyone has an opportunity, walk through and and read what our kids are saying, what's working for them, what's not working. if if you take just a moment, it's a really powerful read. Um I loved that the one here that says, "High expectations motivate me to do
089better." Um we talk often about the soft bigotry of low expectations and um really having those high expectations for kids. Um and our student voice uh remind us how clearly um our students see our system and their recommendations. The next Tiger Cabinet meeting is December 4th and all of our board is invited to attend. Two other quick things on student voice. Um, thank you to our board reps, many who are sitting up here with us tonight. Um, we had a candidate form, a schoolboard candidate form. The students crafted every question and the video of that, the YouTube video was um on our website, our district website until November 4th. Uh, we appreciate their civic engagement. And then we are headed to the WASDA uh annual conference. It's a conference for school board directors and superintendents.
090And we are taking one of our um one of our student reps. It's next week. Thomas Hancock will be joining us and he'll be engaging with. They have special sessions for our student reps. And then um upcoming district and community events. You heard about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which our very own Emily Moore will be doing all the accompaniment on the the piano. So, she takes care of practicing reindeer games uh every day. Actually, she comes over to the high school and and practices with the kids. Um on November 13th, which is tomorrow, we have a math night at Monte Cristo. dinner is provided if you'd like to attend that. Fall sports, we've talked about that a lot. Such success. So great to see so many student athletes participating. Congratulations to all of our teams.
091Winter sports are just starting. And then again, uh Rudolph on December 5th. There's those two performances. And Tonnie and myself, you Emily, Tanya and me, we will be um apparently we just got assigned making hot cocoa and cider for the whole night. So we are on it. And that is it for me. >> Think I'll start out with the board. Any comments, questions? No. And then I will go down to the student reps as well. One, if you have any comments or questions for Dr. Geeseand's, and then also because tonight was very different in, you know, board recognition, student recognition, bridge builder recognition. If you have any comments outside of anything from what Dr. Gies says, "Well, just the standard board comments for the night. Anything that people would want to share?" No. Okay. I
092just at least wanted to make sure that we had that opportunity. So, okay. We will uh Thank you very much, Dr. Geese. And now we'll move on to the business report prepared by Marshall Cruz. report. Um, you guys are early to look at. It's been a long board meeting. Not really anything exciting in there other than that we met our fund balance goal of 5% and exceeded it at 5.4%. Um, I think probably the first time we've been over 5% in this district ever and certainly the first time we've had over $2 million in fund balance. So, um, I think I'm I'm particularly proud of it and I know that working with the board for the last three years to try and get there has been pretty amazing. It's been a lot of hard work,
093tough decisions, but um, I'm I'm proud that we've gotten there and especially thanks to thanks to Carl for always pushing us. Um, other than that, um, there's some levy stuff on the agenda for tonight. Um, there's going to be a lot probably every board meeting between now and February, there's going to be something levy related. This is just a certification allowing us to collect what the voters already approved for next year. Every November, we have to do a board resolution that tells Snomish County that we would like to collect the levy money that the voters approve. So that's that's in under new business on the on the on the board agenda. Any questions about the >> I just wanted to say that like the first meeting that I ever went to, they were talking to
094you about trying to get to 5%. And I'm just so proud that this last meeting we're there and beyond and just great job and I just wanted to tell you that that's it's great timing. It's awesome. So I just wanted to tell you that. >> Any other comments, questions? >> No. Okay. Thank you very much, Marshall. Okay. Uh moving on to item 5A. Items from the floor. Anything? No. Okay. No items. Uh six, unfinished business. We have no unfinished business. Uh moving to seven, new business. 7A, appointment of pro committee. So we have two uh documents within here and I'll open it up to uh Dr. Geon as well for the pro committee. Um any suggestions? We have this in front of us to be able to read review, but we need to make a
095um a decision tonight on which pro committee that we're going to go with. So would appreciate your feedback, Dr. Eley. >> We have two applications. Um [clears throat] Allison King and Michelle Barrage um both um are supportive of schools and different things. Um Allison King also leads our little league and is um was the person who came to us uh to implement the AED at the Monty Crystal Field. So, she's been an active um member there. And then Michelle is also um incredibly supportive of of the work we're doing. So, um both are great candidates. And then I'll go ahead and speak to the no committee because there there's no applications for that. So, we won't need to make a motion or take any action on that. Any questions or discussion on the pro committee?
096>> Yeah. One of us will make a motion for correct. Yeah. Any discussion? If not, I will make a motion. Yeah. Motion's been made for Allison King. Is there a second? Okay. Motion's been made and seconded. All in favor? I. Okay. and no motion will need to be granted on the on the con committee since we don't have any submissions for that. Um item 7 COU for SBHC operating agreement and lease and then so Dana for this is there any any feedback anything that we should have outside of theou is nope yes good okay sorry um theou uh for the schoolbased health center um has been ran through legal it's uh the sameou that the ever school district is using and um that initially the Edund school district has used in their work with CHC.
097So, it's been vetted extensively by legal. There's no cost to the district. Obviously, that's the huge perk of having a schoolbased health center right here for our kids to access for basic medical care. And um we live in a rural community and so this is a really exciting step. I sent the board um this information um a week or two ago along with some articles that were in the Everett Herald about the ribbon cutting that was in Everett a couple of weeks ago. And it was really wonderful to see in two high schools um just more schoolbased health based health center um at no cost to kids opening up um removing barriers for kids to access healthcare so that they can access their education. So, we're really excited about this opportunity, again, at no cost
098to the district because of the um funding that CHC received, but also because we have a line item in the governor's budget for about $500,000 to do the remodeling and renovation of that space. >> Thank you. Any discussion, questions? I'll make a motion that we approve theou for SBHC operating agreement and lease. >> Motion's been made and seconded. All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. Now moving on to 7D resolution 2526-07 levy certification. And so, Marshall, this is just the approval of this is the existing levy that's in place. We're just saying it's okay to request the funds. Okay. Any questions or comments on that? Nope. Okay. I'll make a motion that we uh accept resolution 2526-07 levy certification. Motion's been made and seconded. All in favor? I. And then 7E, authorization to approve
099WASDA conference for incoming director Greg Barley and Carol Panagis. When we um when we registered for the WASDA conference, we knew that that uh Greg and Carol were both running out of post. So we reserved a space for them. and we didn't reserve a a space for Tina Tina did not knowing who was going to win that and then also whether that person would be able to so we would have been out out the money for the registration so we we held back the good news is is director V has been to the conference number time has done boot camp all those things okay so any discussion on to that will notify. Okay, I move to authorize Greg Farley and Carol Peneas and Tina Vich for the upcoming WASA conference. Motion's been made and seconded.
100All in favor? I. Okay. [clears throat] And this last one here, uh, 7F approval for out of state travel, Granite Falls High School football. [laughter] I I will say the discussion here. [clears throat] I will I will say the discussion here is this is so amazing that our students have this opportunity. Um, you know, you always hear I I grew up in a larger district and it was just common place for Spanish class to go to Costa Rica or Spain or something every two years and band would go to Ireland or some right there were all these opportunities and I'm just so happy that our students have the opportunity to go do something. I mean, I'm sure for some of them, this will be the first time on a plane, first time, you know, leaving
101the state, first time, and your first time of doing that, going out to Hawaii is not a bad experience, let me tell you that much. So, um I guess you can you can tell where I'm leaning on this one, but any other further discussion? Okay. Uh I move that we approve uh the approval for outofstate travel for the Grand Falls High School football team. Motion remain seconded. All in favor? I uh I'd like to make a motion that we add uh within within our folders here, we have the Fairfax Behavioral Health Memorandum of Understanding. So, I'd like to make a motion that we add that as item 7G. Motion's been made and seconded. All in favor? I. Okay. Uh, Fairfax Behavioral Healthouou. Any discussion on this? Or actually, Dana, if you want to give some
102additional background on this. >> Yeah, I'll give some context here. So, Fairfax approached us and they are working with most of the rural um districts in our ESD and ESD 189 for um it's outpatient intensive services for kids who are kind of on the fringe and need some mental health services. The idea is that they will come in in a confidential space and provide, you know, those services. They could be um in person, it could be virtual, they could be from 1 to 4:00, it could be from 4 to 7, the 1 to four o'clock. Some of it will happen here at the at the school level. Um but could also happen virtually. They are providing the devices. They are um it is kind of a passion project for the president of their company and
103um we will be the first district if we pass thisou tonight to to move forward and we are hoping to have them on site um in January. Sultan is school district is hot on our tail and they're going to have that as well. What we know to be true, and I'm looking out to April Myers in in the the audience here, is we know that there aren't enough mental health services for our kids. And sometimes kids get referred, kids who are um really struggling with with some things and get referred and it takes quite a while to be seen. And this is just once again removing some barriers so kids can access um those services immediately. Fairfax came out and met with uh director Dne and director Leoo and myself and kind of explained and
104then um they will continue to be partners with us as we you know frame this up and give them a space to work and to meet with our kids. Um parent permission of course as as they work with parents um but Washington state law of course they'll follow the Washington state law. Kids can access some of their own medical services if they if they choose to just like they could at a clinic at a certain age. So, this is an opportunity for kids to access more mental health. It's for a small group. Again, it's it's outpatient services, but it's intensive mental health supports, which we really, really need. Any questions or discussion? No. Uh, I move that we accept the memorandum of understanding between Fairfax Behavioral Health and Gral School District. Motion's been made and
105seconded. All in favor? I. And then that moves us to item eight, our consent agenda. Any additions that aren't on here? Okay. Uh any discussion on the consent agenda? Okay. No discussion. Uh consent agenda passes with unanimous consent. And the time is 8:04. And that adjourns this meeting of the Grandal School Board.