001la. [Music] President Top, we just got word that SPS TV is ready. So, whenever you are ready to start the meeting, we're good to go. Wonderful. Looks like we have we have four board directors. Yes, it does look like we have the board. Okay. Good afternoon. The board meeting will be called to order in a moment and SPSV will begin broadcasting. Wait just a one minute here, folks. All right. This is President Top. I'm now calling the June 18th, 2025 special board special meeting to order. It's 4:32 p.m. This meeting is being recorded. uh directors and staff here will participate remotely today, but public access is also being provided uh to watch this remote meeting at the John Stanford Center as well as online through SPSV. Start with we would like to land acknowledgement. Um
002I would like to acknowledge that we are on ancestral lands and the traditional territories of the Puis Sound Coast Salish people. For the record, I will call the role. Uh we'll start with uh Director Clark present. Director Hersy here. Director Miseri present. Director Ranken here. Director Sergio present. Vice President Briggs here and this is President To. Well, uh I just want to start off with today is the last day of school for Seattle Public Schools. So, a a really massive thank you to our amazing teachers, educators, school staff, community partners, and every for everything they've done this year. Our educators do so much um more than teach. They support, guide, help shape the future of our city and their work makes a difference for our students and families. Um and I also want to thank
003our students and families for their hard work and resilience this year. Uh this week, board directors uh and students and staff uh wrapped up graduation ceremonies across the district, including the final graduation at what is the current Memorial Stadium. And I will just say, even though the power actually went out at Memorial Stadium, staff, city partners, and our community really joined together to make sure that students and families still got to celebrate. So, thank you all for making that happen. and we can now look ahead to the breaking ground on a new stadium and exciting next chapter. Um, also just to continue to say this, we're going to move forward with a search for superintendent. June is our month of engagement. I think there's almost an engagement session every single day in the month of
004June and I encourage everyone to take part in these sessions, share input, and what we're looking for in our next superintendent. Uh details for these sessions are on our district website and we will continue to provide updates over the summer. But overall wishing everyone a safe and happy summer congratulations on the school year. Um with that we do have two items on our agenda today. Uh the first is very administrative. It's to move our July regular board meeting to July 2nd. Can I have a motion and a second for this item? I move to uh move our board meeting from July 1st to July 2nd. Second. Thank you. So, some quick context here in uh 2024 and our July 24th meet June 26th meeting, excuse me. We the board approved our regular board meeting calendar
005for 202425 school year. The original date was scheduled for July 2025 meeting was July 1st which is a Tuesday. This board action would move the date to July 2nd which is a Wednesday. Our typical meeting day of the board uh the main reason I think was director Misarahi, director Briggs and myself. So the officers of the board all had a conflict on July 1st. So this will make it so more folks will be able to participate or more board directors will be able to participate um on July 2nd. Um and we will be voting on our budget uh for the 25 26 at the July meeting. So this is will be an important meeting. Um, seeing if board directors have questions uh or comments about this action discussion. All right, seeing none, I'm going to
006call on Miss Wrath for the vote. Thank you, President Top. Director Hersy, I. Director Ms. Rahi. Hi Director Ranken. Hi Director Sarju. I Vice President Briggs I Director Clark I and President Top I. This vote has passed unanimously. I appreciate that everyone. The little bit of flexibility there. Um so already on to the second action item onto our agenda designating acting superintendent. Um our second action item today is to designate Fred Podesta as the district's acting superintendent. Can I have a motion and a second for this item? Is there is there uh like a specific language I need to use here? Yes. I believe the motion sheets are in your email, but we will Oh. Oh, let me Yep. Well, let's just wait a moment and we will we will Aha. Okay, I see it.
007Okay. I move that the school board designate Fred Podesta to serve as acting superintendent of the district through September 3rd, 2025 and authorize Fred Podesta as acting superintendent to carry out those powers and duties as prescribed by law and policy for the district superintendent. Immediate action is in the best interest of the district. Second. Thank you, Vice President Briggs and Director Mahi. Just some quick background and then we will move into questions or comments from other board directors. Uh, Superintendent Dr. Jones resigned from Seattle public schools effective September 3rd, 2025. Um, he will remain on medical leave to address a personal health matter through his final day with the district. Uh, the Seattle School Board uh fully supports Dr. Jones decision to prioritize his well-being and we wish him a smooth smooth and full recovery
008and we extend our gratitude for his service, his leadership, his years of commitment to our students, staff and the community of SPS. Uh to ensure stability, the board is taking action to designate uh chief operating officer and asking Fred Podesta as acting superintendent through September 3rd, 2025. Mr. Podesta's leadership will help us prepare for a smooth start to the 2526 school year and we uh are grateful if this passes for him to step into this role. Uh the board will continue the search process for a superintendent as planned um and um continue as we support the community. Looking for directors for discussion, comments, questions. Director Ranken, thank you. Uh just a quick comment. Uh just I appreciate the opportunity to be able to vote on this. I think as um you know we have the
009the uh what is it the succession of duty or delegation of authority um that uh the superintendent assigns to in this case Fred Podesta um in an absence and um I think that knowing that uh Dr. Jones will be extending his leave that it's just really important that we specifically designate and authorize uh Mr. Podesta for clarity for our community and also for uh support of staff that we are we that the board is authorizing this direction. Um it gives some clarity for us to move forward. Um, and with so many transitions uh having happened and in our future, the more clear that we can be as a board for ourselves and for our community, the better. Um, so that's just a long way of saying appreciate the opportunity to to vote on this and
010provide this direction and um appreciate uh Mr. Podesta for being willing to um fill this role for for even a short time. other board directors. Right. If we have call the role please for not the role the vote. Sorry. That's fine. Director Ms. Rahi I. Director Ranken. I Director Sarju I. Vice President Briggs. I Director Clark. I Director Hersy. Hi. Sorry. Could you repeat that? Hi. Thank you. President top I this motion is passed unanimously. Well that uh concludes our business for the evening. So there being no further business to come before the board. The board special meeting is now adjourned at 4:43 p.m. Thank you everyone. Have a wonderful evening. Thank you. Happy summer.