WVSD #208 School Board Meeting 05-12-2026

001All right. Good evening. It's good to be here at the innovation center tonight. It is 7:00 on May 12th and the regular meeting of the board of directors now called to order and we're going to um stand for the pledge of allegiance and the flag is over that way. >> Ready, begin. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Any changes to the agenda? >> We're going to move the policy revisions. We'll move that to our next board meeting and give us some more time to review those and address some of the language. >> Okay. Thank you. Communications. >> Communications. uh response to public comment is there as a placeholder. Uh we had

002it B which was a letter from Senator Nikki Torres was congratulating Apple Valley Elementary uh for the state recognition uh that they received just a couple weeks ago. Uh Apple Valley was recognized for the growth of our students who are multilanguage learners and their growth in both English language arts and math. and that academic growth for our students. Apple Valley was in the top 10% of all schools in the state of Washington. So, congratulations to Apple Valley. I appreciate Senator Nikki Torres with that letter. And then finally, we had a letter from OSBI which was a letter of achievement. Uh they were recognizing two consecutive years of outstanding bus inspections and they um congratulated our transportation department, all the staff for that outstanding bus inspections. appreciate them uh not only transferring students to and from

003school but also all the extracurricular activities. We have quite a few field trips here in the spring and so just really appreciate our transportation department that's led by our director Jamie Schmidt. >> Thank you. Our school presentation tonight and you guys are already up so we're excited to be here at the innovation center. So take it away. >> Perfect. All right. Well, thank you. Uh Jed Waters, executive director innovation for West Valley School District. One of the roles is kind of overseeing the innovation center. So, tonight we're going to talk about the programs that we have here. We kind of have a whole team that's going to come up and we have two kids that were out fishing, but I think they were going to try to be here um depending on what their catch

004was or what anything else. We have two of the 79 that may be jumping in and showing us. So, really at the innovation center, our motto is that we create, we innovate, and we lead the future. So, that's really what we're trying to do here at the innovation center is get students ready for that future now and then build those connections while they're here. So my I always want to say I don't want our graduates just fall off the stage. I want them to be ready for the next thing and I think Jackson will be able to share some of the stuff that way. And speaking of graduation, June 3rd is graduation here 6:00 p.m. We'll have West Valley Innovation Center graduates graduating. We'll recognize WBBA graduates and we're going to recognize for the first

005time some of our GED graduates um from both our Spanish and English program over at high school. That's good. I'm gonna I'm gonna let Mrs. Actually, we're gonna have Miss Clark is gonna jump right up. So, Mrs. Clark is going to share. She's our great ELA social studies designer. So, her job is to help our students out. She'll talk a little bit about just what they're doing for ELA integration. >> Okay. Um, so on this side over here, they're reading their novel that they did this year. And then the 1012s built a proposal on what they could use on the moon. And um, they designed the whole marketing with the moon product. um they connected to the book that they were reading and then they built their entre entrepreneurship um skills and um did a

006presentation for their class as well and we would purchase that um product for them. And then on the far side I have our poetry unit that we're doing right now. Um they're analyzing mentor text and they are annotating those texts. They are writing original poem collections. They're building their analysis skills and their creativity through poetry. And we also have Jackson here which is one of the poems up there that he created in my contract. >> I think the highlight to say I think with uh Mrs. Clark is the ELA the integration's a key word. So the innovation center we're really striving to integrate our curriculum into what we're doing. So it's not just I go get my ELA and then next year I go some else I didn't connect. As you can see they're writing

007like a checklist we're drafting as we do some CAD. They're in poetry relating back to the welding things they're working on. We have aerospace and robotics here. So, they're working on sound. We have story lines or reading books that connect back to the area. >> I I had a question for you, but the uh what was the most interesting product for the moon that you saw? >> I had one student who created because they couldn't have pets on the moon, so they created a digital pet. This kind of reminds me when I was growing up, we had these things called Digi Pets. And so it was exactly what that was and it was like an emotional thing. So that was actually a really cool thing and all the kids are really excited about it and

008wanting to build it. So >> perfect. Then I'm going to >> Mrs. Grim is our assistant director here. She works a lot with the students. So she's going to kind of go over some of our other programs and integration. And I like J was saying, the integration part's really what there's many things that make us special and unique in our building, but that integration piece is what makes me super excited and kind of really transforms the learning for our students and how we have that ability for them to constantly be applying it in everyday world and how it gets to be used or how they can visualize something that we read about in the book and get to turn it into something. So 3D printing the finch beaks, the students, it was not just the

009math quadratics piece where they were taking that data, right? They got to look at environments and see how these beaks work and then they're designing them through 3D printing and then they have this challenge and I think some people were walking to our building and our kids are just screaming and yelling because they did a one minute challenge of grabbing seeds, bird seeds off this table and filling the cup and collecting all their data. So they're getting to integrate this throughout their day and then they go back and they write about it and analyze it all. So, it's a really awesome way to really help these things stick or talking to a kid about a formula and saying, "Hey, do you remember when we did beaks?" And I don't have to give them the strategy

010or this, you know, that math piece behind it. It just comes back to them and it's a magical thing to watch. Um, laser cutting tan gram puzzles. The kids, you know, they created these awesome puzzles and then they laser cut them. They created the packaging. They laser cut the package. You know, they look at efficiency. How can we best package these? and then they delivered them to some of our elementarymentaries. But they also did some technical writing with instructions for those students and looked at different age groups and were able then to decide where those puzzles would be best used. Uh we also you know printing some of the trusts for the bridges and really digging into those um Pythagorean theorem and force distribution. So lots of ways for students, right? It's not just that

011math standard, but it has a lot of other daily activ but the pieces they need to continue their growth in areas they're interested in within the engineering world seeing why it's so important they understand these pieces and those um different standards. All right. So we have those four different programs and so computer science is we have that 79 and then we also have a 1012 program. They do different video games. They look at cyber security. Um they were doing some photography this year and then they also got to use that photography and write narratives about it and looking at different eras and what those pictures might look. So again we're looking at the eras we're bringing in some of the history. We're integrating all these different pieces um that allow students to really relate to

012things and understand where it's coming from. They also just went I think two weeks ago they were at DigiPen and Amazon and getting to explore what different areas of computer science there are. It's such a big area and so learning what interests them more um and getting to have those experiences and what opportunities are out there for them. health science. Another all of our programs are really fun, so I can brag about all of them for ever. Um, but we use a lot of Paxton Patterson labs. They're absolutely incredible. Students get that opportunity to dig into things that they think they have an interest in, right? And some of them are like, "That is not what I thought it was." And others want to know more. Um, our ultimate goal is we want kids to

013have certifications. We want to give them that leg up when they're leaving us. So, we're working right now on trying to get our um home care aids going. We have some different connections we're working with. So, we're hoping we'll have kids graduating and having that certification and being able to do that. Um there the opportunities with like the animage table I was learning more about this year and it's pretty awesome to see kids getting to understand the body and run simulations and see different ways that the heart works and get to try and diagnose the way it's beating, right? gives them that hands-on opportunity to really get to understand and dig deeper. They've done a lot of really awesome field trips and making connections this year with the fire department and Pacific Northwest and YBC.

014So, they're just, you know, getting all of those things they need to be successful while still integrating everything you've heard with all those math and ELA standards. And then Jackson, you're up. All right. >> All right. So, I'm in the STEM I'm Jackson Richardson. We're I'm in the STEM aerosate aerospace class. And what we do is we we kind of put everything together. We uh get work orders. We write them out. We write what we're doing. We talk about what we're doing on them. We have a plan on it. And then we get it all drawn up on a uh a thing called on shape. We get all the dimensions math done on that dimensions right. And then we either go cut it out, laser cut it, bend it, weld it together, and do all

015that. And then we're also building a craft reserve plate. And not so long ago, we had it right here in the cafeteria because we're trying to get it all mocked up and see how we can hang it up top. And like the the other class we have that's um what's the class called? >> Robotics. >> Oh yeah, the robotics class. They're they're doing a whole thing with the motors and uh gearing and stuff so we can have a prop on the front while it's hanging. So it can be spinning. The prop can be spinning up there and do all the cool up there. Make it look realistic and all that stuff. tell us about >> um and then a few of us like myself, we had interviews at Cupcfter, so I'm hoping to hear back

016and a couple other people are hoping to hear back this week. And then I know there's been a few interviews for Pexco Aerospace. They've done a few and then a few other companies are coming down and doing presentations and we kind of see the one we want and we go sign up for it too. We get in review and I was fortunate enough to get one with my friend and a few other people got >> does it include welding that you learn welding in this class? >> Yes, I have a few things over here like this is my scar bar. Uh I welded all this. So what we did at the beginning of the year, we all had to do one of these in four different positions so we could be able to do our

017own projects or do projects. So we definitely learned a lot of welding and machining and CAD work and all that stuff. >> Jackson, are you are you interested in the aerospace industry? >> Yes, I I really like it. It's it's pretty cool. It's a interesting place. It's a a lot of cool thing and interesting things to learn. >> Are you senior this year? >> No, I'm a junior. What do you think's like your dream job? >> Probably welding. >> Okay. >> I like welding. That's why I applied for it. Cut crafters. So, >> hopefully I get that. >> Yeah. >> Tech does like plastics, right? They do like pieces of the airplane. >> More extrudes and different things. They have some CNC machining and stuff. >> Yeah. So, this is a joint weld that we

018machine together. We kind We had to get it to all fit inside of the tube. So, We're making a big skeleton to put outside of our classroom. We're welding it so we can put a welding jacket on it and welding coats and gloves and pants. Make it look >> cool. That's a all machine. This was just all round pop. Yeah. Uh all that stuff you guys can hold it. Look at it. >> What was your proficiency with welding before you started? >> Uh I was I definitely I really liked it. I really liked how things were and how things worked and I was interested in it. I joined the class and started learning about it. It just grew on me more. >> That's awesome. >> Jackson, who do you guys have come in to help

019you out a little bit or bring >> We also have We have Dave. He comes in. He works at Allen or he does something at Allen Gas. He he gets our gas and stuff, but he comes in, he teaches us, shows us tips and tricks on how to weld and be better. And then we also got Berg. He's got a lot of like real world experience in the welding field. He's he's done iron work. He's done pipeline. He's got all the stuff. So, he comes in, he teaches us all the all different methods and tips and tricks on how to do all that stuff. >> So, yeah. >> Question for you guys. Um, other than what Jackson's experiencing with uh the aerospace program, does the innovation center do any other like internship placements? Give them

020any other like avenues for >> Yeah. No, that's an area we're looking at that we're we have some and then we're No, we're we're looking to expand upon that. So, we do have um some in there. Last year we had a few students work with IT. So they kind of interned there. Um they're hired through that. So it's kind of nice they can go over to our IT department, work a few hours a day, then come back in class and then now we have a meeting coming up about certified nursing assistants. We're talking to home care aid programs there. There are it's an area for growth. Um because our goal is really I said we should have almost every senior out in a workplace as we were talking that kind of fits in a little

021bit. I would love to have this almost be like a a draft day where business are coming in trying to be like which one of your students can I take and I think that's our aerospace with mass sergeant bin who's running some of the STEM stuff there and his personality that really is a connection where that Jackson have a number of people coming in I know worked with Perry Tech stuff like that they have people coming in they have more employers than they have students I want that to be us someday and all of our partners where our kids are seeing that value and I think that's part of our goal is especially as we go you students mornings are what's my fastest way to get to graduation. I don't care. Sometimes it's I don't

022need to learn. I just need to get to that diploma. And that's what they see as the end. Our goal here in talking with a lot of students even today is I said we want to bring the academics and the application together. I said when you go into business that's what they want to see. They don't want to see you just got a diploma because lots of people have a diploma and that doesn't mean you have a whole lot of qualifications. They want to see where you can take my calculus, take some of my robotic stuff, put that together and now all of a sudden we had one talk like oh I probably maybe don't have to go to a four-year for engineering because I'm doing all this stuff right now. I can maybe go

023to some employers learn there. I can go to Perry Tech. We had one last year graduate in computer science. They said I already have like eight certifications. I would have to go to school for like two years to get those certifications. and stuff. I might as well just keep working on my own, get more certifications and get jobs right now versus having to invest a lot of money in a degree that's going to get me back to the same spot and behind. So, I think that's the neat part is really we're trying to build pathways that there isn't like everybody's just going right to workforce. It's where can we go? Workforce, apprenticeship, enlistment, two-year, Perry, fouryear, everything like that. There's lots of possibilities. And Jackson, you know, represented one of our students in those areas.

024So our goal will be every kid out working, you know, part of the day getting that experience. We're dissecting some frogs today and some we're like there's two out in the hall. Maybe this isn't for me, you know. But it's one of those things that sometimes, you know what, you come back the next day, you get a little more comfortable. Come back the next day. I'd rather have them have that experience here in one of our and here high school anywhere else versus >> they go to for medical assistant. Then they get out there and the first day my daughter was a medical assistant. First day she was like had to leave. She's like I'm sick. like maybe this isn't a job for me. 2 3 days of going back in all su like oh

025I don't mind this at all anymore. So I think that's our goal is to get students interest in these areas find their passion and then get them excited so then they have a purpose just beyond or beyond just getting the diploma there. Go ahead back to this question. What who are some of the other partners that we've had in the past? I know we've had magic balist. >> Yep. Magic balis school right now has one student. We have an in apprenticeship with them right now. We have one apprentice and then we have four or five with Ajax which you stand for aerospace joint apprentichip committee. They're an apprentichip group that works with a lot of our manufacturing related players. We have Van Goran in the past um trying to craft had some now they're going

026to hire some more house. There's probably like four or five manufacturing places in the area that has those and our goal is to keep branching those out um and make more connections that way. And then one of our goals is to have uh students in the health science pathway be able to access the certified nursing assistant uh get that certification and work on it either before they graduate or or get continue on that pathway. So we have a meeting set up with the South Central Workforce Development Council. They can serve as an intermediary and then look at maybe not not only just the hospital, you know, it might be a big bureaucracy, but maybe a smaller facility that's a care facility. it might be easier for us actually to place students there. So, we we've

027got some things in the work. >> Yep. And on the EMT, we just had a student tour a little bit ago that was asking like, "Hey, if I come here next year, >> would you let me go on calls? I can be part of the cadet program fire department." Like, well, yeah, of course. How awesome would that be to have a student say, "I have to leave class now. I have to go on a call." That's that's what we want with all of our students is to be able to have those opportunities. So we're now going to show you a project that the STEM robotics class the 79 is working on 30 on >> um so this is our farm tot project for um so basically the apple orchards how they get from the farm

028to your table and this is just a small part of it. So this is the conveyor that I built and this puts it in the boxes so it's ready to ship and that's basically all I can really explain about it. But >> how did you guys did you what gave you guys the idea? Did you guys go on a trip or did you do anything to see? >> We went on a field trip to was it Allen Brothers? >> Yep. Allen Brothers. >> We went on a field trip to Allen Brothers and um we made these based off of what they had there. >> Oh, very good. What other steps? Can you tell me any other steps other students are working on? So there's like a forklift for moving the boxes and there's also like

029a dump truck that carries the apples to a portion of the other section. But >> how much trial and error did this project take you? >> Quite a lot. Like this this is probably the fifth iteration of the conveyor belt. What is one of the key word like when I was in there you guys are you have not everybody's doing the same thing you have different things. So what were some of the key aspects and getting this done so it can go from the orchard to the table? >> So it's mostly teamwork and working with a big group which is the entire class together basically. >> Are you just doing mechanical skills here or is there some how are you making this all go? There's math, coding, um obviously mechanical skills, and there's some others

030that I cannot figure. So, >> Gunnar, did you just go into the shop and start building or how did this work? >> So, we thought of the design based off of real designs and we used those real designs to translate it into the text parts that we have and that's how we got these. What was one complication you've run into so far and how did you solve it? >> Um, a lot of bending of metal >> and just adding a lot more fixing. >> Cool. Well, thank you. We're looking forward to seeing the apples get all the way down. Do you have a expected date when this is going to be done so we can see the apples go through? >> Uh, sometime by then. >> All right. By the end of the year. All

031right. >> All right. That's good. Well, thank you. And J, what's your last? How big how big is your >> uh I believe 32. >> Yep. In the grade 32. So in their firm there's 24 7 through 9 together. Then when you break a grade level there's 30 about 32 in each grade. >> And what about the arrows? >> They're all about all our 79 have about 32 to 33 students per grade. And then our 1012 we're at like probably about 30ish per grade level in there too. Jed, you probably already know this, but it might be a good opportunity to connect. I know that Yakma is hosting the like it's the International Agricultural Tech Conference for the world >> next. Yeah, I think next is it October. October. >> I was guessing you probably

032already knew, but I just thought it'd be great opportunity for the students to connect somehow in there. No, that'll be good because I think that's the part of the agricultural area is all the technology like you can see here is and the neat part is is Jack's talking about welding. Well, if you're fabricating this, welding is involved. If you're a computer science kid, there's all the coding involved and stuff like I was just talking to some students today. So, you go to, you know, Lauren Font, literally everybody has a lot of their have iPads and they're going through and they have sensors on all the motors, see how hot are they running, everything. It's really proactive. So, that's a neat part that our goal is to keep continuing on as a great programs back together.

033But I like that the future of egg. We're talking next year we have some students that said, "Hey, I want to stay here to design and build my own drone and put into agriculture applications." So it could be cool. Maybe in a few years we'll have some kids doing patents or other things like that because they're going to come up with some neat ideas. So no, that's good. We're part of myself and a few other CT directors. We meet with South Central workforce monthly and kind of along with Perry Tech, YBC and Central and kind of look at the education areas and how the you know we can all work together with our workforce. So that's good. No, I'm looking forward to seeing that because that should be an amazing thing to bring in some

034cool technology. It be a great field trip for some of our students here. Here's one thing that's kind of where you guys are really as you're talking about our mission and vision for the district and we really been hitting a lot on teacher clarity this year and we'll talk more about that in the upcoming board meeting, but this is one of the documents that really is teacher created on this. A little hard to maybe see up there, but you guys do have this attachment in the board and stuff. But in teacher clarity, we really focus on what's data are we learning? What's our learning target? So what am I I'm learning this and our success criteria. I can do these things. So if I can do these things, then that means I'm learning this. This

035is my proof. So as they're doing this task looking at here, you could say like, oh, we're just building. We're just welding. But the goal is no, that's connected back to I'm learning this instead of just welding. I'm actually learning. And then that goes back to STEM. So all of our classes have some form of this RAM record that they're using. Here you can see on the left a student annotated one. So they're going through making notes. I'm looking at what am I learning as I'm doing this are 10 12 stems. Some of them are they're actually creating their own. So they're identifying their own standards. They're directing. So as I'm working on different project I'm working on a PLC controller. Some of them are welding. Some are doing something. They're making sure that they're

036actually know what they're learning. So I'm not just I'm not just hammering away on a piece of metal for I don't know why just cuz I need to do something. It's actually no. I'm hammering away. I'm welding because it's going to get me these connections and again we're a mastery based standardsbased school. It all goes back to this. So it's really neat to see our teachers really using utilizing these our innovators utilizing these to really get back to that teacher clarity. So most of our class you can go around ask them hey what do you learn? They'll point to this RAM record they'll put up in Google classroom. So that's kind of neat as we work throughout district to work on that teacher clarity which then brings back to student clarity schedules. I'm not going

037to go through our schedule but you can just kind of look as you look through these. Our goal is again the kids in seventh through nine are starting their day in their pathway and then we really start to bring back in from 1013 on they're in grade level bands. So the first part of their day two and a half hours they're in that program area the health science computer science STEM engine or STEM aerospace or STEM robotics. That's a band of seventh through 9th graders together. It's neat to see seventh and nth graders working together pushing each other helping each other out as you know they're showing the different things they're doing there um in that park. You need to see them learn. Like sometimes it advances the skills. Our seventh graders are like sometimes

038we have a computer science pack like seventh graders do this, eighth graders this, ninth graders this. The seventh graders like oh I want to do what the ninth graders are doing. So it's neat to see them trying to up their standards up their level of doing. After we get to 103 then we move by grade level bands. We found that last year we tried to have them kind of in a multi-grade four and it's really hard to hit all the standards we need to. So we brought it grade level. You may see like traditional looking like class like hey it's health science that's work on science research but it's really under that umbrella of what are the applications in a health career. So we really try to go back to the career connections and application

039versus just that math we worked a lot of our math and computer science there's a lot of science that computer math skills that way. So we worked a lot into everything that way. Nth grade there 10th grade Jackson we talk about they start the day either at the high school so student here can take two periods a day at the high school. We have some that are over there for precelk, some they're over there for band, some might be music, some might be art class, maybe they want to take Spanish is another one. So that's the way they get some classes we can't offer here. Some we have about 50 students in the morning in this room working on some online through West Valley Virtual Academy. Next year we'll have some doing some online running

040start as well. Then and we do offer a few. We have our PE class. We offer a leadership class and a few other courses here in the morning they can take. And then really from 9:40 till the end of the day, they're in that program area. As Jackson talked about, he's in that SDM aerospace program. He's working as ELA. Mrs. Clark, they're coming in pushing the class, coming back out. They're working Mr. Branch on math, other science, plus you. So, some neat things that just go ahead. >> Um, on the schedule, you said 10 through 12 they can do some at the high school, some here. 9th graders also able to or they're >> No, nth grade cuz we're running out of like a seven almost like a 79 school and a 1012. So ninth

041graders are able to but they are getting if I look at the nth grade schedule our students in ninth grader the first day or first hour you're getting kind of your elective so your CT related to your pathway then the next period you're getting your ELA standards so we're hitting their freshman English standards then as we go through we're actually picking up in here they're getting their art standards so they're going to get a whole credit art which then on transcript that's one of your graduation requirements so they're getting the art the arts connected back to the the CAD so computerated design and some manufacturing process where the tanagrams came After that, they're picking up either algebra or geometry, but applied back. This is kind of a block class. So, as they're designing stuff, they're

042learning the math for two hours. And then after that, they move to our health science burn where they're picking up biology and then they're picking up their health credit and their P half health that they need to graduate and then a half credit of PE. So, nice thing is if you're a freshman over at the high school, all the classes you're getting for your transcript, we're duplicating the same ones here. Just as the way we blend them. I always tell people it's like spaghetti traditional school. So you get your noodles one period sauce another period meatballs another period cheese another period and then some your seeds another period but from here you're getting more of the plate of the spaghetti all together. So that's our goal is more appetizing and easier to eat and then

043uh Mrs. Graham talking about the finch speak that's kind of project based learn they're talking about finch speakak stuff and health science and that connected back to their designing their STEM classes. So our goal is a lot of the day then you're doing some projects that connect and bring everything back together so it's not separate. Yeah, for 1012 there's lots of opportunities in there if you want to be over at the high school or here. So, usually it's more of the advanced class that we just our teacher doesn't have. We have one math person here, one math endorsed teacher working out perms that can't do the kel, precel and everything else then you can go over there because we have great amazing people over there that they can do those classes and been doing it

044really well and get college and high school credit. >> The other thing you talked about is next year, you know, we're always looking to get better. Uh we noticed that, you know, you can capture a 1.2 two FTE of a student um if they go to Running Start. So, a lot of the running start classes are online now. >> So, we could still run u a fulltime student here and add the point 2 from YBC and the students could still have access to college credit there and then still be part of the innovation center. And there's that personalized learning time, but there's typically to do that. >> Yep. The online learning gets them ready because a lot of college like you say YBC central there's a lot more online course work nowadays. It gets them

045ready for that. We do have them in here so we're supporting them while they're here in the classes. So then kind of the next part kind of switching uh modes in our presentation here is this fall actually know like this spring we had or winter and spring we had a somebody come in kind of do a management review. So the innovation center has changed kind of multiple times over the years since we're there. We're always I like the innovation center. We're always trying to improve if it's not like oh we're doing this because in 1980 we did this and this is just the tradition what we doing. We're really trying to innovate education. I tell people all the time I said education as we know it traditionally is changing with all the different things. It

046has to change. Um and so how can we be in the front of that get some things work here and then start to spread that around to the rest of our schools and other things in the area. And also as a parent kind of get some feedback too. I said how do you know that the things you're doing are working? How do you know it's the best? We said with Dr. Finch I said let's bring somebody in to kind of look at this with the outside lens versus myself looking at it. I've been immersed or other staff member or even somebody from our you know district. So we brought Michael Farmer with Washington Association of School Administrators. He came in and worked through processes process really he did an analysis of a was here on

047site. He interviewed four staff members, metal 79 students, 101 12 students, did some panels there, asked them. We did some research, looked at our website, looked at some of our past schedules, looked at all those things, looked at comparable schools. We then did evaluation and then he reported that out. And you see the full report was included in the board minutes. And I'm going to go through some of those things. So, it was really neat to have somebody on the outside give us some feedback. We're always looking to improve and this kind of gave us some things that were, hey, we're doing these things great and these are areas. Neat part was about that a lot of things we already had on the mind. It just is you can only innovate so fast and roll

048some things. Some things like oh that's in our plan and that can kind of give some good stresses. So some of those recommendations with with staffing uh because teachers are as you saw from the schedule. I might be the computer science teacher but I'm also helping with math. I'm also doing a little bit some social studies history standards integrated. That's a big load on some staff members especially coming in May from industry. So there's some things we can do with mentorship coaching. We are going to have uh some coaches that are bringing here more next year. So, we've already kind of talked to them about contracting out some of their plan time and other things to get them out of the building working. Our coaches from the district like, "Hey, we love working with everybody

049here." Because they're open to all ideas. They're open to coaching. So, bring that in this summer. Great. We're going to do some summer stuff on stairs. Actually, all the staff are looking forward to it. So, we're building a schedule right now. they're actually be coming in this summer to work with some of our coaches and really get their standards dialed in and then get scoped and sequences dialed in so we can get a good foundation of teacher clarity for next year. So, it's neat to see a staff says, "Hey, I'm willing to come in and do this because I know it's going to help me out in the long run there." Um, so really looking at that support of our desires for teachers, increasing counseling capacity. I have to thank the district on that. Our

050current counselor not only counsels all the students here at the innovation center and we have a wide array of students. Any counselor can tell you nowadays there's a lot of student needs. So our counselor Delt our counselor here in the building right now for the past few years they also are taking care of all the scheduling and the course selection for all of our online students. We have about 2850 FTE so 250 full-time students in West Valley Academy but they're not all full-time. A lot of them are dual enrolled between different buildings. So we offer about 15 to600 individual courses and they're grades K12. So this counselor has to do all that work along with supporting all of our innovation center students. And if a student comes in in crisis, that might take a lot

051of the day. You don't have time to pick scheduling for kids that could be in the district out of the district. So the nice thing is we said we just hired somebody um that'll go before the board hopefully the next board meeting. We uh they just agreed to yesterday. So we're going to have a full-time counselor for West Valley Academy and for the innovation center. So that's going to be a great step because that's really helped us out. I appreciate the support of the district here in making that happen and that's going to have a big impact. not only the kids here but they go to West Valley virtual academy I want them to feel like they're students not just hey I'm taking online class through WVBA but I'm not we need to build that

052connection we need to build the pathways for them really support them and that's area that I think this counselor is going to be able to help us out so so that we already kind of checked off that part of getting some MTSS's Mrs. Graham's going to work on more of that stuff next year. That's why we brought her in uh this year to really help with the MTSS and the sports that with common planning times. We're going to look at how to increase our common plan times because a lot of the innovation center relies on co- planning and co- teaching. We have time for staff to work together. So, we're looking at some rotation stuff. This year, every Wednesday, we did bring in a sub. So, then the teachers could have time to plan their

053ELA. That helped out. We need to do some more stuff that way. Two, as some of just clarity is hiring staff to tell them, "This is a little bit different than your traditional school." Because if I hire you at my other buildings, then you might be teaching, let's say, a construction class five periods a day. Well, you're just kind of repeating the same thing. But if we hire you here, you're going to have to rely on other teachers. More like an elementary model. Hey, I have to rely on the rest of my peers. Not only my grade level, but I need to be looking up if I'm fourth grade, what third grade's doing, what fifth grade's doing. We need that vertical here. That's all needs to be done, too. So there's some things we can

054do that way with equipment and technology. Uh we're looking to address some IT concerns. The biggest thing is you have a lot of kids doing technology like this computer science programs. You come and max but we can within the safe confines of a school because we want to keep all the kids safe. We have kids trying to figure out well I want to do this. Well this program is blocked because of safety or age limits things like that. So that's the area we're always it is good with working with us but those are some challenges our kids love. We're running 3D printers almost non-stop throughout the day. they look back the labs they're running all the time. Um 3D printers are great but some there's some guidelines and settings that we have to like go

055to a computer physically plug in something and it can be a teacher and have to go plugged in. So just trying to find ways to work around some of those requirements um that have kind of given us some paperworks there really a focus in on computer science health science pathways with equipment and technology. This summer we facilities is going to help put in a few sinks so we actually can run like medical bays and the health science program so students then can get their home care aid certification of that because we need syncs in those areas. We're going to upgrade our computer labs. One thing we found out is with technology changing computers that are four years old can't run Adobe products right now. The graphics card. So we have a bunch of computers that

056are really good. We just can't run the programs we need to because four years ago the requirements were different. So this summer worked with it. They'll be replacing our computers. Unfortunately, you couldn't just there's not a spot for graphics card. So, we have to then upgrade the nice thing is the computers are still really good for most applications. So, then we can use those computers, take them to, you know, a lot of our teachers desks, other things like that where they're not using high-end developing products. So, that'll be nice where we can take those 60 computers, use those throughout our different buildings in CT to support those teachers to upgrade some other computers. So, it's not like we're going to recycle them. We'll use more. We actually have some students take it apart and building

057computers. And that's usually one way they get around is they just build a computer off the network. Um but again working at really computer science, health science, really trying to build those pathways up as we talked about. Our goal is to get them um into the connections. You were asking earlier in our goal is to increase and strengthen our industry partnerships. All it takes time. Um again my goal is in two to three years that our students are out there. They're at work and we're building those connections. People are wanting to come in um to do all those things. And then increased certifications. a lot of certifications the kids can get and post everyone. So, just building those up. This year we had once out of our let's say 10 staff members that are really

058interacting with the kids every day. One was in their original position from last year. That was Mr. Austin. He's been here four years because there a lot of them they've moved throughout the building. Mrs. Clark was our 79 computer science teacher last year. Her endorsements in ELA, her background passions that so now she moved that. So, with a lot of new teachers in different positions, it's it's kind of level. I'd love to do it all right now. my energy level is let's get it all done but people we only have so much capacity and time. So we've been making those shifts as fast as we can um and still keeping everybody on board the boat without you know losing people. So but those are some goals and then I think the promotion expansion if you

059haven't seen our website I think that's the last one I do before you move on. >> Yeah you can go back. Um I really appreciate you working with Lassa to do this outside set of eyes on the innovation center and getting feedback. Uh I also appreciate that the consultant uh did uh interviews with students conveyed perception. So one of those you know the intentional focus on computer science and health science found part of that was that from the student voice they felt like the aerospace was getting a lot of resources. Well part of that is Jed Waters wrote was it two grants? >> We have a few grant we probably had like $400,000 in grants you know into the aerospace area. >> Yeah. So that's that's Jed Waters is our executive director taking the initiative

060and and really making things happen and so getting a lot of resources for those pathways and then the students saying hey we went ahead don't forget about us. So it was great to uh hear that uh through the student voice from the consultant and then also you know it's really gratifying for me have you be presenting that you know you're going to take that seriously and and make improvements in computer science. So, I really, you know, appreciate your leadership again. It's it all kind of fits together, >> the the outside eyes, the continuous improvement mindset, and then um you know, making things happen. Just really appreciate the leadership. Thank you. We have been charged for the health science. Fortunately, I've applied for three health sciences. We haven't got those grants. Grant nowadays grants, we're going

061to have less and less because as the state has budget shortcut, you know, shortfalls. That's been the area they've really >> reduced in is grants. But the nice thing is through CT enhanced funding that allows us to have these things. If I was looking at a normal class, the budget would be a lot less. But with the enhanced funding, we do get a lot more funding. But that's because a computer lab is last year was $75,000 for computer lab. This year with chip prices, I don't know quite what it'll be, but that's the neat thing about using CT funding and promoting CT is we get that enhanced funding to do those labs. Without the CT enhanced funding from the state, we wouldn't be able to do those labs. we'd be all we'd have one welder

062and the kids would be rotating through because it's like you know basic budgets versus that. So I think that's been a great thing that I'm glad the district want to use that way. >> Um I think it was mentioned but I think it was quickly y um maybe it's you Dr. Finch but a a health science pathway through nursing and getting some type of a nursing certification in high school. Is that is that correct? Did I hear that right? >> Yep. That's what we're going towards. We're looking at if we could do we have a fire department right next door. We have some students that want to do EMT. So we're looking at how do we in health science do a homeare aid/certified nursing assistant or NAC certification one kind of pathway. We have other

063students that say hey I want to do the more the EMT that pathway pharmacy with high school with that certific. >> Yep. Ideally we're getting kids ready for that. Somewhat is that balance. Sometimes we have to wait till they're 18 then they can take the certification test. part of his twos will actually tomorrow the posting should go live getting the right teacher. So our teacher Miss Harris doing great. She decided she's gonna have a baby in July. She wants to stay home with her kids nowadays um to help take care of them. Plus I probably say daycare prices nowadays you have two kids in daycare almost equals your full-time paycheck. So she's going to stay home so we will tomorrow start having a post and go live for out the district um for that position.

064So getting the right person that has that background that can help get our kids ready and has that experience in the CT. We need to have people that have those endorsements. I can't just hire somebody in different area that doesn't have especially in healthcare. We want to make sure they have that background and that'll help out because they'll have that connection. So that's our goal is to kind of build like kind of like aerospace. We have some students that hey I'm really into engineering. I'm really into I want to be a pilot. So we have flight simulators in that room or I want to be a welder. I want to be a machinist. There's different pathways within that. Our goal is same thing in health science that you can kind of branch all those different

065pathways. Computer science is kind of nice because everything's related back to computer so the kids can all pick their own pathway. You're not limited by equipment or technology. It's really just the students drive there. So our goal is really to build four of those to five health science pathways that really are entry level things. You can keep going up, but this will get you in the door for that first job. So while you're going to school, you can be doing that job and making money and getting experience. >> I have a question. >> Yeah. So, uh, how many what's your enrollment now? >> We're I think we're at 175ish, 180 somewhere, right? >> So, the vast majority of our high school students are at the high school, right? So, how do you collaborate with all

066the different programs because I see some redundancies, right? So, how do you leverage your CTE funding >> and um, you know, all the extra fun stuff you have and then all the So, for example, health sciences, they teach anatomy at the high school, right? So, um, you know, you have an anatomy table that they probably don't have at the high school. >> We do have one. >> Oh, they do? >> So, and then I know that we have students at YB Tech doing nursing. So, how do you collaborate and kind of not create redundant silos? >> Perfect. That that's one of the hardest parts because I do I oversee all those CT programs at the high school over here and I do work around with YV Tech. So, a lot of this overlap like Jean

067Martin has a great sports therapy program there. So, I would never want to like, hey, let's all go on sports therapy. So it is a lot of balance. I think that's kind of the hard part as we start to look towards the future. How do you keep building programs because we do have so many kids at district we do pull we have a student coming from Zilla we have few out of district ones that we're drawing in here but that is some of the part. So if we look at the some of the technology like at our high school the house science we have an animage table for them they look at different aspects welding now we just through our Perkins grant the high school have a plasma cutting table there. So really I look

068at as some of our programs of the high school if the kids into welding they really could take two periods of welding that's it for their high school career about welding 101 welding one two well if you're really into welding then take those classes over freshman sophomore year if you're student high school then your way to advance is to come here you know and that's why tech doesn't have welding firms so we're good there similar machining stuff um so if you're really into the firm there if health science hey you take that here I'd love to have them come here get health science is probably one area where there is some overlap with y Ideally we do is we try to build up some things that we can do you know o opportunities here so

069student isn't having to go because then they're losing some of our FTE that way as well. So balance uh we have a real strong egg program at the high school. So that's one thing that we had a little bit egg but it was more on this area and now we've kind of moved it this year to let's focus more on this if you really want more traditional egg than the high school. So it is kind of balancing part as we look to the future if we try to grow enrollment here. Well then it gets into a balanced part of how do we keep doing that. So that's my conversation for outside here, but it's that is a kind of a tricky spot. How do we build up all the perms? Junior high, we have a

070drone and aerospace class down there. Well, if you're a seventh grade and you're taking that class and you're like, "This is my jam." Well, then eighth grade, you should be coming up here or ninth grade, you should be coming here because this is where we can focus a little bit more. So, it's trying to balance all those programs. Treat everybody with the same way. We try to have a month each month see teachers and tell me their needs. So, although we might be adding some things here, sometimes it's we got to start it all from scratch here. We're in other buildings. We've had the programs in those buildings. So, we've been able to just add a few things where now it's building up. We just added health food science to the, you know, junior high

071that's next. You're going to be running five kids food science and culinary arts at the high school is now going to be almost a full-time position with Miss Tusky there. So, we'll work in some nutrition food stuff here, but we want to try to replicate those. So good question because that is it. >> We just want to make sure all of our students have access to project based learning and you know technology and all of the fun things. So >> no that that's a good point. So that's great. Thank you. >> I think some of the project we're doing here and how you can incorporate the math our goal is that then we can do that more in other buildings. You know how we can get that where we can have at the high school

072with construction construction and geometry can be working together. So that's our goal is there's training at states. So I think is how do we incubate some things here and then get that because my goal is how do we work in that math how work some of the challenges get to be when like I'd love to run a construction geometry but then you start getting block schedules so that's some of the challenge with them then where this works well because when block schedule sometimes it's we're hindered by that schedule which works good for 1200 kids but you can't do the things we're doing here at 1200s but that that's good points we do want to support all of our schools and that's another half my job is making sure all those buildings run well too in

073those aspects. >> Thanks. Yes. And lastly, just we're talking about promotion. So, trying to get it out. I think the innovation center I try to tell people, it's like I feel like we're you move in a house and when you move in the house, you don't want to start inviting all the neighbors over, all your family members. So, you're like, "Hey, I want to get everything put away. I need boxes. I don't want to see my everything there. I want to rearrange furniture, get it right." So, the first few years, again, I've been in the role kind of where I'm at now. Just last year and this year. Before I was more co folks, I'm just CT director. Now I'm taking on a few other things. Um this year now it's really I feel like

074now we can start to invite the neighbors in. We have some good things. We got a really good team. We got good things going on throughout the building. We have a lot of good programs. We have you know state and federal programs, special education, family engagement all here. We all work together all the time. So now I feel like now we can start promoting because we have a good foundation where now I feel like all right, we can invite people in. We can show them what is because I feel confident on the standards that Jackson's getting, Gunner's getting, things like that. The things that they're doing, the ELA that they're doing. I would put the ELA that students doing up against any other ELA and again that's thanks to Mrs. Clark and again a lot

075of our math Mr. Graange we have a lot of amazing people here so I would say they're now getting things where it's like hey this is where I want we're ready for state testing every now we can start to build it in now was my last slide was we had field group come in shoot a good video if you haven't been to our website there's a lot of really good stuff Mrs. Dan for thanks her we hired her uh about November so she's our attendance secretary registar um for the innovation center she's done a lot of work on the website really get our schedule out there get information out get frequently asked questions a lot of different things we have probably the next week or two we should be getting four student interviews they're going

076to go on there where it's a minute and a half kid talking about hey I'm in the aerospace program this is going to leave me I'm going to be in the coast guard either working on helicopters or helping save people so doing the student testimony so if you haven't watched it I'm not going show the video. People can watch another time, but you go right there, it shows you a great video. Um, that's great for a lot of things. So, that's more things when you start doing a promotion to get the word out there and all the great things that we're doing that way. So, that's Steve should have put me on when he wanted short. There's good things going on. That was that was super short. >> He came in. He's like, "Hey, it's

077going to short as me to present." >> We had a minute. So, you know, >> in all seriousness, >> it it's always a joy to come and listen to what you guys are doing. I mean, there's so much going on and I just really appreciate you and your team. And I know we've asked a lot of questions, but are there any more questions before we move on? >> What's the maximum like enrollment that the innovation center can? >> If I could if we could take the max I could we could probably do 220s. That would be about 32 in grades, 789 each, 33ish, 34ish. we push a little bit cuz that everybody's going to show up every day. And then the upper grades, we could do about four. So, we kind of were hindered on

078just the fast and the scheduling because we don't have four algebra classes. We really just there's a class per section. So, if we're there uh next year hopefully we'll be close to the 200 again. The hard part, the balance part is if we're taken from one, we're kind of taken from the other. And our students right now with a lot of running start FT things like so I think that's a struggle with all schools is how do we get students back in age? My goal is that the application base gets kids as we talked about. I had some today I was meeting with a group of really high-end students like you want to be here because if you want to go to Perry Techch in their instrumentation automation robotics program I said you're going to

079get the academics you're going to go over there for calculus. I said go over there for calculus two periods come over here and you guys are going to build the rest of the day building a drone robot. Said you're going to go right there. So in two years maybe Perry Texas say like wait a minute they almost have a year done already because of all these things great. So I said again that's really lining them up for them and the future career. So I think that's the part who's really selling is why is this better than being at home watching Netflix in your bed doing an online class or something else. So how do we give you you need to be here because there's value to it and that's again a big sale point to

080here and I guess rest of our buildings too is I think West Valley offers a lot of great programs not only here not only West Valley virtual academy for a number of students but the high school middle campus how we keep getting kids come in the door and say this is a great place. I think our staff in multiple buildings shows that students that families that move into the area are saying I'm buying a house in West Valley just to come to the schools. All that shows it. So I think we're we're ahead of the game and against the district level support that we don't have some of those challenges other districts have where they're losing a lot of room up. But it's because of all the different levels from top down and our amazing

081teachers. We have one for the high school right here, Mr. Le, you know, things like that coming in supporting our students at all levels. >> Thank you, Jackson. Thank you so much. One question. Sorry, I just wanted to give everybody else a chance. Um, can the innovation center kids, and you guys all probably know this, but can they participate in athletics at the high school? >> Good question. Yeah, we have them in the mid-level campus. They can be mid-level campus sports clubs down there or at the high school. I told students like, hey, if you're a football player, you're already there. If you're a track athlete, you're already there. Tennis, you're already closer. So, a number you're there. So, a number of them, >> a number of sports. Uh, a lot of the C teams,

082freshman teams practice here because we have the two gyms. So, no, they're all open. The sports stuff has been great. Coaches have been great. Everybody's been great about promoting that. All those activities really got us some options even expand some things in the future. Some more opportunities for students between buildings. >> And we have some amazing athletes. >> And we have such a team approach. You know, transportation, Jamie Schmidt, you know, recognized that department earlier in the meeting that, you know, the kids from the innovation center actually can catch the bus and get down to the mid-level campus and then do athletics after school down there. So, it's just, you know, great team of course that we have here. Good great opportunities for kids. >> Yep. And remember, come to graduation June 3rd, so you'll

083see all of that. And you guys are welcome. We'll put you all up front. And it's great to see. Last year we almost had to we're worried about was the gym going to have enough space. So I think we're going to put seating for like 650. Last year probably like 550. So we'll pack. We're probably going to have between IC West Virtual Academy and the GED probably could be 50 to 60, you know, students that we recognize in multiple programs. Like that's the neat thing is all the opportunities we really can celebrate a number open here. >> What time is it? >> 6:00 p.m. >> But come early, it's going to be full. So >> the doors are opening at 5. >> We'll have cake and some cookies afterwards and juice. So as long as

084you sign in so we can get you signed up. >> All right, we're good. >> Hey, thank you. >> All right. Um, >> thank you so much. That was good. I'm going to open public comment time. We have one sign in. Um, Jeremiah, >> come on up. >> The other high school teacher. >> Oh, yeah. I didn't see you there. You came in later than I saw Brad. Sorry about that. >> Um, I just wanted to comment about the um the Jeremiah teach English at the high school. wanted to comment about the novels that I submitted today for the committee materials committee which were approved. Um first I just wanted to say I appreciate Joel taking time to speak with me the other day about the novels I presented to the materials committee. Um I

085think that kind of direct conversation models the respect um respectful engagement we encourage our students to practice especially with people whose views that they may not share. hope more of this kind of discussion happens in the future between uh teachers and members of the school. Um at the same time, I do think it is unfortunate that this conversation did not occur before the objections to my office were included last year in the public. Um I'm not suggesting that discuss this discussion necessarily would have changed anyone's position, minor Joles. Um, but I do believe concerns could have been expressed in a way that felt more accurate and less damaging to my professional reputation. Um, one is and in light of the fact that the materials committee approved these models today, I would ask the school board

086to to do several things before deciding um they're going to turn this decision. Um, first I ask you to read my defense of these books and I'm going to give that to you. Um, second, I ask that you read the books themselves in the context of that defense, um, if haven't already. Um, third, I would ask you keep in mind these books would be offered as a choice in a discussion alongside other books that have already been by school. And uh finally, if you're still considering overturning the material committee's decision, I would ask that you have a conversation with me. I will make sure that I have time for that conversation so I can better understand the reason. I have devoted a great deal of time and care to select any jobless like that any

087decision regarding them reflects the same level of thoughtful consideration. So this is my defense of these novels and why I chose them and some other things. Thanks guys. Okay, that's all the That's signed up. Do you want Yeah, we have time. >> I got to sign up. I'm sorry. >> Oh, you have to sit down. I'm kidding. Come on up. That's fine. You come on up. >> My name is Mike Moore. U I uh I didn't know if this was added. I didn't hear it added to the agenda. I thought maybe it would. Um but uh I had sent a a message to a few board members and to Dr. Finch regarding a meeting last night we had for the senior parents um and just kind of the uh issue we were having with um

088some late notice regarding the firework display that generally takes place um for the seniors. It was just a tradition that started I think around COVID when we couldn't do all this stuff and so I was like hey what do we do? let's do a fireworks show for so I would say maybe the past some of the maybe the past five or six years I don't have the history but um you know my understanding is and I and and again um I I was just new to this conversation but the cost for the sundown went up um the school the building wasn't able to fund the cost of the firework show and so um you know as parents we're like okay do we have enough time to fund raise you know what's the deal. Um I

089depending on how long, you know, the shorter one is $2,500. So, we were kind of hating hand and I sent a message like, "Hey, you know, did the district pay $2,500 for for the show?" Um uh you know, one of the other things that I was going to talk about was a conversation that uh Mr. Wilcut and I had a couple months ago, and it kind of ties into this. Um it was uh a follow-up um after the levy and the bond. The levy was 51 3 or 4, I can't remember. Um passed marginally. Um the bond failed pretty, you know, by a margin over 10%. Um but uh we did discuss a few things and most of my comments um I had some concerns about running a bond right after but there were some

090other concerns that I had and I shared with uh Steve a a a story that um you know had to do with with with the recent uh state basketball run um with the boys basketball and I had sent a teacher at the high school a text and just said hey you know is the district planning on or are we planning on having a a pet, you know, pet bus or, you know, a rally bus because the year before there was nobody and um it was pretty frustrating and I thought embarrassing. Um, you know, and so I was just kind of curious and uh the response I got was that um they uh they were going to have a uh the only thing they could get together was that the Ram band, a bus for the

091band was going to be there, but um the ASB was going to pay for it $5,000 or something around there. Right. My response was, "Well, doesn't the district pay for that? I'm confused." Like, "Okay, I would think that come from the district. I don't know." And I got laughing emojis back. And, you know, I'm like, "Wow, that's pretty telling." Um, that, you know, a teacher, a staff member, somebody, you know, doesn't even I mean, it's not even a thought to come to the board and ask for money. Um, you know, and it kind of tied into the whole, wow, how do we engage the community to get community support? How do we get outside of the shell? how do we change make changes to reach out and um you know kind of frustrating and but

092I did tell uh Steve you know if I see other opportunities reach out to the community you know I'll let you know and bring it up because I really do think that we should do that. I think 10% you know on the scale of bond is huge. It's no small margin. I mean that's that's huge. Uh, I've helped out with five or six bond campaigns, and that's a big number. I don't I don't know how to get to that, but it's a big number. We got to start somewhere. Um, I was really really disappointed. And Dr. Finch, I'm going to just read the text that you sent me on the way in. I I don't mean to call you out, but I'm I'm not happy. Uh, and it's pretty disappointing. Um, so the response I

093I I received uh was that uh this is a tradition that started by the senior class a while ago. It's never been district sponsored. There are other items from the district budget that would take priority. The senior class can make a request to ASV ASB student directed funds or student directed funds. So again, well, I mean I, you know, we're kicking it back to the students. We're kicking it back elsewhere. And I just it's frustrating. And you know, I went back to that text from uh the teacher and it was kind of funny. I didn't even remember this. Uh but following that three months ago, the price of graduation in the Sundome has gone up and the district is trying to make the building and our ASB pay for that increase. So, you know, I

094don't know how everything went down. I don't really care. What I do care about is engaging the community, engaging the families. We ask the parents to do a lot and our schools are great. We know that. We sit here and watch these kids. It's amazing. But Somehow we have to figure out how to change make a change and engage the community. My response to Dr. Fitch was well maybe it's time to reassess priorities. And I really do believe that we have to figure out a way to engage the communities. Whether it's sports, whether it's extracurricular activities, whether it's the senior class, ASV, it doesn't matter. It's eat what you kill. It's every unit by themselves. And then when it comes time to run a bond, why why help? They're spending more energy elsewhere. I don't

095I know we don't have money for everything. I know, but it is a disappointed response and I'll leave it at that. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay, I will close the public comment period at 8:01. Uh, next thing on the agenda is uh action items. We have three separate action items tonight. And the first one is approval of the minutes from April 28th, which was a study session and a board meeting and then a special board meeting. And so if there's no questions, I will entertain a motion to approve all three of those minutes. >> Make a motion to approve all three minutes. >> Okay, a motion has been made. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed by the same sign. A motion passes five to zero. Uh there are five travel requests.

096Um boys basketball summer basketball tournament in Arizona June 10th through 15 and the high school state track meet in Tacoma May 28th through 30. Dr. Finch to um West >> Winchester Winchester Innovation Center state visit. Uh that's in September of 26 and another visit for a league of innovative schools in the fall November 3rd through 5th. And then finally, a high school boys and girls tennis at the WIAA state tennis tournament in Kenowick on May 21 through 23. Again, if there's any questions, please ask. If not, I'll entertain a motion to approve all five requests. >> I'll make a motion to approve all five requests. >> Okay. A motion made to approve five travel requests. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed by the same sign. Motion passes 5 to zero. We

097move on to um items arising. I don't believe there are any. >> Can I um I have a couple actually. >> Can I ask why we've postponed the policy changes again? What was the >> uh I had met with Steve Walcott and there was some language that we needed to update on some of that. So I just needed some more time to work on So they're not the language isn't correct in the version that we use for that. >> Yeah, update some some of that language. Yeah. >> Oh, okay. Is that based on your concerns, Steve? We're just like >> one of them was based on the shortness of things like we did before. So we were going to talk about it again. >> Okay. And then um I also want for items arising wanted

098to bring up the plan for the bond. Um I know it's been you know a few months now. So kind of what our plan for that. I know Ryan shared with me that I think if we don't pass a bond by next February, there's a bunch of the matching fund that we would lose. So time, right, Aunt Brian? >> You want to speak to that >> decision by October 15th. >> Okay. >> If we don't get something in October 15, we go to a different cohort. That cohort drastically reduces the matching funds that we get for both the midle campers as well as that. So, we need to file before October 15th if we're going to run again. >> That's correct. >> Okay. So, because of that, I think maybe we put on a future

099agenda to discuss, but I'd like to discuss that sometime soon. >> Yeah, we we've been working uh so Ryan's taking the lead on this and working to identify what would the the cost of the project if we took Otana Valley off of the project. uh but still added like putting a new roof on Otana Valley and also having a bit of a refresh at Otana Valley like we would have a refresh at Mountain View and bring that together and what that cost would be and then also if there's any escalated cost to run the bond in the same way and then bring that to the board and take a look at what would be the cost of doing the the full project as as was presented previously. What would be the cost of a revised

100project? uh still meeting the needs of Montana with the roof and such but not having a full uh restoration of that campus. Take a look at what that cost would be and then um check with the board and see these are one of those directions that we want to go. In addition, uh Brian's been working with the principles to identify uh there really as we you know heard previously there really needs to be community support and have the West Valley Citizens for Better School. Well, that needs to be an organization that's up and running and um so there still needs to be some work done on that and so Ryan's been working with principally to identify are there some people that are willing to step up and get that u group to be operational because

101that's important to have. >> Yeah. And I think the board needs to help with that. So I think um maybe the rest of you have heard about these conversations but um I haven't been aware of anything happening around bond planning. So, I think um getting us engaged and help can help with some of those pieces um the sooner the better and probably to get community involved. And then my last item arising was around fireworks, which Mike spoke to. So, um I did hear about that from a couple different parents and you know, us cutting the funding just like three weeks before graduation is pretty sudden and I think hard because now they're trying to fund raise for that um at the last minute. So I don't know the story around that but um I know

102there's a lot of frustration. >> That's my understanding the district that was never district funded and so the district has not cut the funding. >> Oh so who was funding at the high school? >> Um I actually don't have exact information to give you on that. I'm not sure what the funding source was whether that was fundraising through senior parents or fundraising for senior class or if it was >> so the decision not to fund it wasn't didn't come from the district. >> Did not come from the district. That's correct. >> Okay. Thank you. Dr. Dr. Finch, can we find out who funded that in the past? >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay, good comments. Anything else under items arising? >> Okay. Superintendent report. >> Sure. Superintendent report highlights some of the outstanding uh student recognition

103that we've seen this spring. So, just real quickly here, there's more information in the board packet, but I'd like to at least uh highlight our student names here. So, the high school art show, it's hosted by ESD 105. We had uh three students who had their work accepted into the show, Olivia Odiea, Carly Casper, and Sophia Renteria. And then some of the students actually received scholarships for their uh work. So, congratulations to them. The high school Sunrise Rotary speech, uh we do have Peter Marinace here in the audience. Appreciate that Peter uh brought to our attention um this opportunity for our kids. Uh and so uh this year when Lise, our student from the high school, uh won first place for the Sunrise Rotary speech competition scholarship of 3,500 and her speech was on women

104in STEM and Gwen herself is planning to go to Washington State University in the fall and major in architecture and construction management. So congratulations to her. uh the Ajac testing. There's a center here in Yakama where students can go and have independent testing of their skills. And so we had four students from the innovation center and they all did outstanding on this independence test testing. It's the assessment of their machinist skills. So the students are bravery, Orlando Garcia, Ameliano Himenez, and Connor Cyers. So congratulations to them. Yep. We also had uh a high school student was recognized by Boeing. Boeing does a statewide STEM signing day. We have to apply to that. Uh it's for students who plan to pursue post-secary education in STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. And so Jessica is

105a senior at West Valley High School. She's an outstanding student from our JRTC program. She's planning to attend the University of Portland in the fall and major in public health and wellness. and she'll be continuing her service to our country in the Army ROC program while she attends University of Portland. And let's give her a hand. And then finally, we have uh two groups of our students. We have uh our high school jazz band number one, and then we have our junior high jazz band. They uh they competed at the Columbia Basin College jazz band competition. And so our high school jazz band took first place in the 3A division for high schools. Our junior high jazz band took second place in the 1A division for high school. So it was our junior high band

106competing against other high schools in the 1A division and they took second place in the high school division. So congratulations to both of THOSE and certainly need to give a shout out to their teachers, Jeff Smith. So Jeff Smith actually teaches in the morning before school at the high school for jazz band one and then during the school day at the junior high for the junior high jazz band. So I really appreciate Jeff Jeff sending you that info so that I could share it with you. >> All right and that concludes the superintendent report. >> All right, thank you. Uh are there any board reports or board development? >> Yeah, I have one. As mentioned, I am serving on the IMC which is the instructional material committee. I do appreciate the handout that we were

107given and I would strongly recommend that all the board members do read the books. I have strong objections to Darius Twig uh Dear Martin and Marie and so I think it's would behoove us to look through both the written material here and read all of the book. >> What are your objectives around language? Is that what it is? >> Uh content. There's lots of language but there's lots of content. >> Okay. What do you mean content? >> Uh moral thief. There's a scene of a girl getting raped, um, gang raped, and then there's smoking crash in one element. There's, um, a really intense sexual scene between the the two antagonists of the plot. Um, he's hiding his erection as he's going through it. There's there's just a lot more material and content in there, >>

108but that's more of these. We could go into the other two as well. >> Which one's that? That's >> No, that's Mario. That's Mario. Sorry. >> Oh, the mayor. >> Okay. Any other discussion for board reports? Okay. Hearing none, I am going to adjourn the meeting. It is 8:11. Thank you so much. Thank you.