December 8, 2022 Board Meeting

001Corey senator. All right. I'd like to call this meeting of the board of directors of Tacoma public schools. This thursday december 8th 2022 to order. Will everyone please stand and join me in the flag salute? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice. Because yeah, Tacoma public schools acknowledges that we are on the traditional ancestral and historical lands of the Puyallup tribe of indians we honor with gratitude the land itself and the Puyallup tribe. This acknowledgement serves as a first step in honoring our nearest tribal neighbors and partners who have inhabited this region since time immemorial and to whom we give thanks for allowing us passage to their lands. We shall intentionally create inclusive

002and respectful partnerships that honor indigenous cultures, histories, identities and socio political realities. General counsel. Will you please call the roll? Yes. President Bombay here. Vice president here. Director Director Director mcalary. Thank you. And we don't have any student reps here tonight as far as I can see, is that correct? Okay, perfect. Um Alright, item five adoption of the agenda. I moved to adopt the agenda. It's been moved and seconded any comments or questions or additions to the agenda. Hearing None. All in favor say aye. You posed. We have an agenda 50 items, six board reorganization. Uh General counsel. Would you mind walking us through this. Sure. Start by walking the board and those following in the room and at home through the process, the board reorganization process as a process spelled out by state law

003and the board policy 12 10, which spells out the method and the procedure of the board uses to elect new officers for the following year. So we were going to do this this year is the first call for nominations for the president to serve for the 12 year term. We'll have a 12-month term, a 12-month term. And we'll call for a roll call vote to determine if you have a candidate that receives the majority of the board vote for that presidential vote. They'll assume the office of presidency after the vote is concluded. Well then call for nominations for for vice president will follow the same process, will have a roll call vote at the conclusion of that vote. If a candidate receives the majority of the board vote as three or more, then that at

004the conclusion of that vote, we have a vice president after that. Well, if the board chooses will have a dais reorganization. If there is a need for vote to exchange seats, it could be done now or it could be done at the next meeting. Um and then that'll be how we will elect officers for this 12-month term until December 2023. So if we're ready to go, I'll take this moment to call for a nomination for president to serve for the next term from December 222 December 23. I'll nominate uh Elizabeth Brown Bright to continue on in this role of president. We have a second. Okay so we'll call for any other nominations. 1st hearing. None will call for a vote. And this will be a roll call vote. So we'll go director lee Director. Vice

005president. Okay um President I got it. Director Director. Yes. Congratulations President. You are president. Okay we'll do the same process for vice president. Do we have any nominations for vice president for the next nominate? Director? Cory for vice president. Do you have any other nominations for vice president? Okay hearing none will move to a real call vote for the same directly on how that works. Still Vice president. President bam. Director Director. Congratulations. I wasn't sure if I was gonna say yes or I have a vice president. So on the agenda we see agenda item seven is Davis reorganization. This can occur at the next meeting. We can occur here in the past. We've had some exchange chairs to you. President Rock paper scissors. For some reason that president set out for the moment. Vice president.

006Uh No matter what you are physically you don't want to. I just want to make a comment to the outgoing vice president and thank you so much for an absolutely stellar job intense commitment. Been through a lot this year. So thanks again for all of your help and assistance and leadership during this pasture. Well also in the legislative representative position. So we appreciate you. I'd like a round of applause before I'd like a round of applause. Thank you. Director keating. Thank you. Is this the princess wave Renee was teaching us earlier and I'm sorry that Mark had to come all the way up here to get me to turn on my mic. But okay. Alright well thank you everyone. We're starting a new year. So that's exciting. Alright so item eight recognition of staff students

007and community general counsel. This is just your night. I can see that. So today for the month of december we have one holiday and civic observance. This happens to be a state holiday. So again we said this the last meeting. This is one where the state of Washington adopts a number of state holidays that all school districts and states are required to acknowledge and have the day off for staff and students. So the one for this month of december is december 25th which is christmas day. Okay, thank you. Moving on 8.2 recognition of music educator Peter Briggs for earning the dr William P. Foster Community Development Award. So a quick background piece Lincoln high school teacher Peter Briggs who I believe is with us this evening. I was selected as the recipient of the Doctor

008William P. Foster project Community development award for the Northwest division which encompasses five states. The Doctor William P Foster project is a collaboration of music education alliance including the national Board Association College Band Directors Association and music for all foster project serves band directors and underserved and under resourced communities. Uh Mr Briggs first came to Lincoln High School in 2008 and has built a successful music program that center students in the community. The Music Education Alliance noted that Mr Briggs serves as a model for other teachers and underserved under resourced communities. He'll be recognized in several national forums in december at the Midwest International Band Orchestra Clinic held at the McCormick place in Chicago Illinois. Uh It'll be cold and interviewed about his experience in the Tacoma school district which will be shared with band

009directors across the United States in the coming months. And as a winner of this prestigious award, Lincoln high school will receive instruments, accessories, clinicians and subscriptions courtesy of consular instruments, Yamaha Music Corporation and K. H. America. So with that uh the Assistant Superintendent of teaching and Learning recommends that the board of directors recognize Peter Briggs for earning the award of the Music Education Alliance. You know, you want, would you like to come up and say a word? It's your opportunity to have the last word. Uh I just, it's, it's interesting. I was nominated for this award by a professor from Western Washington University and also a teacher in Seattle and it's struck me because I love what I do, but I don't always expect people to notice what's going on at Lincoln High School. So

010it's moments like this that caused me to reflect on the impact and to just uh, to step back from the work for a moment and kind of see in a different lens, um, what has happened in the last 15 years at Lincoln, but also just in the greater community. Um, for me personally, as um, the school district posted this on the website, um, just seeing the shares and the comments of students and community members from, you know, across my time in Tacoma is um really affirming and heartwarming. Um, and ultimately it just makes me really proud to be a part of what we're doing here at Tacoma. Tacoma has invested so much in me in helping me get my feet on the ground in terms of advocating for equity and access to music education. The

011guest lectures I'm doing in the universities and the sessions I'm doing at national conferences is really a testament to the professional development I've received in Tacoma and how I'm able to then pay that forward, not just for our students, but also for the education community more broadly. And so, as I'm heading out to Chicago, it's really a chance for me to speak about what we represent here in Tacoma and the work that we're doing for students and it really just makes me excited to go to take the learning from that conference and to continue to invest that in our community here. So thank you for the opportunity to go out to Chicago and represent us and thank you again to our school district for all the support for music education and for the kids we

012have here in Tacoma. Thank you peter so much. We're so incredibly proud of you and also grateful to you for all the years in energy and talent that you have dedicated time that you've dedicated to our students in our school district to make us all better. So, um, thank you. We really appreciate you. And music is a, is a critically important pieces. All the arts are fundamentally, um, a component of how we teach here in Tacoma. So thank you very much for being such a leader. We're grateful. Thank you. Director Leon Mr Briggs. I've been to a lot of Lincoln events and know a lot of Lincoln students from those events that I do the sideline work on. But also some of my patients have been your students. So they have spoken very highly of

013you and I've seen just amazing energy from your, all your musical efforts there at the school. So thank you very much. Director Michael Mcelroy. We're having a night, but I've been playing my intranet for 20 years and honestly, um, hearing the kids in fifth grade aspire to go to Lincoln for all the various reasons, but I love the fifth grade band students were like, I'm gonna play in the Lincoln ban and there's so many other great reasons to go to Lincoln go abe's always but um, it's really transpiring throughout the whole community and I work with a lot of kids younger, the K through five and my fifth graders who are in band, they just love your work and they can't wait to go there. So thank you for all you do. Okay, Alright. Thank

014you so much. Alright, Item # 8.3 Recognition of Wisdom. Board of Distinction Award. It is us. Good evening President, President, bam Bright and members of the board. My name is Katherine McCarthy, the assistant director of Communications here on behalf of our chief communications officer. Um, I'd actually like to share some information with our public tonight on our school board about our school board earning the 2022 board of distinction award. This award is given by the Washington state um school directors Association, the agency that supports school boards across the state. Our board was recognized for addressing opportunity gaps among among the more than 28,000 students and developing an anti racism policy. In the 2021 2022 school year, the board focused on identifying and challenge on identifying and challenging the structures and behaviors that may perpetuate systemic

015racism. The board, the board members drafted and later passed an anti racism policy that incorporated feedback from district administrators and the district's equity policy review team and community groups. The board was also recognized for its focus on supporting the whole child by leading the charge with policy decisions and leaning into our deep connections with community partners are bored, helped to develop two programs that support students after school beyond the Bell for elementary schools and club beyond for middle schools. As a result, every one of our 36 elementary and 12 middle schools offers extended learning opportunities for our students to help them learn and grow. Congratulations to the Tacoma Public School Board for Ernie, the 2022 Board of Distinction Award. I just want to thank that on behalf of the staff for your leadership. Um, many

016may not have the opportunity to see how everything is connected together. Right? So you set goals, You invest numerous hours every week, if not every day. Um, you do not get compensated for all that time. You hear the pains, the successes, the struggles you push us to help us get better. You understand the complexities and the nuances of every situation or at least try to and make an effort to and you don't settle. You don't settle that. The status quo is enough. But you do that with grace and compassion and knowledge through hard work and dedication, a relentless approach that every student every day matters. And so on behalf of the entire staff because I imagine that you won't make your own comments. I want to thank you for your leadership and congratulate you, not

017every board earns the board of distinction and it's not just handed out, it is earned and we are very proud of you. So congratulations. Board of directors. Thank you. Okay, thank you Superintendent and your team for helping us achieve what we've achieved and making us look good. So I appreciate that. Alright, so staff report to the board, student superintendent's report, whole educator recognition. We'll start with dr forrest greek recognizing a very important group of our teammates are O. P. S. And P. T. S. F. All right, thank you so much Dr Garcia and members of the board. So uh good evening and I'm so excited. Month of december. We are recognizing our O. P. P. T. Staff. This is our office, professional and professional technical staff. So across the district are O. P. P. T.

018Staff play a critical role in the day to day functions in schools and districts across the district, it's with no surprise to most of our employees that O. P. P. T. Staff are typically the first point of contact for most of our general questions and our needs the excuse me to keep our schools running and assure that staff and students have the necessary tools to resources to be successful and actually behind the scenes right now, kevin Medford and MARC Crapo in the back, they are here representing this amazing team across the district and just thank you for all that you do. Uh thank you for technical, support, your wisdom and your hard work uh we are better together because of you. Thank you. Thank you dr greek couple of other teams here Lincoln some of

019our P. T. S. Help desk staff and and this is a hilltop heritage. All right, you know it truly takes everyone in the district and uh it's such an honor just to take a moment to recognize and I know we have to do it globally by groups and there's no way to do it for every individual. But these truly are the front line folks and other frontline team members at all different levels at all different sites, playing so many diverse roles but they truly are educators, they inspire people, they draw knowledge out of people, they connect people and they make meaning and so we're extremely grateful for them. So thank you um a couple of other updates. I've asked Mr Williams, I've asked MS McCarthy to come up and discuss whether with us and give

020the board a little bit of a chance to understand in the public, how do we make these difficult weather decisions? Um mm So MS McCarthy, can you take us through our process? I'm going to fill in a little bit for um our Chief Operations Officer chris Williams. So we want to just talk a little bit about how inclement weather decisions are made and how they're communicated um you know last week um we had kind of our first taste of winter weather for the school year and um and we just want to walk the public through that. So um for what we look at weather forecasts, we look at road conditions and we look at our building, the grounds and regional status. So for weather forecast we actually have an inclement weather team and they are

021on those chris coming up. You want to fill in, wait go back. Yeah, okay, chris is gonna chris is gonna give all the details. I'm looking for my weather team, Chris started on a two hour delay today Uh just to give some background information. This is just the thought process of how we make weather decisions for the district in the community. We have two teams, one internal and one external. Our internal team consists of 20 individuals representing numerous departments, safety and security, food services, facilities, uh athletics uh level of directors in education. And we have an external team which consists of seven or eight people who actually drive around numerous areas in Tacoma and report back to our facilities teams. And there they can begin at 3 30 in the morning or four in the

022morning or they're out there in the afternoon and these are, this is the decision making process. Obviously we look at the National Weather Service and we're monitoring that the entire uh day and throughout the night and into the morning and also looking at the road conditions and that that deals a lot with our external team that drives around. And we know some of our biggest challenges are the side roads so we can be clear on the main roads but we get a lot of uh concern and contacts from the community members about the side roads. In addition to that we have our buildings and grounds and this consists of our custodians and they usually start two hours before. So they can be out there at five in the morning and four in the morning kind

023of removing the snow around our sites. And lastly we look at regional status. I know we're in contact with a lot of other districts and we weigh in on what they think and what the impacts of the weather is going to be. And also it's very important to note that If I I don't want to miss school but I believe we have 30% of our staff that lives outside of Tacoma so they might have a greater impact where they're at and the weather conditions that might play an impact on them actually getting to work. So this is our process and Catherine. Talk about our communications. Thank you chris all right now, next alright, so um all of our staff and our families listening if you probably got a lot of information this last week when

024we had some delays and a cancelation. So these are the ways that we communicate out to families. So um we update our district website in all of our school sites. Um, If you went on our site during either the delay or cancelation will saw, you saw a message pop up right in your face, you couldn't miss it. Um We also um send, we also post messages on social media so that includes our facebook or instagram and twitter. Um we send automated phone calls, emails and text messages. So these messages are going directly to our staff and all of our families. Um, This is just a couple of notes here. Um, those messages take a little bit longer. Um, that's, there's, we have a lot of messages that go out. So that system takes a little

025bit longer. So you may see something on the website or social media first. But those messages are coming and I just also just want to put a plug, if you didn't receive a message or call or text notify your school and you can update your contact information. We want to make sure everyone gets that information. Um, We also work with local news media. So we have a process for making sure that all of the radio stations and local news media who are making announcements on closures that they get that information. So those are the ways that you can hear about it. So I thought it was just important that we try to demystify. I know that you know, one of my great responsibility is although I may not be responsible, I am held accountable and

026so as a superintendent, I do have to make a difficult call. Um, and I have to make a call of, do we cancel school? Do we keep school going? Do we do a two hour delay? One of the things that's complex here is if I'm sure if I ask folks, is it uncommon in the pacific northwest or the puget sound region to see snow, rain, sunshine all on the same day. Folks would say no, it's not really uncommon. And so we have this unique weather patterns that makes it even more complex and we have what we call conversion zones and so recognizing that we have staff members that all over the place in the puget sound reason. I think far away is Arlington and, and, and we appreciate that. And even in Tacoma you can

027see a portion of the town may be hit harder with weather than a different portion of town. Our goal is to try to make a decision to keep everyone as safe as possible. We recognize that that may feel differently. Do I feel safe to drive. Do I feel safe to feel send my student uh, to, to school in those conditions and we respect and honor that we're continuing trying to improve our communications, even on delays, take your time, do your best. We'll work through that. Um, I don't imagine that this will be our last snowy day for this year or at least even in our future. And so the more that we can work through it and talk through it. Um, and do our best and stay connected. We try to make those decisions as

028fast as possible. But we also do have a responsibility to try to provide a safe place for learning during every day and we are required to keep schools open to the best of our ability or the other responses when we make these days up, when we will be communicating because we do have to make the days up any day that we miss. So we'll be communicating to our families very soon when that first snow makeup day is we have some planned in the calendar and then we'll continue to monitor, adjust and plan accordingly. So I'll answer any questions on that topic from the board. Anybody have any questions or comments. No, I appreciate, I just, I guess my only comment is I appreciate the information because I know that um, you know, sometimes if people

029only see information on social media and not actually directly from the source and depending on where you live like things can look really different all over the place. And so I just think it's important as a reminder, especially the first snow that we have because snow around here like is complicated. So I'm just really grateful and I and I know from um, previously serving on the safety traffic and safety committee, like getting some of these updates and having a deeper understanding was really helpful just for me to be able to help community members understand. So I just appreciate the time that you're taking to share all of this. So thank you. Thank you. Thank, um, uh, important also think about the other um, reasons we had to cancel recently that some people didn't understand was

030the air quality. So just don't forget about air quality is a real important factor in health too. And the reason these closures are happening are for, for safety. So air quality was an issue we dealt with and we'll deal with probably in the future. So it's part of the mix that you make your calculations on for safety. I just want to clarify and we were talking about past history experiences, not this last snow day, correct? Yeah. Just forest fire, air quality and the outdoor airs. Thank you. I just want to make sure that yes. And there are a variety of thank you for sharing that snow is not the only reason for natural reasons why school may be canceled or delayed. And so we've had experiences as dr Lehman mentioned in the past of forest

031fires and a variety of other impacts which may change our programming. And so thank you. I have a couple other quick announcements or updates. Uh, you know, we've started winter sports, we started middle school sports again, but our winter sports are traditionally in gyms for most part our pool areas and gymnastics and diving and wrestling and Basketball. And I'm going to mention Miss one. So I'll just stop there. And I wanted to give you a quick update of where we are with some of our trainers, right? Because part of our athletes compete at a very high level and we want to make sure that they're safe. We continue to work with Olympic sport and spine to help try to recruit additional trainers to be on site for athletic competitions and ideally with practices and supports

032in there. We are not fully successful in that olympic sport and spine. I want to give them tremendous credit. They're trying everything they can to find people. The health careers profession is a very difficult one as far as a recruitment and building a pipeline and the expertise is not something that you can just walk off to the street and just take one of those jobs, you have to be certified. You have to have advanced trainings in there. I'm currently, we have a number of qualified trained medical professionals that are volunteering their time to provide coverage. And so the student life office is trying to work with both olympic sport and spine as well as those volunteers to cover competitions and working through the best coverage that we can. Um, we're continuing to provide guidance to

033support our coaches are athletes If any family has or an athlete if they're hurt. 1st. Uh, responses don't practice, don't compete, go to your medical provider, provide that support even if there is not a trainer on site. So I don't want folks to, to miss the opportunity to understand is we haven't just because we may not have a dedicated one at a school. We have not lost our efforts to try to continue to fill that gap. Any questions on that one and then my last one and forgive me for the time. I do want to take a moment to thank our staff, our partners and our families for your relentless support of our students. It's december. We're going into a holiday time. Sometimes those holiday times can be tough. Sometimes they can be full of

034joy and happiness for all different folks and it's not lost on me that the efforts of our families, our partners and all of our staff to try to support each of our students during these times. I'm extremely grateful for those partnerships at all different levels and I just want to take a moment to wish each of them and all of you a happy holiday season. I hope you can find a moment where you can celebrate, have a moment of peace and happiness and some joy over the two weeks that we don't have school and know that you are appreciated by the Tacoma public schools. That is my report for the evening. Thank you President. Alright, item number 10. Staff report to the board. 10.1 benchmark report. Annual partnerships, Volunteers and organizations. And there is Amanda

035scott thomas. Good evening, Good evening board and uh, Superintendent, deputy Superintendent and beloved community. It's my pleasure. Amanda scott thomas director of the community partnership office. I come to you guys a couple twice a year to give you an update on our benchmark measures. And today we're gonna be talking about where we are so far in the year, as far as volunteers and expanded learning opportunities. So former partners. So it's my pleasure to provide that update for you. Um, slides. There we go. Alright, so, um, just to remind you, um, goal two of the district strategic plan is all about partnerships. Uh, and we are committed to fully engaging parents, uh, community staff and young people in the education of our students. Alright, so um, for this first quarter, um, these are the volunteer numbers.

036So these are the number of volunteers that have been processed um from September to date. It's 3,307. You will see that we are significantly above what we were around this time um, last year. So we're excited about that. Um, Let's see. Um, just a reminder in that data, you saw that we had um, a significant decrease because of again, school closures. Um, every year, about 50% of what we process happens through the in the first quarter. So that September through October um, months was the bulk of our volunteers that get processed. Um, I think it would be a little bit different this year because um, this is a post pandemic Engagement. So people are slowly returning to volunteering in schools, but we've had great numbers trending upwards for this year. Um, we've had 2,043 volunteers

037registered for this year. That's about 67% of our goal for this year. Was to make a 10% uhm, I think, or uh, an increase. And so we're 60% 60, about 67% of the way there already. So we're excited about that. Um, changing in volunteer protocols. Um, Governor inslee ended the mandate for um, covid cards for our volunteers. And so we lifted that on november the eighth. So the vaccine requirement is no longer necessary for volunteers in Tacoma public schools that had to be communicated broadly. Forms were changed. We revised and updated all of that. And so that is uh, an update on volunteers. Um, our next steps as far as volunteers is that we have been working pretty closely this this year. Um, and as in years past, but I'm excited to say that we're

038working in partnership with our security department again, because it's an interdepartmental responsibility. Um, as far as volunteers and we did a cleanup on the watch system. And so we have um, internal staff that have access to background checks. Uh, and we went through and looked at our system cleaned it up. Um, you know, closed some of the users that were no longer in the district, um, and determined to the volunteer coordinators were sometimes there was some turnover and that information wasn't updated. So we've we've cleaned up our system. We have we are also um revising our forms. We are one of the only dish. There's like two districts that are still doing paper um processes. Um, we're moving to a centralized system but we actually have an online syllable form now so you can do

039all of your stuff online instead of having to come. Um, and uh print paper out to turn it in um Post covid security and safety upgrades are happening through our security department. And in partnership with security, we are implementing a ricotta guest security screen. Um I'm not sure if you I'm sure you are aware that the safety and security have um implemented some upgrades to the security system. Along with that. There is a volunteer component of that. So we'll be testing that out over the next couple of weeks to see how that works. Um That could change some things how volunteer management is done here in the district because that is all electronic paper forms go away. So we're gonna test that out, see what the implications are for that. So I'll be excited to

040let you know how that pilot goes. Um, and then we're just gonna continue to monitor um our volunteers make sure that those numbers are increasing. Working with the communications team to do some more promotion and engagement to come back. Volunteering is now available in Tacoma public schools again post pandemic. Uh and that covid restriction has been lifted. Uh This is the number of community based organizations that have formal partnerships with the district. Um I report to you on this number every year. Um and something important to note that this number represents the number of partnerships that were established that are new in a given year. So it does not represent the total number of expanded learning opportunities that we have. It is in that particular time frame. These are the ones that were formalized and

041by formalized. We mean we have a contract or an mou so we do work with informal partners where we don't have agreements, they may be coming in through a formal partner that's already in the building and they have worked that out between themselves. Um but for our we track our formal partners, so those can be found in our database. So for 2021 that complete number for last year, 2021 2022. So that was Number of 2021 to August 31, 2022. There were 40 expanded learning opportunities established. Some of those will last for one year. Some of those will last for two years, some of those will last for three years. But those were that's what was established in that school year. So at the end of the next year or this time next year I'll be

042talking to you about the number that we actually established for this school year but that is the final number for last year. Um I did want to address that big number, I have to confess we have been doing some refining of our data gathering. So you see that big jump when I pulled the report for expanding learning opportunities, we've been working with the contracts department, there is a box on the checklist that you fill out when you establish a partnership um some people didn't know whether they qualified as an expanded learning opportunity or not. And so that box was checked um when I went back through all 366 I realized that they don't all qualify. So we developed a criteria and definition um that is being implemented. People will know to check, I really do

043go through all of them to make sure um but that number is that's why that number is large. It was a wrong number um and so you'll be getting correct data as far as those um expanded learning opportunities that meet that particular criteria and just to give you a reminder of what an expanded learning opportunity is by definition, it's a formal kamu partner organization that creates enriching experiences for youth before, during or after school and in the summer with activities that complement and support classroom based instructions. Uh instructions, example of E. L. O. Uh programs include clubs, field trips, tutoring programs and so those when I talk about, when we talk about expanding learning opportunities, those are the type of partnerships that we report on and that we helped to establish in the district. Alright.

044Um we include this pie chart um every year for you all because the first year we did it, you loved it. It was an opportunity for you to see where all partnership ships are established in the district. And so while um our our partnership office is charged with managing um and reporting on par partnerships for the district as a whole. You can see through this pie chart um that the that partnership is a value of the entire district and all departments have contracts and M. O. U. S. And established partnerships so that just gives you a bird's eye view of where partnerships are emanating from within the district. All right. Um key findings around this is that partnership office um again reflects uh district partnerships. Um you you saw the macro and the micro um

045every year we're responsible as a department for establishing new innovative expanded learning opportunities. Um and so far for this school year, we've established for junk box which is uh a local tech, um community based organization. Um that does tech after school. Uh They are, it's uh run by a man of color here in Tacoma, a local program. We work with um expanded learning opportunity providers that are large and small. And we love when community creates programs for our students. So that partnership has been formalized. We've also established expanded learning opportunity with Washington trails. They provide um education um and resources to students to get into the outdoors. They do training safety. Um They're just fabulous. Uh Tacoma. Tacoma Tacoma Urban League has established a role within their organization that does parent engagement work. And so

046we formalized a partnership where we'll be working with their uh their lead person and family engagement which is Sherry Cook. She's a friend Tacoma public school. She used to be a volunteer in the wash ST P. T. A. Um great person and doing good work in the community. And so we formalize that partnership. Um and we were able to um give that program some esser funding because they're doing a lot of prevention work. Um and just really good stuff. Um There's that information and that partnership is located on the database if you want to see what any of these look like. They're all public information. Um Then we also established a mou with the Washington National guard. Um This was established or initiated by one of our principles. Um and you might see next year

047we didn't get all the paperwork done in time. Um for there to be like a tomahawk landing somewhere. Um don't panic legal. We went through all the process uh and that may happen sometime in the future, but we have a great relationship with the Washington army now National Guard and that was actually came out of the whole child team that we went and took a tour of the base and it was, it was very cool. So there will be some stuff coming out of that relationship. I think in 2023 scott we had a chance to co fly some drones. Yes, we did. Do you think we'd be eligible between the two of us to fly the tomahawk or rappel out of it? No, I don't, no, I don't. Yeah, you're on your own josh. Alright.

048So those are the four um there's still some of the works that are in process and I'll be reporting to you next time I'm in front of you of some more expanded learning opportunities that were establishing um some exciting work next steps. Um Our superintendent established, I'm so excited about this. Um You know, we do the Superintendent's quarterly breakfast with parents and josh. Wanted to add this year um some gatherings for the business community as well as faith leaders. So we were doing that twice a year. We held our first one, it was very successful. Um got a lot of interest from community um to partner and support and come together. Um while we're not owning that work, we have a seat at the table cause community solutions, I believe residing community, so we'll be

049at these community tables with them as they come together as a coalition to create way to support uh Tacoma student. So I have more to share with you later in the year about the the the results of that convening. We'll have another one in april um with the business leaders and the faith leaders. Um and it was great. Um we had CTE department represented, it was a multi interdepartmental um um um event uh and just establish some great relationships. So I'm looking forward to sharing the fruit that comes out of that. Um We're also working with the communications team um to update our external web spaces um to get involved page, the family engagement page and the community resources for families. Um we're streamlining all of that. Um as you know, we don't really um

050upkeep a like um a resource page because resources change all the time, but things that are sent to us, we definitely want to share with our families. Um and there's some consistent resources that we are, you know, sharing links where families can go and get support. So we're working really closely with communications department to do that. Uh and then we're continuing to work to revamp and automate our volunteer process to make that easier again for communities to get in schools and make sure that we're following all safety protocols, but we're streamlining That work continues. Um and so those are my updates, anybody have any questions for me? Um yeah, I have a clarification questions. So um on that slide that showed that 40 was the number from last year. Uh and you mentioned that those

051were new. So how many existing ones continued? Was it the 40 plus whatever was already in place, so that it's just 40. It's just 40 total that were established in that particular school year. Yes. And because they some of them roll over and some of them end and sometimes sometimes it's, you know, based on funding, it may be a grant opportunity, so we don't um we we know how long they last, but I'm reporting on the ones that were established and our new during that school year. And and I'm wondering since um we have the new beyond the bell. Um and we're working with our colleagues at Green trike and at metro parks that they folks that are actually providing services may actually not be contracting with us. So they're not getting counted as part

052of the ones generated by this in this 40. So they may not be getting counted. They are not getting counted in this particular group. So it's outside of Green trike, but I know that Green trike, they have their own measure and you can get that report on who those partners are and some of them are in common. Right? And I just, I just want to make that point because I think that there is, um, since we've got in all of our elementary schools, um, you know, we've got a lot of community partners coming in and providing, you know, art services or math stem programs, etcetera and they're probably not part of that 40 since their run through the beyond the bill partnership. And some of these again, because they're expanded learning opportunities and it's kind

053of a broad definition. There may be one time events like student government day. Got it. Right. Okay. Perfect. Thank you for that clarification questions questions But just also like a huge thank you to you. I know the work that you do is tireless and time consuming because I see all the time and I just want to thank you for the work that you've been doing for so many years. I was that the, when I was speaking at the solo conference there was like a picture from 2012 and it was you was in the middle of a room of people and it's just kind of like the work that you've been doing for so long. It culminates in these presentations. You get to us, but at the end of the day, just thank you for all

054you do. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. I celebrated my 10 year anniversary with Tacoma public school. I love you guys. Um, I just want to comment on the listening sessions that were done and I know we talked about him at the last board meeting, but um, they were really impactful and I know Director Vice President and President Obama, right. And I were really got a lot out of just participating and listening and being there. So, um I'm just grateful for that work because I think the intentionality of being in conversation um is really important. So I just want to acknowledge your, your team because I know I have a great team, you have a victorian rin that are making these things happen and I echo what Director Mcelroy also said. So thank you

055and I appreciate the board for showing up you guys being in the room when these events and things are happening. People do notice and we have a very active Board. So I appreciate you two go team. All right. All right, thank you so much. Amanda appreciate it. Item 11 members of the public wishing to address the board before I go through this whole long thing. Is anybody we don't have any written comments I know, but is anyone here ready to speak and if so I can continue but we haven't received any comment or comment then we will just move on. Okay, item number 12 the consent agenda. Have a motion for the consent agenda. I moved to adopt the consent agenda. Second, it's been moved and seconded anyone have any comments on anything on the

056consent agenda or hearing? None. All those in favor say, aye, all those opposed name. Okay. The eyes have it 50 consent agenda passes item 13 policy matters. Alright. We're back to our general counsel who has just been very busy today. So 13.1 2nd reading of revised policy to 336 holidays and civic observances. District General Counsel recommends that the board adopt the revised proposal of policy to 336. So this is the second reading. We had this, um, last board meeting in november and in between that time we've had a public comments from the web page and other places come in. We also had a meeting with the to come up with our own um, equity policy review team. Um, and it was a very robust and I would say very informative and kind of exciting conversation

057that will, I think inform some of the work that we're doing as a board um, going on, just keeping, keeping mindful of um, you know, what, what this policy does is really talk about what's legally required and what's legally recognized by the federal government and the state government and, and if we add something in that we are recognizing every month, it's because it's something that's aligned with our, our goals are bored goals and our strategic plan. Um, but some of the comments from the advisory committees were like, well, okay, so christmas day, but what about, you know, Hanukkah? What about the other holidays? And it's one of those things where, because this is about what's, you know, what is the law of the land versus just arbitrary. We actually gave us pause and so we

058had this really great conversation about um being able to see all cultures and people from whatever, wherever they come from, religious or otherwise. And we don't have an answer because that isn't what this actually is doing now, but it is, gives us something to think about about ways that we can help. Um, make sure that every single one of our students and staff and families are seen and appreciated and acknowledged. Um, however they show up. And so, um, I guess we're asked, I'm asking that we pass this so that we can actually move forward with this, but then we bring this conversation to some to all the other work we do about how do we recognize, you know, the things that aren't um, in the statute and not just because if you start the long

059laundry list, then you're gonna leave somebody out. And how do you do that with being fair? So it's just, it was a very robust conversation and I so appreciate the members of the equity policy review team for always having us, um, taking us to the next level on these conversations. So thank you. And I think the comments that some of the comments they made are incorporated into the second reading piece in front of you, anybody um uh General counsel do you? Ben Road, Do you have any comments based on the conversation at the that we had with the group just briefly. I would reiterate the appreciation we have for the members of the Equity Policy review team. This is a group of community members that volunteer their time to meet with us to basically review

060the policies that we bring to you. Uh check for tone, check it further way, you know his ear. How does the community feel about these changes? Uh so I I also second that I really appreciate the feedback every time we meet with them we learn something new. Um What President Lambright said about the policy itself. If you look at the first page of the holidays and civic observance is, the thing I would add to your comments is if we vote to adopt this policy it will have the effect of retiring the holiday policy that we've had. Because a lot of that language has been brought into this policy and then updated uh updated as to be most current. Um so you'll see some of that update reflected in some of the holidays that the state

061of Washington has adopted in the R. C. W. The one that's been most recently adopted. This is now incorporates as juneteenth which is now a state legal holiday which it didn't used to be. This means that the district, both staff and students. This is a non work day for them. And then the part that's underneath is what director bob is talking about. These are civic observances and instructional observances where the state of Washington is saying we're going to recognize these days and then teachers principals here some instructional pieces. Please instruct about the state constitution. These instruct about certain days. So this, this combines both things. Both the state holidays that are non work days and non school days and then those uh legislative recognized days and then the instructional days as well. So this is

062one place where we can have all those required uh holidays and observances in this one policy. Okay, does anybody have any questions or comments? It's been moved and seconded. Mr Monroe. Do we do? It's not a resolution or policy that we don't have to. Okay, perfect. Just want to make sure I wasn't forgetting something. Alright, it's been moved and seconded. No further comments. All in favor say, aye. Any opposed any abstentions habit for 10 5 to nothing. Okay, so we're going on to item 14 financial report. The district's next quarterly financial report is planned for February 23, 2023 amazing. We were saying that um and if anyone is interested in the public to look up the financial statements they're always available on our website at https dot I mean colon backslash backslash W W W

063dot Tacoma schools dot org back slash departments backslash business and finance. Okay item 15 curriculum and instruction, item 15.1 approval of the inter local agreement number T. S. D. Dash 22-270 with Colombia Virtual Academy. The Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning recommends that the board of directors approved the Columbia Virtual Academy Inter local agreement T. S. D. 22 to 70 with an estimated income of $200 per year Funding source assessment. I'm going to adopt out in 15.1. It's been moved and seconded. Any questions or comments? Yeah. Hey Zeke, I was wondering I was looking at this academy and things like that. So we have students who live in our boundaries but are participating in an online academy that's placed somewhere else in Washington state and because they live here but they're doing an online learning

064but it's not hard to come online. It's different. Okay, that's where my mind. Okay, that makes sense. Okay. Any other questions? Alright. All those in favour. Say, aye. Any opposed any abstentions passes 50. Thank you very much. See um Alright, item 16 business matters 16.1 approval of the guaranteed maximum price GMP amendment number one to the contract between Tacoma school district number 10 and uh Skanska Usa building incorporated for the Bryant montessori. K 12 school replacement project. Just quickly wanted to provide some additional information for the public. We typically see two G M. P. S for a site. The first one uh deals with the design process which is known as pre construction services and the second one in which we bring to the board, deals with the total construction costs in which advantage not

065to exceed. The chief operating officer recommends that the board of directors improved the guaranteed maximum price amendment which states the cost for the Bryant montessori K eight school project and authorize the superintendent or designee to sign said amendment in the amount of $3,818,815 excluding sales tax. I moved to adopt item 16.1. It's been moved and seconded any questions or concerns for this hearing. None. All those in favor say aye. Any opposed any abstentions passes 50. Thank you. Item number 16.2 approval to award wayne roofing for the Hunt round building roof replacement project. Uh This is part of the process of converting Hunt round building into a community center. Uh Currently, our anchor tenant is Tacoma Arts live in which they will construct uh stage within the facility and have live performances and also have student

066involvement. The chief operating officer recommends that the board of directors approved the Superintendent and or designee award wayne's roofing for the Hunt round building replacement. The total award amount is 900,000 excluding tax 16.2 seconds it's been moved and seconded any questions or comments hearing none. All those in favor say, aye. Any opposed any abstentions passes 50, thank you very much chris Um Alright, so other business items 17 very exciting. 17.1 approval of the resolution proclaiming January 2023 as whole Tacoma whole child month. Welcome Laura Allen, good evening with excitement, January Yes. Is a whole child month and we had a few slides. I believe they're available just to say very quickly. What is the whole child? There we go. So in a nutshell, what is the whole child Arabic? Alright, so our big hairy, audacious

067dream. Our vision is that students are supported 24 7 when they are scholars in school with us, when they are thriving and participating in after school and community programs when they're home with families and when they move about in their neighborhood, that all of us, the village are wrapping around to care for the Children in Tacoma, whole child is healthy, safe, engaged, challenged and supported and that means that every student enters school, healthy and learns and practices about well being. Every student learns in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe that they have a, it is respectful and friendly for both students and adults. Every student is actively engaged in learning and feels connected to school and the broader Tacoma community. Every student is challenged. That we see the best in them, that we

068hold them to high standards. They're challenged academically and prepared for success in college and employment and to be a global citizen and that every student has um every student is supported by caring and qualified adults. So we do this because in the blink of an eye our students are going to be the leaders of Tacoma and they they will be great director Alan just real quick before we move into the proclamation um understanding and recognizing that this is such a critical fiber of the D. N. A. Of Tacoma public schools and that we have focused on the whole child for the last decade. Plus before you read the proclamation, I would like to invite Superintendent Garcia President von Bright members of the board to make make a few comments. If you would like to, you're

069not put on the spot, but this really is significant. And the fact that we're declaring an entire month, whole child month, let's give it its due diligence. Well, I'm going to step up and say here because just to set the stage for if you have not seen newsweek from november 18th 2022. So just a couple weeks old, this is um a declaration and a statement of what works in Tacoma um public schools with our whole child approach and our whole educator approach. It's a it's the cover story and it says science reveals um right to brush depress 15 Depression is soaring and how schools schools may be making it worse and you first think, Oh no! And you start reading and you get about a paragraph in and they say, but there's this oasis of

070hope in this country and its Tacoma Washington. And literally the entire article is about what is working in Tacoma. And so it's all about the whole child work that um dr Garcia and um dr santa ono are to superintendent and deputy superintendent brought to this community 10 years ago, 12 years ago, I'm losing track now but a decade and it's been a decade of dedication of building on what um Laura Allen was just sharing with us about that, you know community work and I think that's why collaborations work in Tacoma and it's because our community cares about our kids and thinks about them um holistically how we can all support them. So uh it's just interesting that um that we got this this this coverage and and the article is really telling about why it's

071working into coma and um it's the whole child initiative which is really making this happen. So thank you to um you know Superintendent Garcia for for bringing it to us in the first place and um, laura Allen and your team for helping implement it. I think also as a board we have continued to make this a priority within our goals and our strategic plan and that mental health is, has been a major issue on our radar screen and we're working very closely with the superintendent and the community to try and address this. So I just want to say um you know that we are really grateful that that um that we have this program but also that there are kids that don't live in our school district and who also could benefit from this work.

072And so I think declaring Tacoma um whole child month for january is an awareness. So for other districts that can look into this. And also I think we're pushing the governor to do a whole child month for the state to as well. And I'm not sure if that's gonna happen. But anyway, so that's my comment. Anyone else? Director leon to add on to that? I think just to give a positive more examples about the mental health piece. The Oakland and Mountie school based health clinics that we have got first hand reports from the doctors that have been working there that they have gotten so many amazing referrals and brought students in the staff members in those schools and other schools have brought students in, um, not just for force physicals, right. Um, and in a

073sports physical, you actually find out that some kids are sad depressed, suffering from something mental health issues. Um, they brought them in from many mental health concerns, but then some of these kids will probably not have seen a physician or a provider for for these things, maybe ever, maybe for months, but with the staff trained to identify this, bring them into those two health centers. I think it's a wonderful opportunity and it's been lifesaving. I know for for many, potentially for many of these students. So hopefully we have a chance to expand other partners and all of our high schools at some point. Thank you dr Garcia on your team. You got you. Okay. Um, so I had a really good experience with the Tacoma ho child. I mean it was Amanda scott thomas who

074brought me into this room in october 2019 and I was a gold star community partner for my whole child work. But I will also take a step back and say as an early learning provider for 17 years, we've been pushing these agendas of seeing kids for who they truly are loving them, growing with them and accepting them as they walked through the doors. I think that when Tacoma expanded its reach into the before and after school market in a really intuitive and intentional way it opened the door for so many more people with lived experience and expertise to come into our schools and build this bridge and that's what a whole child initiative is. We're bringing in everyone, we're supporting everyone and everyone's brought to the table. I love the work we did with parent

075partnerships back in 2016 and I wasn't even here, right? But in 12 16 I got to see that work firsthand as a teacher in our school district and see the outreach that we were doing our communications department, the staff hr everybody was hands on deck to bring everybody to the table. And so that's what being a whole child district is from the bottom up and wrapping around. That's that's just who we are and what we do. Um So I'm appreciative for this, we should be pushing it, we should push governor inslee so he can recognize all kids deserve to have what Tacoma kids have. Um Director, I would add also as a gold star community partner which now I like can't remember what year that was. We don't need to recount it. Um but I

076have a shiny plaque in my office, a star. I know it literally has a star on it. Um I want to say about the whole child that as a parent. Um my introduction to the district was through the whole child. Um and my now senior in high school was in kindergarten and the whole child was just beginning like the conversation, like the idea the concept the vision of it. Um and then I mean it was such a draw as a parent um and than being invited in, like I have found opportunities where I was invited in by the district to participate. Um and you know, I was invited in in 2011 to participate in the harassment intimidation and bullying policy process of updating that and and as a parent and a community partner and I

077think that, um, as superintendent Garcia always says, um, it's not perfect, We're not perfect. And there is this continuum of striving to get better, do better, be better. Um, and I just am really grateful because I see in the ways that our students have and continue to express and articulate their experiences, what they, their perspective like that's be a part of the culture. And I think that the thing that is inspiring to me about the whole child and from its beginning inception is this idea of changing culture and climate And that does not happen overnight. And so to see my child entire K-12 experience has been, um, the whole child has been a part of that and, and in a woven into that as a student and then as a family and so I'm grateful

078um, to just continue to be a part of that and support, um, just the momentum and the continuation of it. And I have one point to add to that, which is that it's also reflected not just in the way that, that we all, you know, speaking about, but also from the kid's perspective, just um, you know, the restorative justice approach and peer um, partnerships where they, you know, piers are helping each other to grow, um, out of bullying and you know, it's one of those things that, um, it's making the difference and that's one of the things that the newsweek article alludes to is that the our data is showing, you know, our graduation rate is going up and and our our, you know, our numbers of kids accomplishing high levels of class and coursework

079and CTE programs and getting really engaged are just going higher and higher. And and the rest of the country is really struggling in, in some of those same areas. And so, and you have to say why and you look back in this program is the fundamental um, component that is, is, you know, kind of giving us that leg up. So did you have anything you want to say? Dr director Vice President? I like, I like it too. Okay, alright. So I just want to, you know, I guess we're ready to read the resolution, but you can tell, we're all very excited about josh. You don't want to say Superintendent. Absolutely. He tried to shrug it off. It's powerful to be a part of a community that takes a moment to take a step back and

080say it's not a program, it's an alignment of series of programs. It is mental health and it's not mental health. When you take that pillar of engagement and you hear Mr Briggs Mr Briggs is a whole child champion of course, everything in this world is connected to everything else. But when you have that first slide of a four shift of a level of a community with an intentionality says, these are our Children, this isn't a new concept whether it's ancient proverbs and I remember sitting in this room and way back when, when the board at that time was discussing, could we even roll out things like an SCL curriculum and kind of like the snow. There's opportunities where you're held accountable but not responsible. The whole child movement is all of ours. It's every educators

081opportunity to make a choice. Do I step in and up or do I step out for community partners for families? And it's also in the greater neighborhood, a recognition that one is not more powerful than the other that we have to all work together. And it looks different for every child and every family. And certainly it doesn't work because we know that what happens in life, the good, the challenging sometimes the traumatic, it's how we come together to respond that we never arrive and why the proclamation and the resolution is so important is that as public officials as adults as municipalities, we should have the courage to say, these are the things that we value for every child. And if we're not challenging them academically, we're not doing our work. And if we're not supporting

082them, we're not there yet. And so I'm honored to sit with you. I hope that you take the initiative to adopt. I hope our partners do. And I hope that we recognize that the moment that we don't do this as a community in january and restate our commitment. I think we should pause. I think we should pause and ask, So what are we doing? And we can come up with a phrase like our Children, our future and this. But if we as adults don't work together under a very simple approach to say, we may not agree on everything, but we truly are better together when we come together. Do with intentionality with programs with resources with compassion, with shared understanding and not take credit and not tear each other down. But we worked together to

083build and model. I feel optimistic and there's a lot of days where I don't feel optimistic looking around and so I'm honored to sit with you and serve with you and you have my commitment that I will bring everything. I've got to that as long as we can keep these things beacons of our work. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, so are you ready to read the resolution? Yes with Joy. Whereas each student deserves to be challenged academically experience a comprehensive education that promotes critical thinking and creativity and be prepared for higher education, meaningful employment, both in our global economy as well as lifelong success. And whereas every student has a right to be supported on their journey of becoming compassionate and kind by educators who are qualified caring adults and have access to personalized learning

084opportunities and whereas every student has the right to learn about and practice a healthy lifestyle in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe to be empowered to advocate for social, physical and mental wellness of themselves and of others to take advantages of resources for healthy well being and to be hopeful about the future. Whereas every student has the right to opportunities to discover their passions, to be curious to love learning, to be actively engaged in and connected to school and the broader Tacoma community. And whereas every student has a right to access educational experiences where they develop the skills, the knowledge and the courage to identify and confront personal, systemic and societal bias and where every student has a right to access in school and extracurricular community based programs that provide students with experiences

085relevant to their individual passions, their career, their civic and higher educational goals. And whereas every student has a right to attend schools that are safe that are inclusive, anti racist, welcoming respectful and supportive of their development as critical thinkers who contribute to and collaborate with our global and natural world. I now therefore request that you proclaim January 2023 to behold child month in Tacoma and I encourage all people in our state to join us in this special observance. Thank you. Do I have a motion I moved to adopt, I have to read the recommendation real quick hours ago, The deputy superintendent on behalf of the director of whole child recommends that the board of directors proclaim January 2023 as to calm a whole child month and encourage community partner municipalities agencies and organizations to declare

086their support for a whole child approach to educating and serving the Children of our community. Thank you. Now I moved to adopt the resolution proclaiming January 2023 as Tacoma whole child month. Do I have a 2nd 2nd? Alright. It's been moved and seconded. I would like the General Council to call the roll. Well I guess I should say does anybody have any comments or questions? I think we've talked enough. Yes, yes, yes, yes. President . Vice president. Thank you everyone. Alright . Now we get to pressure all of our friends and I love that. Yeah, I love it. All right, well thank you everyone. This is a great way to end a meeting. All right. So we don't have any student reps here. So I will turn to the board and who wants to speak

087first about what's been going on for them. I love going first because then it's done, you know. Um, so on monday I went to the mountain Home, a varsity basketball game, girls basketball and it was a nail biter. It went into overtime and they won 42 to 40. It was a very stressful game and I do not do sports at all. Like I normally I always go to watch the cheer teams at all the schools and like, oh my God look at them go and the girls at the bars, the varsity level girls at Mount Tahoma really inspired me and they were pushing through the whole time. And then last week I was at Lincoln high school girls basketball program, speaking to the girls about using their voice and helping and supporting others and they

088were speaking about the whole child, to me, letting me know how it works at their school and everybody has each other's back. It's kind of funny that we just voted on it and the kids were letting me know that they already know what's up and they're already doing it. Um Those are really my only board comments and reports and I'm just really proud of all the teams, but lisa keating Director you brought up I think a month or two ago, just supporting like all the different types of athletics and all the sports teams. And I was inspired by that comment and I went and I did it, thank you. All right, Vice President's treasure. All right. I got a whole bunch of stuff, so I had to write some stuff down because if I don't,

089I'll forget. Uh 1st september 17th through the 19th, I got to go to Spokane with Vice President keating Director november november. Yeah, november. My bad, Hey, take it easy. Uh yeah, november. Uh for the water conference Washington state school directors association and the theme was belonging. Now watch brings folks together school board directors together and some superintendents, if I understand correctly from across the state to offer professional development and training programs in one space, uh really developed to maximize leadership and governance abilities and improve student learning. So you got to go there. Um and conferences are great, but all of the real ones know that will work in the hallway uh, and had a great deal of opportunities to connect with folks, uh, network with like minded school board directors from across the state. And

090we got to also participate in a few different breakout sessions. My favorite, I'm still in this because I know you probably got it written down to uh Dr Adolf Brown is a world renowned clinical psychologist, neuroscientist. So, so when I talked to him, he said he got a whole bunch of degrees and he, they what he does, but I will tell you that um his, his keynote was built upon this idea of not judging my exit by my entrance. And so he came all dressed in. I mean, I can't remember what year it looked like, but he had like this wig on with his hair and his long white t shirt pants sagging and he walked around prior to everybody was kind of gathering and I guess he was trying to see who's gonna interact

091with me, who's gonna say anything because I don't look like the people in this room. Um and then when he had his son actually go on stage and pretend to be him. uh and everybody thought that his god son who had on a suit and was clean cut was dr Adolf Brown until he got on stage and said actually I'm dr Adolf Brown, don't judge a book by its cover. Um And it was amazing to see like some of the faces in the room and I'll be honest, I was one of them right when he came down the aisle, director Kenny was looking at me like I wish you could see your face right now because it was just okay, I could get into detail about why, but I'm not going to, I just felt

092like it was a lot of shucking and jiving going on like let's get to the let's get to it. So anyway he got up there and did an amazing presentation and then also had a follow up breakout session which was which was great as well. Um Anyway it was great. Uh I see the Interscholastic Activities committee I am got elected to. Then we had our first meeting and uh it was interesting trying to do that meeting at five o'clock in the basketball gym when my daughter's practicing basketball was interesting, but it was fun, we got a lot of stuff that I need to share with you also keep that noted. Um I visited Truman middle school again, dr stout and Vice Principal King took me on a tour of the school, we got to pop

093into a different few different classrooms. Um but I learned that one of the district's most senior staff members worked there and she's a math teacher and she told me what year she started teaching, I can't remember. Um but what I can tell you is that um when I visited her classroom I could tell that the zeal and the fire and the excitement that she had on her first day still exist today. I don't have any dreams or desires of retiring and I'm like, you teach math, like it's not one of my strengths, but she loves it. Like kids were engaged in and dived in. So that was, that was exciting to see. Um but we talked about the whole child and like the many pieces that build that up and I got to see that

094in action. So we stood in the hallway, there's a desk on the bottom floor, Truman in the middle hallway. Apparently dr stout used to sit there uh during passing times you don't see that anymore because there's no chair, but that's where we huddled and students will walk by every single student that walked by dr stout or vice President King that came up for a fist bump or a high five was called out by name and when I tell you that you could see their eyes light up by being recognized by the name that their parents gave them, Not a nickname, not uh some kid but by their first name and that empowered them right to go to the class. And another thing that's exciting before the bell ring, you could hear a pin drop in

095the hallway, which is like, I'm not used to seeing that. So I'm like, yeah, I knew I was coming. So you tried to hold people up or something? I don't know. But anyway, I guess this is a common practice. So it was beautiful man. It's, it's something powerful for a student to be seen. So I just want to take my hat off. I would, if I didn't get a bad haircut, but uh, take my hat off staff and the team over there for the great work that they're doing. Uh, two more things. Traffic safety committee. I popped into that was it yesterday and something exciting is happening. One key thing I want to put on folks, radar communications are about to start rolling out. But in neighborhoods in our city, the speed limit's gonna drop

096from 25 to 20 MPH. So you're gonna see billboards. You see mailers and all other kind of communications coming from the city letting people know if I jump the gun on sharing that. I'm sorry, but I definitely popped into that meeting and got that jim. So I wanted to be the one to share. Um, so yeah, that'll be happening at the top of 2023. Just so folks know finally narrative changes took place yesterday we took our talents to the Star Center. Um yeah, sure, narrative changes is a group of individuals who decided that we wanted to empower young people to change the narrative within their schools, right? Give them tools and strategies necessary to do so um and let them take ownership of it. Um so we meet once a month at one of our

097local community centers or event centers um and he shout out to our families and the students that showed up, right? It's not, it's not really a whole bunch of people that come by, the people that show up really get what they were looking for, which is amazing. We had some special guests in the building. Director Kenny was present. Uh Mike Rupert pulled up yesterday um and shared, he shared about the care behind the work of safety and security and I can tell you it was well received, folks were asking questions, folks were engaged, so that was beautiful to see. Um and I had the opportunity to share about a framework championed by Stephen Covey taught called uh have Doobie, but I flipped it to be do have and it's a framework in ways um that

098really helps folks, you can apply it to your life and really get ahead right, depending on how you use those three words. So um had a really good time to look forward to this every single month. Um and there's gonna be more to come. So that's my extremely long board report. Please don't get used to that. Thank you for your time. So Vice president um how are we gonna be announcing the next um meetings of the narrative changers? Interestingly enough we have an instagram and uh facebook events and uh we actually at every single meeting we have folks leave their emails on their flyers and leave it on the table. We collect that, put it into a google forms and then we send out reminders of the email as well. So if someone's interested in

099I would say just go to facebook and look at the type of narrative changes or instagram. N. C. 253. I also wanted to add that. It went out in the e family newsletter. So we are sharing that information. I didn't know that. Thank you. Surprised to me. Great thank you for that and thank you for doing that work. All right, former Vice President keating. I'm gonna be long winded too. Um So let's see since the last, I think a couple of days after the last board meeting I got to spend time at jenny Read um which was really amazing and fun. Um And then uh at foss I feel like this was just last week. But joe koy came a former falcon. Um And his sister and um his best friend who is also married

100to his sister. I believe that's how that worked. Um But joe they came and presented um a uh Uh scholarship amount and what I was told and I've seen conflicting information, so I may not be accurate, but what my understanding is is it's a $30,000 annual scholarship for five years. That's what um Joe's sister had told me it was for the arts for students at foss. Um and none of them had been back to Tacoma or to foss since they graduated 1989. Um So there was a really amazing assembly and the foss um students did an amazing job. There was a family feud of it um game that happened, which was epic. Um and it was really amazing opportunity to just watch um watched joe, who is this like hugely famous comedian talk about where

101he started and he had a film crew there and I was able to stick around and follow. Um I mean there was a whole group of us following him around um and talk about the one spot and the teacher that helped him get his start because he was a kid in school that really couldn't keep the humor inside during class. Um and so there is that and I'm forgetting the teacher's name, but the um she would allow him like the last 10 minutes of class, he could do his stand up at the last 10 minutes if he sat through class and kept it all inside then at the last 10 minutes he could have this moment. Um and it really has formed um just formed a lot of his career and life and he had

102his own son there. So it was really um it was amazing. It was a super inspiring, cool experience to watch some people who have the ability to give back in really big ways um do so um to a place that really um formed them, so that was pretty special. Um then the, I think the night before that there was the Pierce County Superintendent annual um meeting um that president bomb Bright and I were at along with Superintendent um and then um huge shout out to the narrative changers. Um that was an amazing event and I wanted to also echo comments for mike Rupert. Um I think that as we were having the conversation around safety and security back um in the early parts of covid um mike what I heard from you last night was

103that you you embody what I believe we were aiming to achieve through um what it through safety and security in the ways that um students would feel safer um and and protected. And so it was just really um it felt like a full circle moment um to listen to you talk last night. And so I just wanted to really thank you um for carrying out um a really complicated um and nuanced um aspect of safety for our students. So I just wanted to echo um that and then um I feel like there was, oh and then so Waseda Waseda conference um was really great and yes, a lot of the really deep conversations do happen in the halls. Um and so the other person that I wanted to highlight um in addition to dr Adolphe

104Braun, who when you talked about being seen in Truman, like that was essentially what the essence right? Seeing students knowing our students by name. And the importance of that was very much part of his um keynote and workshop. The other amazing keynote that was there is the 2023 Washington state teacher of the year, Jared um cope I believe is how his last name is pronounced. Um he is a teacher in north thurston um and he's the native student specialist and his keynote had a similar impact in terms of the kinds of work that we are continuing to um do and strive to around um growing on an intentional partnership and relationship um and restorative relationship with the Puyallup tribe and our tribal neighbors um and the history that um Jared shared in his presentation and

105then I went to his breakout session as well. It just was really powerful and a reminder. Um it's not comfortable work, it's not easy work. Um and there were a number of people that didn't stay to be a part of the conversation and listen to it. Um and so it made me feel really grateful that um as we've leaned into anti racist um work and practices um that we have, there's a team um in this district that are leaning in with us. So, um I just was really reflective on that during um that presentation. Um and then like Corey and I also intended the large school caucus um meeting, and then I also attended the frn the Federal Relations Network meeting. And I just don't think it's nice to have meetings during conferences at 7

10630 in the morning. I just don't think that's nice. I filed some some, you know, complaints about that. Um but it was really, um, I think what I appreciate being in those spaces with colleagues that are doing similar work around the state and just collaborating and learning and growing and strategizing on how do we collectively get better, not just for our own districts but for all of our students in Washington state. Um and I find that work to be really meaningful and inspiring. Um and then, um I wanted to give a shout out to our staff supporting our seniors right now. Um I know that um the stylist staff have been incredibly supportive of my senior. Um and it's one thing to hear about it as, but and then being a parent living through it.

107Um I just know that we have a huge number of staff that are doing everything they can to support our students to whatever that next step is for them beyond high school. So I just wanted to give a shout out to all of them. Um And then on saturday um I attended there was a community event at um co hosted by the Tacoma Rainbow Center and Oasis You Center um in to honor the mass shooting in Colorado Springs at the club at club Que. Um and it was really um often and within the L. G. B. T. Q. Community when um tragedy happens, we come together um to just hold space um and acknowledge the value that um those lost have. Um and it was really meaningful. We had um I think in total we

108had, well there were three city council members there um three county council members. Um Four county actually four city council members. Um and and not just they are not people that identify within the LGBTQ community, which is extraordinarily meaningful because there was a time not very long ago where no other elected officials would come. Um And the piece that I really took away from was the, I wrote the title down, the U. S. Attorney for Western, the western Washington district for Washington State. Um um Nick Brown was there and he was one of the speakers and I've not been in one of these spaces before where someone from the U. S. Attorney's office came to acknowledge a tragedy within our community. Um and there were also four FBI agents, um local FBI agents. And um

109I think that with the heightened hate crimes and they just um have continued even throughout this week in our area um towards LGBTQ people. Um It is it just was really powerful to have people in those positions, just share space with our community. Um and that you know, we aren't doing this work alone. And the one asked that the U. S. Attorney had was to report report what you see online and I know that we have been doing that in, you know, talking about the scene, see something, say something. Um But I think just broadly like if we see something online that um is you know like potentially violent, I think like the best thing we can do is report it. Um and um I don't see this wave of violence ending in our community

110anytime soon. Um It is a trend that is very concerning and it's happening nationwide um and we're not um protected from it. So I I just wanted to um just acknowledge like we don't always get to be in conversation with people from the FBI um that are doing that work and also um you know from the U. S. Attorney's Office. And so and these are people that you know are in our community and live in our community like in our region and I just felt very um it was very meaningful to have a chance and I spent some time with all of these folks um during the event in conversation just around safety and around schools and in our community and what does that look like and how do we do that together? Um So

111and then my last thing I'll say is that um tomorrow I'm going to go to the Urban League's um talking to kids about race and I don't know that that's the title of the event, but that's, I'm going to attend that. Um And then next week I have um ever end meeting with Wadjda as well and then I might take a nap. Thank you so much. Director leon. Um Most of us were at the meeting for a career technical education last night, so led by Mr Cool is, and it was a good overview and mission of the program discussion around the advisory board. So excellent work that they're doing and the supporting our kids and thinking about uh excellent careers, so good job to that department, look forward to seeing more good work out of

112that. Um The I've been at Mount T a good amount um and one of my residents and I, we were able to do a workshop on ultrasound skills and MS Montgomery's health careers class, She runs an amazing health careers class classroom, they're teaching kids all about health careers, so it was a lot of fun having uh when the residents helped teach that ultrasound workshop. Um And then just thank you again to the stadium theater program, this Jacobson, they just pulled off a wonderful theater production of the Wizard of Oz, and then they were doing in the spring, so try to catch that if you can. Okay, fabulous! Well, I have just a few things to add one of them. Um is that on november 15th I attended the United Way From poverty to possibilities conference,

113which was really powerful. It was um it was actually kind of an incredible event. They talked about Alice, which is stands for, it's an acronym, standing for asset, limited income constrained, but employ households. So those are those are folks that are not getting necessarily getting assistance because they're making just a little too much. And so they're the ones who are literally the sandwich, struggling, struggling the most. And so there was a quote from Donna pinto the ceo of Pierce County United Way that I loved. I'm not sure if it's hers, but she said it. So it says if we want to change the narrative, we need to change the narrator. Um and it was really interesting just seeing the different perspective and I think that um that's part of part of that. And then Dr

114Karen johnson, who's known as dr j she is the Director of Washington State Office of Equity. And she gave in a really great talk um about how, you know, we have to restore the middle class and and all of this, you know, kind of how we all work together to do that. So um anyway it was a great great event and um and I think that and Superintendent Garcia was was there and uh is that the one you spoke out? I didn't know that was the other one that you did? Okay. That was last week. Way too many meetings. But anyway it was a great event and so I want to thank the United Way for all the work that they're doing to help be that other piece of the puzzle in our pile pile

115about community and they're doing their work from over here. We're doing it from over here and we're all supporting these kids. So it's that's how it works, that's how it that's how it makes it valuable. Um And I think I probably don't need to go into the other things that that got done so we'll just stop there. Um So does anybody else have what happens tomorrow morning? Oh well but that's talking about next time. So tomorrow morning is the last meeting of the year for J. Mac, the joint municipal action Committee and we are actually doing a a special meeting. It's gonna be in person which is the first one in person since a year ago and we've invited all of all of you are invited and hopefully we'll all see you there and the

116uh the members of all the boards of, all the members of J max of the city council, the county council, the ports of Tacoma, the pierce transit Health department and Metro Parks, Tacoma and Tacoma public schools and the Puyallup Tribe are all invited and their C. E. O. S are invited. And it's our quote quarterly meeting with the C. E. O. S. But we're really going to be talking about What we've done this year to actually implement, implement the vision that we came up with in 2021. Um, and so, and we've had a big year. We've gotten a lot accomplished. And um, Superintendent Garcia will be there with uh, director Strozier is going to be talking about the anti racism policy that we passed as that piece of the equity and Superintendent and team because

117others will also be there to talk to are going to talk about our apprenticeship programs and um, the work that we're doing on the maritime skills center and all of the different components. And then there's one other thing you're talking about that I'm forgetting. But anyway, so, um, there are, it's gonna be a great day and we've got, we've invited the community members that attended the summit of 60 to join us as well. So we've got elected officials ceo staff and community partners and it's going to be a action packed two hours. Um, so, and that will be the end of my two year chairmanship of J Mac. So that's, it's really kind of a meaningful day for me. So President Obama, I would like to quickly remind you of one other piece of work

118you did in the last few weeks is the, our partners at the ports of Tacoma made a very significant investment in the future of the South Sound by identifying their commitment to providing in partnership with us land for a maritime skill center that would help serve also sound students and president banned by a very gracious job of reaching out to them and thanking them for that. And so that happened at their public meeting and I think the 17th of november and it was a unanimous decision. So we're all very grateful to the Poor Commissioners and their investment and we know we have a long ways to go, but this, this um, need to develop workforce development, meaningful workforce development and a collaboration with industry public schools from all over the South Sound is coming up

119very much alive. So that's an exciting opportunity. So thank you for your leadership for reaching out and helping guide that. No problem. And I'm, you know, it speaks to a lot of the going back to partnerships. This is our theme tonight Amanda. But um, it is really, it speaks to the partnership that that superintendent and um, has been building over the years as Superintendent Center. No, and that we have a lot of trust and I think the community in Tacoma, the community does own the whole child approach and they all see their role in it. But I also think that the work that we're doing with J Mac as part of that is the same. I think the pork is very uh aware of that. They have a part to play in child care and

120they have a part to play in homeless prevention and all those things because everyone does. And I think that if we've done anything this year, J Mac, it's to make sure that elected officials see that they don't have, no one is laser focused on their one thing. Everybody is open and listening to what everyone else needs and how can we all step up and, and past public policies that are anti racism policies that are consistent or the equity policy of the equity. Um, index the city of Tacoma created now has been adopted by the pierce county council and they've expanded it. So now it's county wide and they added, um, um, an equity note meaning that any decisions made by the county has to now go through this is, this is this investment equitable. Uh,

121these are huge steps that have been taken forward this year, um, by, by the partners at J Mac by learning for, from each other. Um, and that's what we're gonna talk about tomorrow. We're going to sort of see what we've all, what this year has has created. So thank you for bringing president something I forgot to mention because I think is this our last like public facing meeting before the holiday break. So there's a lot of resources for clothes for kids. Um, a lot of people, you know, it's getting cold outside the snow hit and a lot of our kids didn't have shoes and clothes that they needed at the people center. They've been doing a drive for about four months now. And last month we donated about 15 bags of Children's clothes, size three

122T to adult size 12. Um, and they just asking people if you need close to stop by and grab them and the Salvation Army is looking for adult men's socks and sleeping bags. Okay, thank you. All right. Does anyone have anything else they want to for the good of the order before we go through the list of meetings. Okay. So our next meeting is actually a board retreat um, on december 15th. So next week we will uh, we're meeting at 5 30. january 12th will be our first meeting of 2023 it's a six p.m. A business meeting and january 19th at six p.m. Is a study session. So we're starting the year, you know in stride as they say, All right, so thank you everyone. And since this is the last time we will publicly

123see you all. I wish you all happy holidays and stay safe and stay warm and enjoy time with your families and please please please take care of yourselves and make time for yourself. I know that the holidays can be so hectic and it's important. Everyone take a breath and take care of yourself. And we'll see you back here in january. So look at the holiday we are adjourned. Mm. Yeah.