Eatonville School Board of Directors Business Meeting

001To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nationisible with liberty and so much fun stuff on the table. Um, it says schoolboard appreciation. >> Thank you. >> Cancel the noise. >> She's there. Are we waiting for her? >> Okay. Well, >> hang on. >> No, no, no. works. >> We, you know, you see some tokens of appreciation here and hopefully what you felt is this is not just something that's happened just tonight, but that you felt the appreciation of all of us throughout the whole not only throughout the whole month, but that you do every month. Uh though we do recognize that you are volunteering for a very tiring and and and sometimes unnoticed um you know position and we just want to tell you how much

002we appreciate you and uh what we've what we say is you're nothing but the very best and so uh we just want to say thank you for everything you do. A whole lot of gratitude for your leadership, dedication and service to our schools. Your guidance helps keep our district strong, successful, and well-rounded, pun intended. [laughter] >> So, just know again, um, we have different, you know, different tokens of appreciation, but make sure that you join in. >> There's a flavor guide in there. >> Oh, okay. Good. [laughter] >> Thank you very much. It's very much appreciated. And on behalf of myself to all of student reps and all of my colleagues and I think Travis was going to join us remotely. I don't know if he's on there or not. But uh what an honor

003what a treasure you all are to me and um as colleagues and as friends and it's uh people who care about students in our community and students who care about the community. It's just thank you. I'm really honored to to serve alongside you and I honor you this as well. All right. Choose your nothing but cakes. >> Enjoy that. >> All right, student reps. Uh, >> can I pause you really quick? >> Yes, absolutely. >> We have a little something from a couple principles um, regarding our student reps. We wanted to appreciate them. I think I put it on your spot in your pile of things. [laughter] My pile >> for the student reps. >> Let me come help you because you have a lot. >> I do. Is it this one? [laughter] >> CC.

004That's a card from CC. Okay. >> Um, we got very very So these ones are from CC and this is from the high school on our student reps. >> Oh, if you want to read those for them. >> Yes, I would love to. >> This is so fun. Okay, this is when you guys are on the hot. >> So, we are going to read a little bit about you. Would you guys want to be part of it too? >> Just one piece of paper. >> Okay. [laughter] So, if you can split those up. >> Yeah, you read one and then she'll read one and then Cass will read one and I'll read this one. Oh, does that sound good? Okay. >> Okay. >> And this is from >> Okay, Miss uh to Cadence. Cadence is

005an outstanding outstanding representative for the school board and a strong voice for Eatenville High School students. As our ASB president, she consistently does an excellent job connecting students leadership with district leadership and helping ensure that students perspectives are thoughtfully represented at the board level. She leads by example in her work at school and truly embodies what it means to be a cruiser through her integrity, responsibility, and commitment to service. I have especially appreciated her dedication to hearing from the students across our schools and her willingness to fully embrace the responsibility of her role. Her leadership reflects both care for her peers and genuine respect for the work of the school board. That's all true. >> [clears throat] >> Eli. Okay. Eli Eli has been a thoughtful and effective representative for the school board this year.

006He has fully embraced student leadership roles and has done an excellent job um representing Eatenville High School and the broader student body. as a member of the high school um can't see as a member of the high school leadership class and through his involvement in MFA leadership over the past several years he has developed strong leadership skills grounded in service and responsibility. Eli is a very downto-earth and approachable student qualities that have served him well in his role as a school board representative. I have especially appreciated his commitment to ensuring that student voice from all schools across the district is heard and represented with care and respect. That's all through. >> Okay. [clears throat] Ruby. Ruby has been a dedicated and impactful representative for the school board. Now serving in her second year in this

007role. During her time as a student representative, she has strongly embraced the broader concepts of service and civic involvement and has worked to promote initiatives that create lasting meaningful change, including her involvement with the anti- anti-bullying committee. Even while attending Running Start and not being on campus regularly, Ruby makes a clear effort to stay connected to student needs and perspectives. Her commitment to ensuring that student voice is heard and represented at the board level has been consistent and thoughtful and her leadership reflects a genuine dedication to the well-being of students across the district. >> Mr. [clears throat] Academy has a little something about um Cadence Cadence has been an exemplary student rep. I've been impressed with your initiative to email me regularly to learn about what's occurring at CCA. Eli and Cadence up drove up

008to CC this month to meet our student council. They showed a vested interest in the campus students and activities at CCA. They took time to answer the students questions, share their high school experiences, and got them really pumped up about leadership opportunities at EHS, including FFA leadership class, and being a board rep. I was so impressed. I've seen Ruby in action and I'm so impressed with her leadership skills. All three student board reps are top tier and I can't wait to see what they become in the workforce one day. Miss Allison Burlam, CC, we write about you often to our public. So, thank you so much for all that you do. All right. Are we good to go on? All right. Now, let's highlight all the great things that we just said about you while

009we All right. Well, since um like you said, we visited all the schools. Um I unfortunately was only able to um make the Eagle Middle School due to Ryan Start classes um and we're all going to share our schools and some um student feedback that we picked up on some things that are events that they're excited about. Um yeah, start [laughter] >> um I have the Eagle Middle School and we visited the eighth grade leadership class as well as the seventh grade leadership class on a Friday. So, I know they were a little sleepy, not really wanting to talk. Um, but for eighth grade for some current events, they're currently planning dandas and a pep assemblies, which they're really excited about, hoping to get some new ideas flowing there. And they're also wanting to incorporate

010team bonding activities to help incoming sixth grade students. So, they're hoping to incorporate that for next year. Um, some ideas for high school is some team bonding with older students to allow for an easier transition. And they also wanted to allow phones to contact family and friends. They're very, [laughter] um, some advice is to try your best and be lighthearted. and some comments is that Eagle Middle School eighth graders say thank you so much to the board members. Um yeah, and then for seventh grade the leadership class, they were had a lot of energy for Friday. So not really sure what was going [laughter] on there, but some current struggles. They had some hardships in math and students are wanting to focus more on active teaching and more interaction with students to allow for team

011based learning. When they talked about a lot of struggles with um having to do a lot of personal um math assignments, which was difficult just to focus on yourself and not have any peer reflection. So, they're wanting some more peer reflection just with math. Um, and then they're also having issues with drama, gossip, and teing, which is affecting their learning as well as social interactions with friends. And they they said that they've learned to just get used to it, which is really sad. Um, some advice is to kill them with kindness and believe the best in everyone. Some current events as they're working on a clothing drive for Evil Family Agency, which is starting in February. And some more ideas for high school middle school. um they're wanting to have a mentor or an older

012student assigned to a freshman. Again, the eighth graders also were um interested in that. They're also hoping for some longing p longer passing periods just to start off their freshman year. Um a big worry was finding classes and not being on time. Um they're also hoping to see the kindness gang at the high school and seventh graders are really interested in starting it. Um and they also didn't want to have a morning advisory. They were interested in having advisory on Wednesdays like they have at the middle school. Um, I think that's called warrior time, I'm pretty sure. Um, they also wanted phone privileges at lunch. They're very adamant on that. And then they also wanted a separate grade lunch for at the high school to allow for interaction with everyone in the grade. Um, and

013some comments is they're asking to hold teachers accountable. There were some problems with students not being believed or trusted. They were also asking the school board to hopefully show up to some middle school events and they're hoping to get in contact with you guys. um they're very excited for the high school and their future and a lot of students are also interested in running start. So they're already talking about how can they sign up, what can they do now in seventh grade and I was like you guys just need to relax. You don't have to do anything yet. [laughter] Um and yeah, that's all I have for middle school. >> Great. Thank you. >> Um so as Rud said, we visit all the schools. So I'll cover uh the one that we visited which was

014uh Warehouser uh which is school I went over. And so currently they're doing an attendance challenge which we kind of got to see a little bit of. Um, so basically all students in the class have to have 10 perfect days of attendance for a reward and one student didn't show up. And so while we were there, they were uh trying to put together an argument for the principal as to why it shouldn't count. It was very cute. They were adamant. Um, and for other things that are going on in the future, uh, they're getting ready for the kids heart challenge, um, and then a jump rope activity in February. But other than all that, they were really fun to talk to. They were they were so excited about uh moving up into middle school and

015they were asking a bunch of questions. Uh what was like their main questions? Mostly like classes that they can join. >> Yeah. What's your hardest class? >> What's your easiest class? >> They're already thinking about which is good. >> Um I got to visit both of my schools, Columbia Crest and Eatenville Elementary for Columbia Crest. very nice campus. Like I wish I went there when I was in elementary school. Um for some highlights, they talked a lot of like their spirit weeks, how they usually get a lot of attention because it's such like a small population of students, but their favorite day they wanted to say was pajama day. Um they got to bake biscuits the other day and they have like a home at class. So, they got to bake biscuits in one of

016their class and then they got to make spaghetti in the other one, which they talked about how they wanted a full culinary class, like four credits, like a like a like a class that they can take. Um, and then they were talking about, um, they always have a dodgeball tournament practically every year, which by student request over basketball tournaments, which they have more often, but because a dodgeball tournament is so popular, they make it like a really big award thing every year, at least once a year. Um, I thought was really cool is that they made their own fire pit like off into the back of the building [laughter] over in the field. And then they also made like pumpkin slingshot which they don't use currently but they did use them when they first made

017them. Um they have an ASB dance coming up in March and it's supposed to be a carnival theme. And then they have a fundraiser going on that some of the eighth grade students set up for they're selling like bar keychains and chocolates for their eighth grade trip. And they're hoping right now they have enough money to go to Great Wolf Lodge, but they're hoping to get enough money to go to Mariners's game and like have a night spent somewhere, which I thought was really cool. Like I wish I could have done that. >> Um, and then some of the feedback was that they wish to have a culinary class that they could take for credits or, you know, be taken as more than just an hour, like, you know, spend half a day there kind

018of thing. And then for Eville Elementary, they were talking about how their favorite parts of the day are recess, lunch, riding, and I think most students going home. [laughter] Um, and then for leadership, for some of their improvement improvement efforts, uh, they're working on making kindness more of a priority. So that it's something that's like kind of what we're doing at the high school, making it a priority for every single day of the year and not just like a week or a month. how we have like kind of sweet and stuff. Um, and they're using Eagle Cash as a way to encourage others to do the right thing. So, they have a group of students that hand out Eagle Cash and it's supposed to be like a little award that people get for doing the

019right thing. And then they have um service projects going on. They're trying to do more food drives and all the proceeds go to EFA. And then they have roles in their leadership class that they were hoping could be also at the high school like morning meeting helpers and poster designers. So they have a bunch of different groups that they're excited to share. That's all I have. >> Great. Thank you. Thank you guys for being such good example and mentors to I would consider any changes or additions to the consent agenda. Hearing none. Um I would move to accept the consent agenda as proposed. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. Just I want to make sure this might be a long meeting. If you guys

020need to sneak out, I want you to feel like you're gonna go. Okay. All right. >> We've got a lot on a now. [laughter] >> Thank you so much. >> I'll sit through it. taking it taking it. >> Yeah, we have early morning tomorrow. So, >> I've had fun. >> Okay. [laughter] >> Um, so you'll you'll take notes to coordinate with everybody else. >> Uh, all right. Hearings of individuals and groups. >> There's none. >> Um, reports and presentations. So we are going to have the opportunity to bring Justin Lanterson. [laughter] >> Thank you so much for coming. >> You're welcome. It's closer to home for me. So uh everybody was surprised when I was like, "No, I'm going by." I had a five o'clock meeting and I would been stuck on the freeway anyway.

021So this is faster home. So and plus I get to see all of you in person, which rarely happens. Yeah. >> And I I rather deliver financial [laughter] >> we're doing great. >> So, um Christa AJ asked me just to do a brief overview of your fiscal trends. Um this is the time when we're starting to kick off those decisions about finance and uh you as a district have been through what we like called the roller coaster. Uh up and down projections. We're all in that roller coaster every day. And uh first of all, thank you for your advocacy uh to the legislature. We have completed about 63 fiscal notes um as an ESC for bills that are proposed or drafted. Um not all all of them are favorable. Very few of them are favorable.

022Um but we we want to continue that advocacy of course and we uh are there every step of the way. So uh as you speak to them and need numbers, we're there. We provide a lot of dashboards and there's two linked in my presentation that you can use to have those discussions with them. One is the AESD dashboard and one is the fiscal dashboard that we use. So both of those have been updated. So uh next slide please. We'll we'll just start. I did some basic trends for you. This is really um I summarized all of the information on one uh key takeaway uh and those are up here. Obviously, your revenue continues uh to grow, but your expenses are rising faster. We know that that's the trend in the state. It's nothing different. The

023challenge is how do we continue to scale back our expenses so that we can meet our revenue and that's really your job as the board and our job as county to assist you with that. Of course, uh what we saw in your budget was the deficit growing. Uh we were going to eat into those funds in the budget. Um, I worked very hard with the administration to come up with how we were going to meet that. And I have [clears throat] to say as of today, uh, you probably saw the fiscal projections. Very pleased. They implemented a tremendous amount of work. Uh, the staff, everyone here at the district has worked hard, um, to meet those financial goals and we are actually seeing that in the budget cycle come through. So, kudos to all of

024you. >> It's been hard work. >> It's a lot of hard work. for us, but >> a lot of hard decisions and >> we're not always doing the best for students. We're trying to do the best that we can for students and those are two different things and I hate that. Um, but unfortunately it's the reality that we live in. Um, so I think one of the things that I'm going to talk about is your fiscal projection. Uh, the other I'm going to talk about is of course your budget and where that kind of set forth and the outline. um your your fund balance of course in your budget went to 670,000. Um we were scared uh you were on a watch list because of that extreme decline. We also saw some base relief in

025um some of the areas where we've been able to conserve some money. Uh for instance, transportation right now has done an excellent job at containing some of that. still a concern, still part of our challenge in this district because of the length of the district in the miles, but uh definitely seen a few operational efficiencies that we've talked about and we're still need to do more. Uh but I'm really I'm really excited that what data we are seeing and it's really early in the fiscal year, right? We've barely closed December and we haven't really got January, which is the full first month of the real budget. So, it's pretty early, but a lot of the projections look really solid. So, as you can see, the reserve equals when we did budget, uh, you were down

026to 0.21 of a month, 1.7%. Very scary. We were going to have a cash deficit problem, a cash flow problem, which means about we would need about $3.5 million to borrow our cash just to pay our payroll and our benefits. That's a problem when you have less than a month of reserve. With the new forecast, you're almost at a month, 74 of a month. That's still not enough, but it's what we can do to help float cash flow. So, what we've done is we've been able to uh pivot payments so that we don't have a cash flow problem at this time. Potentially though, that is still on the horizon and a time that we can't stop uh what we're doing. We have to keep going. So, the message for me tonight is that you have

027to keep up this great work. and I'm going to walk right beside you and make sure that you're doing whatever we can as Puget Sound ESC to help you and as well as the rest of the advocacy that we're doing to the legislature now to change some of that legislation. So, next slide, we'll we'll go on. Uh this is probably the most alarming um slide, but I I want to reemphasize that your budget projections um are on the next slide and [clears throat] they're actually more helpful. But if you look through the projections, you can see um let's go back. I'm sorry I said next slide, but I really didn't mean that. I got excited. Thank you. [laughter] Um ending fund balance. This was of course your budget. where you ended last year at 2.84.

028Uh we actually estimated that lower. Um so we came out ahead at the end of the 2425 year. Uh we were really pleased with some of the outcome at the end of the year. Um the under expenditure. So as soon as you guys started talking as a board about what we were going to have to do that you can see the decline. We saw that we were making fiscally conservative decisions at that point. And I think that's typical. Um we see that with a lot of the schools in binding conditions three or four months beforehand they've put the brakes on almost everything and so they can slow down that process of of spending and they're also making very conscious purposeful decisions when it comes to finance. So what should we prioritize as the priority of

029the board and the priority of the administration for our students? So you can see from this um the numbers below it are the net change uh year-over-year and or the percentage change. So in each of those columns you can see I'm going to take the revenue for example in 23 or 2223 you can see that uh revenue increased 3.28 million which is 11.28%. You can move across there and see we have seen increases in revenue. Right? That's the small incremental increase. If you go to the next line, you can see the actual percentage of increase in expenditure in that same time. The problem is again those expenditure expenses are more in percentage than the revenue we're receiving. We know that. We know that because right school districts have a funding problem already with our local

030levy and the levy lid and that's a big problem with our local wise levy. The other thing is we're paid on IPD through the state funding formula and that doesn't cover all positions. It only covers what's funded through that state formula. So no matter what, the district ends up in a deficit position for all of those positions plus whatever bargaining we have on that for those specific unions. It's a very difficult situation. You can see uh you went from a 79 million operating result. So this is just net revenue and expenditure. This has nothing to do with fund balance. We're going to start topping and changing the landscape to revenue over expenditure and making sure that we can match those two more closely because if we do that, we're meeting our operational need to say,

031hey, we have to be fiscally conservative with the revenue that we're receiving. We want to receive the revenue and we want to spend that same exact amount of revenue so that we can keep our fund balance as a at a level in which stabilizes your district. You can see that you got you were worse. I hate the word worsened. I didn't even know it was a word and they were proofreading this and they liked it and I I still don't like it. I still don't I'm going to tell you right now and you know Chad TPT did not like it. They said try another word. So I was going to try another word but whatever. Um [clears throat] you did improve in 2425. Did it worsen worsened [laughter] too? Anyway, I'm going to work on

032that one. Um the plan gap of course was quite alarming and I think all of us felt that but we also knew that we had reached a pivotal point in our finance. Okay, let's go to the next slide. The next slide is what I focused on uh just a few minutes ago which was revenue and expenditure. So, um, this includes now your brand new forecast, which is what Krista and Jay have worked extremely hard and your administrative team on making sure that we can match our expenditures and our revenue and also really charting where we're going to be, like what cost savings are real and what are just perceived in our budget at the moment. And both of those things can backfire very easily, but I can say I think your new forecasted amount is

033really in alignment. I do four different projections and your forecast that was made here at the district is actually in the middle of those. So I think it's not an aggressive approach and I don't think it's too conservative of an approach. I think it is a middle of the road and I think you'll land somewhere in between those book ends. We'll know a lot more after January's comes in and it it's reconciled and we have that number. But you can see the trend of of kind of the years past and and that small bit of overexpendent small bit. But we could be purposeful about that, right? Maybe there's a year where we as a board or you as a board wanted to focus on a certain outcome that we wanted to invest in. That's just

034fine. We have to make that purposeful investment. What we have to do is then make sure do we have a plan to say the next year we're going to put that 1% right back into our so then we underspend remember because we have to have revenue that exceeds our expenditures then so that we can contribute back to that pot of fund balance that we call it. So really really good graph to show and to start to un to explain in your checkbook if your expenditures exceed your revenue it's a negative balance and that's what we've been operating on unfortunately and that's really sad. Next slide. [clears throat] So this is this is our future and probably I want to frame this and you should frame it because this is an amazing slide to look at

035and know that this is where you're headed and this is where your forecast is. If you take a look at what the budget was 67 and now look at your forecast, that's the hard work you guys and the administration and staff have done of this district is really that ship is is turned around and we are back to practically where we were in 2425. That means you've made some very difficult decisions and the financially you're you're doing great, but we have to keep going because it's it's only going to get worse. But this [clears throat] is a great slide to say this is where we're headed and this is our strong aspect of where we're moving. So >> can I ask a question? >> Absolutely. >> Um on your year 2526 [clears throat] on the

036forecast and the budget um in the parenthesis y >> you have that plus 2.11%. >> What what is that? Can you tell me what that is? >> Sure. So basically what plus 211 so there is uh there's some strategic change and that has to do with the transfer of funds in between. So they're different revenue sources quite frankly and I can analyze that a little more but yeah because it the number itself does not represent that. >> Okay. >> Um but it's in what's called a 965 account which is other financing sources. >> Okay. So, and really that's your transfer in and out uh of Bqueen funds um so to your capital projects funds or something like that. So, but I I can detail more of that. >> So, I don't have to worry about

037that. I'm I'm looking >> you look at the bigger number and say yes that's good. >> Okay. >> So, great question though and I it's been caught. Belleview caught it too and they asked me okay what is that? And then I had to explain and it went on way too long. So, I can provide it. I broke it down for us to explain. So, >> great. Thank you. >> But any other question? I mean, I'm I'm here. I'm your your question person. I can definitely do that. I just had the one one more slide which really depicts your ending fund balance. And I hate talking ending fund balance. I hate talking about percentage of fund balance. I we focus way too much on ending fund balance. We just need to focus on what is the

038cash in the bank that I need to float payroll when we don't get fully funded at our full percentage from the state. And if you're not aware, a portionment is now has a totally different schedule. So of the months we don't receive a full portion of our state allocation. They they vowed that back and so that basically creates a cash flow issue for us as a school district. So we're not getting our full one 12elfth of that allocation every single month. So the challenge that we face is how do we manage our internal cash flow to still pay the ongoing same salaries every single month, the same benefits every single month, the same power bill every single month. The only thing that we have that we can change is usually our insurance bill that we

039can break up two times a year or our accounts payable where we're paying vendors. [clears throat] So it becomes a game of which invoice is net 30, which is net 60 and which is net net 90. That's the bills that we can hold. And so if we think about this in a fund balance p perspective, I need at least one month of operating so I can pay my bills. And that's really where a lot of our fund balance policies are coming from. Now, there is a brand new legislation for ending fund balance policy and I'm not going to get on my soap box, but we've done analysis a lot on that and that'll be coming out right now. Um, Superintendent Rectal of course has proposed that and uh there's a lot of changes to that

040bill already. There's a lot of fiscal notes on that and so we'll see where that ends up. But, uh, it can be very devastating to a lot of districts in in a lot of cases. So, as you can see by this though, I think the forecasted where you're going to land is is is really amazing. The trajectory of that dotted red line down is where all of your trends, if we do trending, that's where your trends end. So, you were headed for a crash and you're still can be headed for a crash unless we manage every bit of it. Um, and I hate to be the bad bad news bearer, but I'm here to say I'll walk hand in hand and make sure that you get the best service that you can to make these

041financial decisions. And ultimately, we're still going to make uh great decisions for kids. We just have to prioritize what decisions we have to make and when. And then we have to decide is that a priority or is there another priority that takes precedent over that. So you all thank you for the job that you do. Um, this is not easy time. I go to a lot of board meetings and I talk to a lot of board members, but you have to know how much we appreciate just your willing to sit on that side of the table and and review this and help us solve the bigger problem, which is helping us make decisions and prioritize for communities because that's what it's all about is helping our community grow and ensuring our next generation has the

042ability to learn in an environment that we can be proud of. So with that, I'll I can take any questions, but I'm happy to also just go home. [laughter] >> Sorry, I always say that. >> I guess I can't remember anyone else who was here, but I sat through some meetings with Justin and transportation and um Christa, who is online and and sick. I asked her not to come in so that the rest of us don't get it. Um and there were serious conversations about what we are reducing. How are how are we becoming uh more thoughtful and efficient and it the cut we did everything we could and it's going to start hurting a little bit more and we just have to understand that's the reality because as inflationally cost rise and there's we're

043not getting any more money that's just what it comes down to. So that's our work. Um that's the story that we take our students to share tomorrow at the legislature. >> Awesome. >> How are we gonna help? Y >> that's awesome. Yeah, that's what they need to hear and the impacts that it will have on the classroom. >> Um and honestly, they listen. They listen very well. The challenge is as you know, they can't make money and they're strapped too and they're making some really tough decisions right now. And I don't know that I want to be in that chair versus the chair I'm in. they're having to do at a grander scale exactly what >> exactly and and those decisions hurt and then adding policy on top of that. That is probably an unfunded

044mandate for someone. Um and that's what we get struggle with constantly is how do we balance them? >> We want to thank you so much for coming out in person and delivering and we're grateful for the news thus far and we are going to continue to be as fiscally responsible as we can as we move forward. We're grateful, you know, for your support and your team and and um so we'll continue to work together. Thank you. >> Absolutely. Thank you for coming out. >> Travels home. >> It's an easy way. >> The traffic incident is bad. Sure. [clears throat] >> All right. Christa, did you have anything you needed from before you walk out the door? >> No, she'll call me tomorrow. No, I'm just really sad that I couldn't see him in person and

045I'm really um thankful that he was able to join and um expand on all of the topics. >> Thanks. He was air hugging you. [laughter] >> I just wish I could be there. >> I'll see you soon. >> All right. Thanks. >> Okay, Christa, are you ready? >> You betcha. >> We're rolling for budget status and enrollment. Okay. So let's see. So budget status let me go there. Um okay. So as he said we are we have done a lot of hard work um not only during budget season but postbudget season um and all the way through till today. Um we have been finding strategic ways to trim costs and increase revenues. Um and the work has been making a real difference. Um it's quite astonishing honestly the change that um we have seen. Um

046I did not expect it. Um and so I just want to let you know we um like he said everything's changing. January is a really really big month um for us finance people. Um it's when everything changes and everything keeps changing. um where we were looking back at budgeted figures. Now we're looking at actual live data. Um OSPI just came out with their um their official um aortionment report two days ago. Um, so Jay and I, um, have been, um, working with Forecast 5 to update models, um, and to make sure that we just really have, um, the best data in there and that when we're looking at projections, are we really really looking realistically or are we painting a rosy picture? Um, and we just want to, like Justin said, we don't want to

047be over optimistic, but we also don't want to be doomsday. So, um I know Rhonda had a happened to be in the office at that point and I invited her in to sit and so hopefully that was helpful um to get to see you know the next four years out. Um and so as far as this year goes um we updated that model to um reflect live average annual FTE um enrollment information. Um now what that did was we know that we were ahead we're ahead in enrollment right now um over budget by we're still favorable by 29.22 um students at this point. So that's a significant difference from budget um and I'll get back to that um when we get into enrollment. But regardless, that increase in FTE and a little bit of fluctuations

048here and there um netted a positive difference to our revenue for this year um by about $550,000. Um that is significant when we were talking about less than a million dollar fund balance. Um so when we take that um with all the work that we put in and the adjustment to revenue um now is when you start seeing that that that positive change that we've been working for. Um now on the other side of the coin um are your expenditures. Um this is where the real work comes in because this is where you're trying to find all the nooks and crannies and trying to come up with creative solutions instead of spending money. Um, we're obviously trying to keep the dollars focused in the classroom and when we have situations that come up in support

049areas, um, we're trying to find solutions and alternatives instead of, um, finding the easy fixes. Um, so I am not really eager to share a ton in that area at this point because I don't want to jinx anything. But I will say um that between maintenance, food service and transportation um the work that they are doing is has so far looking to reduce our budgeted expenditures by more than $500,000 just in those three departments >> for this year or next year. >> For this year for this year for maintenance, food service and transportation. Now the bulk of that is in maintenance. Um and his budget was already trimmed significantly. So the fact that he is under budget by that much with an already trimmed budget um speaks volumes um for his crew. Um but again

050like I said even transportation who runs at a you know big deficit is working really hard. Um we know that they're working really really hard to do what they can. Um, and they're even seeing some savings and food service is actually seeing some savings. Um, we're really watching the the food budgets and the waste. Um, and we're just getting better and better at that. So, um, there you're looking at again at least a $500,000 savings with those three departments alone. Um, so I'll just pause there for a moment and let that sink in. >> Um, because that's a big savings. Can I ask a quick question? >> Yes. >> Will that savings be duplicated in years to come? You know, because we're obviously that trend is downward trend. So, >> yeah. >> Are these onetime

051savings, I guess, or is this something we're going to be able to deduct from our budget in the future? >> I would not bank on that. [clears throat] Um, because we don't know what expenses are going to pop up. Just like, you know, just like in your house, you don't know what when the hot water tank's going to fail. You don't you can kind of plan for certain things, but you don't you can't be sure. And when you're looking at, you know, buildings of this size, um, you know, a lot of things can go wrong in a short amount of time, and you really got to have that capacity built in to respond to those, you know, incidentals. um or you're going to incur a lot bigger costs um you know and a lot a

052lot larger um damages. So we have to be careful with that. >> Um >> but I can say that we will continue to try to take advantage whenever there's a state grant or some match or there's something that >> uh to try to offset the very thing that Christa said. You know we will do be as proactive as we can as frugal as we can >> and whenever there's an opportunity we're going after it. we'll we'll chase a nickel and um that hopefully by doing all of that, >> you know, we can have some favorable results even for those unexpected. So, I I want to thank Christa for >> for going after pretty much everything and the rest of our team. >> Hi, Travis. >> Uh hi, thank you for the report and stuff. Do

053we know at all a rough estimation of how much of that savings um is also from not having to maintain Field Stadium and that vicinity that is being remodeled or other areas in the district in that same process? Um do we have any indication of of that? Um how much kind of alludes to Ron's question. Is it replicable uh the next few years? So that was just something I was wondering if we had a a rough number on that. >> Yeah, that is true. That is going to save us some um I think another thing that we haven't touched on is we are actually down a grounds a person that we did not replace that's not included in this savings necessarily, but more of the long-term trends. Um so and I think that's where a

054lot of that that work a lot of those costs were was in the staffing and maintaining that with personnel. um you know the less tangible items that we would have to quantify would be your irrigation and your fertilizers and those sorts of things. So we haven't we haven't really quantified that down to that specific level at this point for the field but I am we are seeing some changes in um energy savings at the high school. Um so those are savings that we could definitely um that we'll be able to count on for going forward. So that's that's a positive. And if I can just interject Travis and others. So yes, sometimes we've made some investments that initially cost some money, but then they start to have residual and sustainable uh savings and and so

055by going after the energy grant um you know that we were able to you know it was a million dollars and we only had to put in 400,000 to get an an additional million 1.4 for but that now uh we are seeing you know about a 15% savings each month uh just for the one building at the high school and so we'll continue to try to chase those benefits and opportunities as they come. Sometimes there will be a little bit of a cost to it, but then when it gets us, you know, and nets us, you know, a savings over time, that's something that we're really happy on and the stadium is a good example of that. Um, everything it takes to keep natural turf going. Um, now it's was an investment by our voters

056to go to to, you know, vote for an artificial turf, but in addition to saving the city the water for 27 households, which they're happy for, then we also are going to do some have some savings there for years to come. So, just wanted to note that. Chris, is that pretty close? >> Yes. And then as we have more complete data for a specific time frame, we can look year-over-year and see what those savings actually were. Um, I also want to point out, um, to Rhonda's point, are there savings that we can count on? Um, you know, a lot of people don't think about the weather and the impact that the weather has on our buildings because it's been pretty mild this year. Um, and when we go through periods of real cold, um, our

057buildings use a lot more energy. um with it being mild, I I think that's you know, we're seeing some of the savings there this year. So, there's a lot of unpredictable things. Um and there's a lot of, you know, gear left right now. Okay, this is trending right now that we're going to save. We could potentially save more than 500 by the end of the year, but that's not a guarantee. Um because things change, things break, weather changes, um people, you know, have family emergencies, leaves need to be covered, different kinds of like things shift. So, I'm cautiously optimistic, but I do see um you know, I do see really some specific areas that we can count on, you know, for savings, like you said, the irrigation, um the power at the high school, those

058sorts of things. Um [sighs] so that is as far as long-term as far as like this fiscal year. Um I expect that you know this will continue to change every month. Um I'm hoping that we can keep with the same trend. Um, and I know that every department is committed to preserving um, these funds for the long term. So, um, I just can't appreciate I I just can't speak highly enough and appreciate what everybody's doing. Um, they truly are and it it shows. So, [gasps] um, long-term projections, um, like Jay said, we we met and we've been working on this. Um, you can work various scenarios. Um, and like Justin pointed out, you have worst case scenarios, you have best case scenarios, you have in between scenarios. Um, and then there's so many variables when

059you throw in um, you know, what is what is funding going to look like for us over the next couple years and how is that going to impact our budgets? Because we know that, you know, federal funding is changing. So, um there's a lot of variables and you know if then scenarios that we'll have to work through. Um but I will say that like what Justin was um talking about is you know we're seeing some good changes this year but we just need to be cautious because the long-term projections are compounding um and we need to be prepared to deal with those. So, um that we will I will continue to provide you with updates um as we move forward as enrollment shifts, as expenditures shift every month. And um we'll keep you going and

060um and I know sometimes it feels like a roller coaster and it's just really because of the fluidity of enrollment and you know the the unpredictable um nature of the the the business that we're in. So, um, anything else on budget status? No, I just want to reiterate um Justin mentioned some legislation that's talking about minimums and maximums for fund balances for school districts that OSPI put forward that it help I have very very serious concerns about for the for small and rural schools in particular exactly for the reason that Christa just said that our fund balance goes up and down based on whatever emergency we get a new sped student in we have to hire more staff you we have a family medical leave uh where we have some costs like it's it's really

061really problematic and really really fluid and you have to be agile. So, thank you Krista for keeping [clears throat] track of that. I really appreciate it very much. >> And you're right because um Tracy actually just came to me last week and said I have to do another hire. I'm so sorry. Um and that is the nature of it and and that was a special education position and that is what we have to do. Oh. Um, okay. I will jump over to enrollment if we're ready for that. >> Yep. >> Um, okay. So, I have been sending I've sent you guys a few updates. Hopefully, you've all been getting those and take and looking at those. Um, enrollment as of um this last month um ha is favorable um from budget by 29.22. Um it

062has dropped. It did drop from December to January by six, almost seven students. Um, but it's still favorable by 29. When we look at last year, um, the drops are nowhere nearly significant as they were last year. So, I'm hopeful that we continue that slow trend. Um, and if we could end above budget by the end of the year, um, that would be the best case scenario. Um, but we will we will just see where um see where enrollment takes us and I will keep you updated monthly. >> And Christa, just I think for the benefit of all here, um, we are staffed pretty tightly to the prototypical funding model. Correct. >> We are staffed so close to the prototypical model. Um, in a lot of cases we were we are right at the prototypical

063model. Um yes. Um that will create some challenges for us um moving forward as we look at reductions. Um because it makes it challenging to decide where to cut when in a lot of areas you were already at protypical model. Um so that will provide um that'll give us some significant challenges. Um we do know in some areas though that we are incredibly unders you know underfunded and under by FTE not just you know wages but but also in FTE we we know that um a district our size for example of to have three technology staff um when we're only funded for one when last time I checked that was a model based on when we had computer labs and we are now all onetoone and learning models have drastically changed And so for them

064to still fund us at a one technology person um for a laboratory model when we are at a onetoone model um is creates a lot of challenges for us during budget season and that's just one example of many. >> Thank you. So when we're talking to our legislators, if they ask if we're over staffed, the answer is no because the pro typical funding model doesn't even give you adequate staff and we're at our planning model. So okay, thanks Christa. >> Okay. And if you guys are okay, I will go ahead and bow out. >> Yes. Krista, thank you for all your hard work. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> We are going to have our athletic director. Thanks, Gavin, for being here. [laughter] >> Okay, so here's some um kind of numbers in terms of

065participation uh last school year compared to this school year at the high school. Um and then uh there are >> Yeah, of course. Absolutely. >> So that we have two C teams at the high school. um uh volleyball and boys basketball. Those are the two sports that have the numbers um for that this year. Um scholar athletes is kind of the middle column. Um so in order to be a scholar athlete, the criteria by our state wa you got to be um it goes on the um high school. Great point. So freshmen don't have access to that because they don't have a official high school grade point at that point um in the fall and then you have to be a a varsity letter winner. And so um 45 people met that criteria, but the

066number of students that um out of the fall athletes um that hit that number is a lot higher than what who received that award. Um, and just like you can see kind of the numbers are increasing a bit from fall sports participation last school year to this school year as well as winter. Um, and we'd anticipate the same thing for um, spring. We just um don't have accurate numbers because we don't start until u March 2nd. Do you anticipate a decline since we aren't going to be >> I think it'll be higher just really. Yeah, I think >> even if we don't have the track for spring >> Yeah, I think it's Yeah. Um they do a really good job with that program and just draws a lot of kids and a lot of kids

067have a pathway to >> um participating in in that sport. So I think um I'd anticipate our numbers in the spring being higher than kind of following the trend of the other sports. Um couple things just WIA put into um rules this year new transfer policies for student athletes. So that allows anybody um so always when you're an eighth grader heading into ninth grade, you can um as [clears throat] long as your school district allows you out and then a new school district allows you in, you can go and participate um at a different high school than your residence and not have any penalties in terms of athletic eligibility, any penalties in terms of athletic eligibility. That's always been the case from 8th to 9th. They've added an ability to transfer an ability to transfer

068um one more time without moving um and it has to be in the summertime between 9th and 10th 10th and 11th um or 11th and 12th. So, you can go one more time moving, living somewhere else and moving to another school district um for academics and athletics, but you have a 40% penalty at the varsity level um that next school year. So, you'd have to sit out the number of contests in that sport. So that's kind of a new thing which um kind of creates without people having to move um you know kind of dependent upon school district to to school district how they enforce that and um with their own coaches kind of you know recruiting which they're not allowed to do but it's again you know the schools are kind of the ones

069policing that so it varies obviously. Um so that's one thing um that's new and then another uh we are in the second year of a four-year cycle for um classifications. So um next year we'll obviously begin our third year of four in the at the 2A level and then also in the league that we're currently in. Um we start counting enrollment for the next four-year cycle um next school year. And so, um, you know, that's a that's a big deal. If you end up, we're obviously going to either be 1A or 2A numbers. If you're ever 1A, you can choose to opt up to 2A, but if you're 2A numbers, that's where you're going to be. And so, um, uh, that'll be kind of just another it h happening quick. So, >> so if I

070recall, and I might be not recalling correctly, >> that really our numbers should have us at a 1A, but because of this janky way that you have to have a certain number of teams in each category, we we were capped up to 2A. Is that accurate or up to? >> So, I think that this is um so I don't like how our state um counts numbers. So what so kind of a to just speak candidly um one of the things that school districts do that are kind of bubble schools that would like to be in a lower classification and allow themselves either to be at that classification or opt up depending upon leagues and travel and what makes sense for that school district. um when they pull enrollment data, they just they pull Eatenville um

071high school enrollment data. So what other school districts um do is they create different entities and the kids that are not at the traditional high school, so your online kids and all that, they're filtered into different entities that then um don't count in your enrollment. Those kids can still participate in sports. They're not. So that's really reducing your number. So like if we took those kids that were our alternative ed kids out of our count last year and does that include running start or just daily? >> So full-time running start those kids um if you take one class here and you'd show up on that count. Okay. Um, but Jay and I appealed and put together, you know, >> 47 pages, >> 47 to try to like, no, like here's [clears throat] our actual numbers

072of kids versus, you know, if we're just take those kids out, but they denied our appeal last time. So that's a big factor that um school districts that funnel kids into the different entity obviously it's a lot more work because you're going to have to do uh you know all the thing you know multiple reports or school improvement plans. >> Well there's new legislation that that AL funding is going to change drastically. So if that goes through maybe that will change. Yeah, maybe. So, so that's we're just coming up next year. We're counting enrollment and so um we gota obviously kind of obviously there's a lot going on, but that's another thing to consider moving forward. >> Have you seen any um growth from Yelm? Are we gaining any >> I don't think so yet.

073You know, there's obviously that on the horizon. Um, but I think people are waiting to see how that falls out and then people, you know, and then how what Yelm does with athletics at that point to then kind of figure out what how people um move forward there, but not yet. Good question. Any other questions? I just want to say thank you to Gavin. um he takes things very seriously, his position very seriously and he was the one that prepared the 47 pages. like it. >> Well, you you were great sitting alongside and advocating for us >> but I also want to say that um we meet monthly and yes and he he's always thinking ahead of time like what's coming up the pike and what we need to consider and try to mitigate some

074things and prepare for others that you know that we're aware of or that we might have. And so and then obviously with the stadium there's been a lot of meetings. >> Sure. >> And so they did I used to really appreciate what you've done. >> Well, thank you for I mean it's an honor to serve in the capacity I get to in this school district. Um my dad was a school board member growing up when I was in elementary school. So I know the time commitment and how much it makes a difference. And thanks for your service. My daughter served in the same role there. So juggling all the things you are in life. So appreciate everybody's role to um to you know really make things better for kids. So appreciate it. >> Thank you.

075>> Don't feel like you have to stay. [laughter] >> All right. Um that's athletic director. >> She's gonna start on that a little bit. [laughter] >> Okay. And hopefully All right. Perfect. So you've got this to kind of follow along. So um just kind of to give you an idea on numbers of participation that we've had up to this point. Our fall sports um we have three that operate during that time. So track had 65 athletes that participated 29 for baseball 26 for fast pitch. Um our winner one score for boys soccer we had 42 girls basketball 27 and wrestling 32. So that's pretty good numbers. Sorry, I did not update this with the numbers, but right now our girls soccer is looking at um I think 45 and boys basketball I think is sitting

076at 29 right now. Um those numbers would normally be higher. Um and so I kind of wanted to point down to the kind of the key details is this is the first year that we have not the first year but in quite a while that we do not have C teams. Um and it is a cut cut sports now. And so, um, I have some numbers of share of how much money it has saved. And I know that that is so key. Um, and I'm torn because I'm torn in knowing that, yes, we have to save money everywhere we can, but it is also hard when you've got kids that really want to play. And so that's led us to, you know, really some outside the box thinking and joining with EYSA and providing some

077opportunities for our kiddos who are in basketball upcoming for volleyball for those students who are cut or not going to be able to play those team sports. Um, EYSA has opened up their doors, their coaching um to be able to provide spots for those students to participate. So, it will be interesting to meet with them after to see what those numbers look like, especially after basketball. See how many students actually kind of came through their doors because I know that that was our want to push to get those kids participating there because, you know, it helps the community and it creates a great opportunity for those kids to participate there as well. Um some other key details um besides that um we had our first scheduled all league um all female wrestling tournament um that

078Oring hosted. So all of our girls who got an opportunity to wrestle other girls in a tournament match in Oring um they put on a great show um and it's it was a great opportunity for them. Um we have an all league cross country event scheduled at PLU in March this year which is a great opportunity that they've put on. And then I did bring this up. I know thinking about budget it's it's difficult. Um six districts in our league are participating in flag football which is a co-ed sport. It um is fits within this sport cycle. And so Eatonville and Enamclaw are the only two that do not have a team right now. And I know that that's diff difficult when we're thinking about saving money. Um but something to maybe be thinking about

079in the future. I know that >> bill will be marked for it though. Good. That's good to hear. So hopefully that's conversation. I know Gavin and I have touched based on it a little bit. So that's conversation that we'll kind of keep going. >> So other than that, kind of short and sweet. I don't have quite as much as the high school has to offer. Um any question about middle school sports? Now, I would love to see one of the things I would be interested in seeing is the savings on the >> I can provide you with that. Um, I have to give some props to Lindsay because I was not in the seat to be able to really manage the numbers to see them. Um, she came in late last year. So, thank you

080to Lindsay who did it. Um, based on benefits and cost of the C team coaches that we lost, um, there's a total savings of $20,569. >> That's just staffing. What about transportation? >> Uh, transportation would probably not have been affected because those teams would have still traveled um, one way or another with the team that was already traveling. >> Okay. So, they were their schedule was always a varsity or JD. >> Exactly. So where we would have saved some cost which we don't have would be facilities um which would have been if our basketball teams were away C team would have played here so therefore the gym would have been operational at that time. Um probably what would have happened is it probably still would have been operational because we have um community groups in

081there doing basketball at the same time but you would have lost that revenue um from the community groups that are there um possibly. So there is that possibly >> and then just a touch more on officials and stuff. Yeah. >> Officials, right? >> Yeah. Okay. >> All right. >> And EISA is picking that up for us. >> They are. [clears throat] >> Um and that is um some great leg work um we've had a couple meetings and um I think they're nervous about volleyball um because that's kind of outside their wheelhouse. Um but we've got some great work going on I think between high school coaches and um high schoolers that are going to come in and lend you support as well. So, I'm really looking forward to kind of debrief afterwards and kind of

082see where we can build on it um where we still need to to do some tweaks. So, >> yeah, I just want to just add um Allison has really been light on her feet um this last couple years, but especially this this last year. And so, I I really appreciate somehow I do not know where you found where you're finding this in your day. >> [clears throat] >> somehow you've been able to, you know, run a really nice effective athletic program as well as stepping into a new role and >> and new situation. And so, thank you for that. And yeah, so we have been working hard to figure out, you know, it's kind of like Justin said a few minutes ago, sometimes it's not what's best for kids. Sometimes it's the best you can

083do for kids >> given the bottom line and that we can't operate in the red because we can't. And so we have to figure out. So some things we'll try. We'll see if it seems like it warrants that savings and at what cost it is >> and we'll continue to analyze that. We'll try to be proactive in our decisions. But we also have to look at the data. We have to continue have that feedback loop and those discussions to to know what we can do for the benefit of our students in all aspects. >> Yeah. because we definitely, you know, the key thing that I want to make sure is that we don't hang EISA out to dry either. Um, they they did a lot to step up for us and so we have to

084do everything within our power to make sure that we're doing what we can to >> to make sure it works. >> Am I? >> Yeah. So, just uh excuse [clears throat] me, I'm getting over all of it right now. U just a few things like we're transitioning that role to me taking it off Allison's plate. She's done an amazing job, you know, first half of the year, but um trying to transition that and give her a little more time. She's doing a whole bunch of other stuff. So, I've had some preliminary conversations with Gavin as well, just talking about, you know, when I ask Allison, hey, do we have handbooks? Do we have, you know, up-to-date things that we need for coaches, for athletes, for parents, those types of things? So my goal, you know,

085prior to fall sports season is creating some and building some new handbooks that are more up to date with, you know, our school expectations, um, uh, you know, academics, attendance, all of those things that we can really lay out for our parents, our families, our athletes, our coaches, coaches handbooks, expectations for them. I've asked Gavin for um some of their copies of what they have because I really want to tie our expectations into not just WIAA but to the high school, you know, so that kids have those same expectations for every year that they're here. And so we're just kind of starting some of those preliminary conversations and emails back and forth. This actually the first time I got to meet Gavin U in person, so that was cool. Good time to be here. Um,

086so we, you know, we've got some of that stuff that we really want to tie, you know, kind of tidy up and and make clean and make new and, you know, add it into final forms and and get it out to families and have some parent meetings. But just really setting some clear expectations to, you know, what it means to be a student athlete. Um, what it means for our parents to be parents of those those athletes and and, you know, the expectations that are still at school and trying to raise good all-around individual kids and community members coming up. So, that'll be things that'll be coming up. You'll probably see them on your plate sometime before the end of the summer of, you know, wanting feedback and and things like that after I get

087drafts together, run them by Gavin and try to get them to you guys so that you guys can give feedback as well and get make sure we have them out and ready to go before next next school year, too. So, just wanted to share that piece as well. >> Thank you. >> I'm offering one more time. It's you all have places to [laughter] >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you guys. >> All right. This next Travis, are you are you there with us? >> Yes, I am. >> Okay. This next piece is really um something I want to make sure as a board we're looking at individually. If you could break out your >> Yep. Yep. It's called ESD board goals and action steps. Do you have that handy, Travis? >> Yes,

088I do. >> All right. So, what it highlights are two board um goals, district goals and kind of um our benchmarks and where, you know, our evidences of that we're doing a good job. And so, we're at that point in the year where we need to check in and see how we're doing. and we need to figure out what else we need to see or want to see or hear or have done so that we can reach our goals. So, I wanted to take a little bit of time for us to look at these um give you some ideas of where we are on the calendar and some of these items, but also this is your moment. If there's something you want to see, we need to know now so we can get it calendared

089so that we can make sure that um all of everybody's concerns are being addressed or if you have questions um this is the time to bring it up. So, our first um goal, we will clearly communicate expectations and recognize academic success through multiple measures of mastery. And I think um I was talking to Sally today and I think a really great place for us to start is to make sure that we all are on the same page about what multiple measures of mastery it looks like and what it is. And so on in March, she's going to come to a board meeting and give us a presentation on what it is and how we this the school district is um making sure our students achieve in different ways. Do you want to add anything to

090that? Just >> No, I think you summarized it really well. >> Okay. All right. >> She's already got her PowerPoint over. >> She's got a [laughter] start of her power. She's afraid I was going to make her present today. She was champion like she's like, "Why did you [laughter] make that?" So, um you can you can dabble around in that. see if there's any questions that um you additional, but if you have anything around multiple measures of mastery, any questions, please direct those to Sally so that she can make sure that our concerns are addressed at the March meeting. Um set district-wide vision and priorities. Uh I think that we've done a really good job of having um our vision and priorities. I appreciate that you are all really okay with me constantly bringing everything

091back. Um, Cassie is worried about on our agenda link back to our strategic plan. Um, that's how we're going to continue to we have a lot of financial decisions to make, but we have to keep the kids like our number one focus is making sure that they're getting a good education and that we're moving the needle. So, we have to keep that focus. Um so we have um embedded some staff and student recognition at board meetings um student data presentations and SIP plans and those sit school improvement plans are happening at each of the buildings as we visit. So keep your eyes and ears open and if you're at those buildings and you have questions that's the time to ask those questions of individual um principles or leadership teams. Um, our goal is to make

092sure we allocate resources to fund professional development, technology, communication platforms, and support the goal. And so, um, that link, I don't know if it's completely active with all the PD, but, um, did you want to give us any examples right now or would you rather just fill in the link with something? >> As far as our PD this year, um, we had we have four days which are part of the teachers contract. Um and we had a focus on equity and inclusion around the use of technology and our new line boards. Um this year in August um building administrators also had a day of PD in their buildings. Um some of the focus I'm summarizing was on school links and school AI this year as we rolled those two things out. School links being every

093the high school and beyond plan new system statewide um where all districts will be a part of that. And so that starts in the seventh grade and the kids build plans and there's classes and lessons they take within that system. Um let's see. Um we had TEP training for our new staff at the beginning of the year and I had a short amount of time um because we were being conservative on funds to um do a short orientation with our new staff. So TEP is for our new >> uh the teacher framework for evaluation. It's so training the teachers on how they're going to be evaluated and then our principles have a very similar evaluation and our superintendent has a very similar evaluation. Um so we have some up and cominging we have a grant

094that state is finally connected with us on for um financial literacy and so that's uh we wrote that in the in the summer and we got it in the fall but we were waiting for coordination. So we'll be doing some work alongside two other small districts. It's a onetime amount of money for $15,000 for training uh for fin train the trainers financial literacy potentially some curriculum and financial literacy uh books for our library or other ideas that we might want to come up with along the way. though um as we learned from other districts who've already um launched some of that. And so we have a day in February um we have four options for staff in February. February 17th is our last full day of training. Um we have the high school again focusing

095on school links and school AI. We have our our last round of magnetic training ELA or English language arts program at the elementary level. Um so they'll be diving deeper into the instruction of those materials. Um and then middle school along with resource room teachers and a few others will be um looking at interventions through the I Ready lens for math and reading. And then since we have so many different um specialists, we might have like one art teacher at elementary for example. Um we're doing self-directed learning. So I've created a PD menu of webinars for many different topics. Um they'll be creating a plan and determining uh what relates to their work and they can work in groups but they will have to complete the plan and certain activities and then um Gracie's bringing

096in STI for the afternoon for those staff as well >> since time in the morning. next time. [laughter] >> And then I I wanted just again to reiterate, how many of our PD days are state directed? >> Well, the it says that we have three um that we're required to do or that they pay for >> but and then there's a Okay, there's four, but there's we there are certain um >> trainings that we have to do every year, right? And does that take two of our days? >> One each year. So it's uh social emotional learning and the and the rotation and then is um um culturally diverse inclusive equity education. I mean I put that in the right order but yes so we have to rotate those each every other year. >> Every

097other year. Okay. All right. Um any questions around professional development? Travis any questions? [clears throat] >> Nope. Thank you. Good. >> Um, and then promote [snorts] community engagement. And this year, Jay, you talked about having um some community forums or opportunities to gather community. Have you have any anything in the forefront? >> No, we we we've had a lot of forums over the last two years. This year we have not actually had any full scale community um forums, >> but we are going to have one big community forum on May 1st. >> Yeah. >> That are cutting and um did you want to share about the town hall that >> we're going to be participating in? >> Oh yeah. We've been uh asked uh by uh our state legislator Matt Marshall to participate in a

098town hall coming up here. We're just getting the date set up on that. making sure >> March 6th >> if all of the board is available on March 6 and that includes the mayor. I mean it's all >> all area leadership right be there. So that's the other opportunity. >> Yep. So we'll continue to then I mean a lot of my time has spent been on uh different you know business groups two different business groups uh associations and um like Lions Club um our faith leader group um so we are doing a lot of community engagement at varying levels. Um, >> we have the middle school family night. Um, and there's another family >> on the calendar. >> We have the part partnership night on March 3rd that we're working on districtwide. >> Yes. Partnership.

099>> And then as you said on on May 1st, >> that will be a very big community day. The biggest ever >> that'll be really big. >> It will be the biggest. [clears throat] So that will that will start with at 10:00 a.m. everybody in the stadium and I'll I'll I'll wait to give my stadium update a little bit more about that. >> Great. Thanks. Um and if you want to continue at all of those opportunities to highlight students and the great things that they're doing. Is there anything else you want to see around that >> or any that you think that we should be bringing to the community that we aren't at this point? Maybe it's a good time to Oh, sorry. >> Oh, sorry. I I I just um wanted to back up

100to and sorry if it's the wrong time to do that. Um to as far as the academic the multiple measures of mastery and everything. There was um actually a Facebook post online and uh it was called out the verbiage was changed from last year, you know, from years prior or whatever on what the level of mastery is or or whether or not. And I was just wondering if when we do present a presentation, can we >> have something, you know, Yeah. that explains where it compares to >> I think and >> Amy did Amy did a really good job when we did the high school um school improvement plan. She's like, "This is the they want us to give this new verbiage, but we're presenting on the old." So, she did a really good job

101of >> saying that so that and I think we can continue that practice. Yeah, just because you know just like the way it is now and then just kind of just so it >> it show that transparency. >> Travis has questions. Thank you. [snorts] I I saw the same information and I would encourage our community members to go back to September and look at the presentations from each of our building admins that reflected on that and said that that was an inaccurate portrayal from the state and they did compare it to the actual years before numbers. So that's just a heads open to anybody listening out loud. um go back and look in September and pull the data from the website as to the reports because they were on there and the building principles did

102reflect the original scores versus how the state changed the wording. So, [snorts] >> just heads up. I did have a question for Sally, too. Sally, did I hear you say you're somebody is coming in to uh do a PD on time and memoriam? >> Yes, Tracy has that coordinated through native ed program. you want to talk about? >> Uh, no, I just was curious. Are they coming in for the for the school for a schoolwide training? Do you know? Or are they coming >> Oh, I'm Go ahead, Travis. I'm sorry. >> No, I just was curious. I mean, uh, because I know that it is usually embedded in our seventh grade history curriculum. Um, so I was just curious as to why the isolation or what the intent was. That was all >> it's it

103is the state curriculum for native ed since time memorial. Let's see. >> So, in our native ed grant, what we have to write with the parents who are part of the IPC, the Indian parent coalition, they get to make some decisions on how that money is spent from the grant. And they really felt like that we may not be authentically teaching the curriculum. So, got >> by speaking to their own children and and other children. So, the goal of that is to reach as many as we can and then we'll wrap back around and do a second training when we can when we can with the staff that we've missed. Um, >> but when they were designing that grant, they really felt that they really wanted to spend a portion of the money on the

104on that training. >> Thank you very much for the clarification. Appreciate it. >> No problem. >> Okay. Um and then the mids check-in to evaluate um progress towards schools. We are doing that as we are hitting each of the schools. That's in progress. Um and then at the end, well, it actually isn't at the end of the year, it's at the beginning of the next year because it takes a little bit of time for that to come in, but we'll get that year end wrap up on that. So, um we just have to wait for data to come back. All right. Going down to our second goal. We will create experiences that enable our students to turn interest into career exploration and develop skills that will prepare them for life beyond high school. And um

105we in February um that's this meeting, right? >> We must have bumped that to the March meeting. Cassie, did we bump the CTE policies? I know that um Sally took a a deep dive into all of our CTE policies and they have they were all updated in 2021. >> Correct. >> The mastery based learning policies >> for the CTE not CTE is can be a part of that the way pathway and credit. >> Okay. So, um, we will make it a goal to just take a look at any of our career and technical ed policies, make sure that they're up to date, that we're, um, you know, there aren't any changes that need to be made. We haven't found any significant, haven't found any that's come through or anything, but we just want to commit

106to making sure that we're looking at those. Um, set our strategic priorities. And again, you can see that those um at the middle school and the high school, you should be seeing those career career exploration or career technical education programs being highlighted. Um and it also is already embedded, I think, pretty deeply into our strategic plan. I know Katie, you've had a chance to read the strategic plan. So, if you feel like it needs to be pulled out and highlighted in a better way, now is your time. express that or if you come up with an idea, you can always send it um send it to Cassie and I so that she can help me follow up. >> Okay. >> Um allocate resources. So we have um funding programs on staffing and partnerships to provide

107career connected learning. That would be CTE job shadows and internships. We have um CT committee assignments and they're looking into job shadows and internships at high school. They have a job fair that's coming up. >> [laughter] >> Um, was there one other thing that we had going on with that that I missed? >> We have four. So, what we have is I was going to say, of course, let's just do it. Okay. >> We have four students today that started job shadows. And um, in our next superintendent newsletter, I'll be highlighting the fact that we're looking for others if we want our students to have as much real life experience before they leave high school. We want them as part of our goal of preparation for life to be kind of like uh introduced to

108different opportunities so they are in better shape when they leave high school to make the different choices and know what they want to do. So we had four of those start just today. >> That's awesome. Which leads >> seniors all seniors. >> Seniors good. Um we're expanding those partnerships and looking for new partners and thank you for being willing to put that into Go ahead Travis. Um, thank you. Sorry. Are the job shadows ran through uh CTE? Are they job what's the program now that is uh work something placement or who are they who's overseeing the the job shadows? >> Yeah. Well, they are being overseen by Amy, but um underneath that I will have to find out. Travis. >> Okay. Yeah. I'm just want to, you know, it's not our role as a board,

109but I'm just was more curious about um, you know, credit the process, making sure who who who is accountable for that process. And so, if we have questions about the job shadow, who do we who do you talk to, Jay? That >> that would be Amy. Yeah, Amy. But you you can talk to me, but Amy's going. >> Oh, sure. All right. Thank you. >> And we have that um coming up in February. um some reports on that. So good question for Amy to answer in our February reporting. Um >> thank you Rhonda. >> Yep. Thank you. Um so we are going to continue to talk about and monitor and access uh access and equity. So that will be there will be several presentations in February. Um our grits farm and then we'll have a

110report on the skills center um CTE from the high school and the middle school and um the career center report. So, all of those things will be given to us. If you have questions, make sure you have them written down. And then require progress reporting. Um, receive and review regular updates on student participation and outcomes and career connected learning programs. Um, those are going to be presented at our SIP plans as well as our February meeting. So, if you want any additional, please make sure you let me know and you'll get those on the agenda. Is there anything that we've missed or you feel like we aren't doing to move our goals forward? >> No. >> Okay. All right. It's exhausting. We're keeping everybody running. >> Everybody's working really hard on top of all the

111other. >> Yes. [clears throat] All right. Um construction update. >> So, yeah. Now, so, uh we're going vertical. Um after a lot of work and rework and double rework, uh we are now at the time where our stadium itself is going up. So, as of today, if you saw the Facebook post we placed or if you go out there, you'll start to see the different columns, the supports are now going vertical. Uh, and um, so in talking with and working with our construction team, we anticipate, and again, this is not a hard because we know things could happen, but we're looking at um, eight weeks is all before our stadium is is uh, complete. So, uh, and there could be some challenges because there have been there could continue to be. But, um, we want

112to invite everybody on May 1st at 10:00 a.m. at community day to come and for our ribbon cutting ceremony uh, in the stadium. And so, it has to be done so you can sit in the stadium. So, we hope to have a bunch there. also with the restrooms um in working with Spokane which is where our restrooms are coming from being manufactured there. Uh we looks like we are get we got state approval so they'll go forward with manufacturing again. We hope that's in there by May 1st. Um as far as a field goes, yeah, we've got all the lining and all the the stitching and things they continue to to, you know, make sure that's just perfect. They've taken some really a lot of time to get that that level. Probably most of you

113saw the aerial that we that we showed and I should have I should have said that it's a chance to put out tonight. We showed it earlier today at the mid county leadership team meeting. >> We saw it at the last meeting too. >> Yeah. Okay. You just Yeah. So yeah. So we showed that at the mid there was a there's a a gathering of elected officials and other community leaders that gather at Pacific Lutheran University and this morning he presented that and it was kind of a mic drop when uh we showed it. Everybody's just like okay this is this is pretty amazing. So really proud of that. The uh Dzone in the north end is being prepared now. So that'll be our high jump, long jump, and triple jump down in that end.

114Um the scoreboard has been ordered. The flag pole's been ordered. Um as you've seen, the the retaining wall on the west end is completed. Those are the big ecology blocks. Um, and now we're the entryway, the ADA access, as you would come down to the ticket booth. Those are all um we're we're we're working on those uh to get those finished. And then the south wall is Keystone and they've done a really nice job there. Go ahead. Oh, there it is. >> Yeah. So, there it is. And uh yeah, it's beautiful. We worked hard to get the end zones just right. And then also as you can see the light green, dark green, you know, um starting from the 50 out uh to be different. And then you can see the lining at the very

115very bottom. You can also see the materials for the [clears throat] for the stadium in the lower left there. Um and yeah, so do you have any so as far as timeline goes, unbelievably with all the setbacks and you know things that we've gone through, we have all the permitting We believe we're just getting some of the last bids in for the connecting of the restrooms, uh the trenching, you know, for this for the the plumbing and electrical and such. But miraculously, I believe we're we're looking pretty good. Um the one exception will be the track. It's weather dependent as I've said probably way too many times and so I'm not sure the final the final coding will it all depends on the weather when that will go in but we we know that it

116should we hope it's by May 1st. Yeah, that's a hope on that one. Any questions on the state? >> Thank you. >> Thanks for all the hard work. It's that's a job in and of itself on top of everything yesterday. Sure. Appreciate it. Okay, legislative update there. Um, short sessions, so things are moving really quickly. I think some of the things that um that might be of import or you might be interested in. Um, pretty much the message is if it's going to cost us something, if it's an unfunded mandate, we're just going to say no thank you. even if you think it's a good idea, if it costs money right now, every school district in the state is saying we cannot continue because the expenses are just out outpacing funding. Um, so one of

117those that is kind of troubling is called the schoolboard compensation and training requirement. That would open up uh school board members to choose to be paid. Um, and the school would pay up to $3,000. Anything over that comes out of levy funds and in addition to that it mandates additional financial training um for schoolboard directors which is all of that costs money for schools in a time when we're trying to save money. So um I just think that that's not a great pathway for us to to go. Was there anything I I obviously wasn't there for it, but um when they were talking about that, wasn't it like additional funds are allowed for like, you know, because Seattle and the districts that do pay their board members a decent pay that they were getting additional

118and then I I thought I understood that it wasn't something that was opened board, you know, districts, all districts that of a pay. It was just an addition to to the districts that already received decent money. >> I think there's only one school district that gets paid. I think that's Seattle. I think others might get stip. And then there are some that get um stipens, but no, it your your school board can vote to compensate themselves, >> but right now there aren't very many that do. >> Yeah. Um, so and then it could be up to $17,000 per board member. That's a lot of money and it they are not funding it. So, um, but they're also not going to fund the training that they would require us to pay to take. So, I just

119think it's all >> and we do training. We already do those. >> You did the financial training. This Yeah, like we do those trainings anyway, but then it this would be another layer additional spending. Um, and I think the other um the bill that I've been kind of um working on is called the minimum maximum fund balance. That's what I was telling you about that they have thresholds minimum fund balance. It's the idea is really good. It's a great idea to have a minimum fund balance. The problem is they aren't willing to do anything to help us get to the minimum fund balance. So if if our costs are increasing and our revenues are decreasing and I said to them uh and the penalty is if you go under your minimum fund balance that they

120keep your money. They keep your aortionment punishment. They just don't pay you the money. And I so if we cut everything we can and we're still losing money. How is this helpful? Like >> what are the interventions? They said well don't you want interventions? I said yes we interventions. what are they besides keeping our money from us? And they had no answers. And they said, "Well, that's a really good question. [laughter] It would be nice if you would." >> And these people are running our state. >> Well, they're running the education program, but and here's the tricky part. This would be part of the House Education Committee. They do not allow any fund. You can't talk about anything about fiscal anything and it's only policy. So we had to give testimony on a issue that

121is completely about funding without talking about funding or else they gabble you and say you can't talk anymore. So that was really interesting. So um we'll keep working on that. Um we're working on a bill right now for additional MOC funding. Doesn't sound like it's going to go anywhere. I don't know if you heard anything different from >> No, I don't know that it will. >> Yeah, I don't think we're going to >> I think they're looking for $100 per kid. Um, I don't know that that's going to happen. >> Yeah, I don't think that we're going to get it either. There's too much to cut from the budget. Um, and then the last thing, let's see, that I think would be important for us to know before next meeting is that, um, February 4th

122is the policy cut off. So, they can't introduce any more bills that have to do with policy after February 4th. So after February 4th, we kind of know what we have to deal with and which bills we need to kind of work on and um we won't have to have any more surprises around policy, not around funding. They have a whole another week to put in bills that might impact >> us fiscally, which is great. So >> and if I might add, so we and we and Eatenville is being represented. We're we're down there in Olympia. We've been down there, you know, more than one time one way or another. and we'll be down there again tomorrow and we're we're putting in requests to our legislators both Senate and at the House level. Um so

123we're we're still working we're working even though it's a short session we're not absent. We are working hard for students to get as much as we possibly can our students in Olympia. >> All right. Thank you. Um we're going to move on to our new business. consider approval of the 2526 highly capable business plan. >> I do have a copy of the plum wrench. >> So I know last year I I gave you an overview at the beginning of the year where high is at and our status um and um LSPI uh sent a new document that they'd like high plans on, not us sending our big huge document that we used to just be able to upload. So what you have is kind of abbreviated version of of the larger plan that I shared

124with you earlier. Um, it outlines how the district identifies and serves students with exceptional academic and cognitive strengths aligned with their OSPI's requirements. Um, you'll see our universal screening. Um, we emphasize equity of identification with students with IEPs, 504s, and multilingual data. Um, we're using multiple measures to identify students such as academic achievement data, cognitive assessments, supported norm reference tools, and informal measures such as parent rating skills, teacher rating skills. We can look at report cards if we need to, and student work samples if we if we needed to as well identification. >> Just to reiterate then, this is another reporting out or an example of multiple measures of mastery, correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. want to make sure that we're Yes. the things that we're checking the box on. We're checking [laughter] >> um

125how we deliver our services is we um at the middle school level we're doing some accelerated learning uh with their is it pa pics >> project based learning? Yes. With their curriculum they have there. Uh Mr. Kelson who's here to present to you what's happening in the classrooms right now is doing pullout services which I had stated before. um we're going to each building now for those services and not transporting our kids to ees um to kind of help with costs. Um and also, you know, I think they're getting more uh more targeted instead of services instead of travel time everywhere, which was taking us quite quite a long. We also offer online courses to students if they need that for accelerated learning. Um it's the plan outlines our asurances of how we'll meet OSPI

126expectations and state requirements. And again, it just needs your annual approval um to to continue with our HCAP plan. Something I think uh we sent out this week is uh when we met with our HCAP parents, they wanted some resources for themselves on, you know, I don't understand my high cap learner. you know, if they're high cap, why are they not getting everything? Why are why are we having learning difficulties? And uh what does executive functioning mean? I keep hearing this when I do research. So, I designed uh with the help of a couple of our high parents, uh we designed a resource guide for our parents, which we sent out this week. Um and I've gotten several emails like, "Thank you so much. This is this is what I needed to to help my

127my student feel successful." Um, I think a lot of parents are struggle with the whole they're really great at ELA and you know they have this this uh strength in an area and why are they struggling in these things? So um and how to have a conversation uh with your with your student as well like asking asking prompting questions and you know really um having them grapple with concepts without making them feel like it's a struggle. So those are some things we put in that document. And then our next parent night is February 12th from 6:00 to 7:00 at EES library. And I'll I'll send everyone in uh an update. And then Mr. Kelson is here uh just to provide a little update on what he's been doing in class with students. And thank you

128for staying so late. >> I'm so sorry. We should have moved. We should have moved you up. >> Oh no, I like hearing all this. Um >> I have it. >> I got sliding. [laughter] things. I swear >> this I share from the beginning. This is why I have a hard time. >> The high cap logo. >> Nice. Did you design that? >> Hey, I help. Yeah. Can you just be all because he did a >> good >> Okay. Um, so up here I got our mission. Please forgive me. I just started using glasses. You guys, [laughter] so Okay. So the mission of the Eatenville School District highly capable program is to identify and serve highly capable K through2 students by providing consistent challenging and supportive educational environment within resources of the district. Okay, we'll

129go to next slide. Okay. So, uh right now our highly capable program K through third uh we transition we were doing uh engineering at the beginning of the year like uh basic engineering and aerodynamics. Um we just went into our coding um through um a program called Wonder Workshop. Um right now the the students are doing block coding. So basically they're taking blocks and they're they got to follow a certain pattern which is difficult for them. Um, and the reason is because they like to cut corners. So, um, a lot of times if it doesn't work, they say the computer's lagging. And I'm like, no, you gotta follow the directions, right? And so, they're learning how to, uh, code loops, uh, make in the programming, how to loop, uh, programs together. Um, once they're finished

130with these, uh, pathways, then they're going to actually get to the robots, which I have them sitting up there for them to stare at. and uh that's what they want. And the and the rule books actually have um like a writing utensil so they'll be able to program them to write on uh like paper that we put on the ground. Uh they also have a launcher so they can launch Nerf darts, which they're excited about, and also uh something that will grab things so they can tell it to go up and grab things. The robots talk. They do they do a lot of stuff. So, uh, they're really excited about that once we get through the the harder part, the training part. Okay. And we'll go to the next slide. Okay. My fourth through fifth,

131this is at Warehouser and Columbia Crest. Um, they are doing these kits that we purchased through the program. It's called Sparro Blueprint Lessons. Um, these lessons are designed for uh, junior high and uh, high school kids, but I thought we could uh, handle it. the fourth and fifth graders could handle it. I just uh scaled it down to where I think they would understand it. Um they do talk a lot about mechanical advantage in there and mathematical equations. So I kind of did more of a basic lesson for them. But my goal is with uh with this Sparro blueprint was to uh get the students to build simple machines. So we did I think it was 16 lessons on simple machines. And so in the pictures you guys can kind of see they're they're building

132uh levers, uh pulleys, um they're learning about things like speed and torque and like the difference between torque and speed. Um and this is all going to come next week where we're going to do our Rube Goldberg projects and that's just um a machine. Does everybody know what a Rube Goldberg machine is? So, I don't know if you guys seen Back to the Future part one when he goes to Doc's house and he opens a door and like an egg will roll down and it'll hit like the dominoes and anyways it ends up making breakfast all these like machines to do one thing and so they will start on that Rube Goldberg um we did it last year and I thought they could be better and that's why I got these so they can understand

133simple machines more. Okay. And then we'll go to the next slide. Okay. So, we finally started our podcast. Um, this is fourth and fifth, and I chose Eatenville Elementary School because we'll have a classroom there. And, um, I thought it would be a good place. It's my largest group for fourth and fifth graders. And so, I took a picture of our little space. So, that's our little podcast um, booth. So, the kids are kind of on the outside um, and then we have our interviewe on the inside. And then one kid will run the soundboard and so they can do the fading in and out. Um, also we can download different stuff on that like music. Um, like sounds like I don't know if one of our people make a joke, you know, the sound

134or whatever. So they're in charge of that and that's normally the student that probably doesn't they don't want to talk on the microphone. And then normally I have a few that are like we want to talk. >> Who are they interviewing? Um, so they got to they got to choose uh who they wanted to interview. So, and I'll have Cassie in a second. You guys can hear the intro of the of the one, but um right now the first ever one was Mr. Berkel. So, we did him and then um we have three other teachers, but I gave them the option of anybody in the building that's staff. So they could do anybody because when you give them like interview they're like oh I want to you know have you know so and so >>

135yeah yeah they have lofty goals and um so so anyways I I had to give them some parameters and then um anyways so >> hold on don't hit it quite yet. So the music that you guys hear the I had a little input on the music. I'm helping them with the music. But uh I went to see Mr. [clears throat] one day and he was like uh just on his computer working away and he was listening to uh Lincoln Park was playing right and I was just like oh you listen to Lincoln Park and he's like yeah like on Tuesdays he's like Fridays smooth jazz whatever you know. So I was like oh interesting I didn't know that. So, uh, you guys will hear you'll hear in the beginning like it clicks with him cuz

136I put it in there to kind of like throw him off and surprise him. Also, real quick, uh, I left the room and I told them to take over. So, I took all the other students outside and I was like, "You guys got this." And they did a good job. So, let's do like the beginning. See how it goes. If not on my phone, >> but we want all of the people out there to see Yeah. And so my goal is to have one. We're we're going to be recording tomorrow. Uh oh, Travis, is he on there still? Oh, his daughter's doing it tomorrow. So >> Oh, >> yeah. So, she'll be interviewing tomorrow. >> It's fun. >> Isn't playing either now, and I just listened to it. [music] >> [music] >> Got the Lincoln

137Park intro. [music] >> Welcome to our first HighCat podcast. My name is Lucia and today Sheran and I will be interviewing our principal, Mr. Berkeley. Okay, let's jump right in. Mr. Berkeley, where did you grow up? >> I grew up in Sumar, Washington. >> What was that like? >> Um, well, I actually I guess technically I grew up in Bonnie Lake, Washington, which is up on the hill. But, um, >> yeah, >> I'll have you guys listen at the whole thing because we're going to post it. I want to post them each time on the dens website if we figure that out because I'm putting them in our high newsletter. Um, but anyways, yeah. So, tomorrow we'll be doing Miss Golden. She's retiring. Um, and the intro is going to be the the Golden Girl

138song and she signed off. So, it's gonna be a good one. Um, so we'll go to the the next slide. [clears throat] >> Okay. So, the next slide. Um, for junior high, 6th through 8th grade, uh, we've been working on a project called Be Your Own Boss. And it culminated in a Shark Tank style presentation, uh, which Tracy was one of one of the sharks. That's another And they're really good. And they wield and deal with the the students. Um, the pictures up here, we did a field trip to the mall, which was also Drac's idea. She's like, "Hey, you could do a field trip to the mall and um make it educational by going to the stores and getting price points." We got price points. We talked to some store managers because there's no

139one really at the mall at the time. And uh I was really scared, you know, cuz taking teenagers to the mall. And that day I had two parents uh bail on me. But uh me and the other parent, we we did a really good job. And uh so they interviewed Santa. He was like the the best boss, hero boss. Um but the kids had had a great time. Um now what we're doing is we're going from the board boardroom to the barnyard. And uh they're going to do a new project. It's called uh chicken picking. And um so part of the chicken picking is they're going to learn about genetics. So, it's a eighth grade lesson where they learn about genes and genetics and stuff like that. And um they're going to have clients and

140their job is to um genetically make chickens for their clients uh for their environment and they're going to have to make a chicken booklet and then an infographic uh for for the chickens. And [clears throat] yeah, so we just got started on that. Um, seems like they're liking the the genetic stuff and Yeah. [clears throat] And I believe that's it. Yeah. >> Oh, cool. >> So, that's what we're doing right now. Yeah. >> That's awesome. >> Would you consider in your podcast ever having the kids report on like the Shark Tank winner or >> Oh, yeah. We like that. >> Yeah. So, yeah, the podcast I started out with an interviewing lesson um where they learn to interview and ask follow-up questions and stuff like that. Um, last year we also did a debate, so

141they choose topics uh that are important to them and and they debate them. But yeah, we're we're open for business now. It it took a while to get it like up and running and me figuring it out like everything so I could actually teach it to them. >> Yeah. Um, but they're awesome with it. >> That's awesome. Yeah, they sounded very professional as well. >> They did. And the equipment we got, like I did a lot of research on it and uh sounds really like clear and yeah, they can change their voices to make it sound like, you know, when you see like like the shows where their face is blacked out, they want their stuff. Yeah. I'm like, we're not doing that. Right. [laughter] Awesome. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. That's exciting.

142I'm really glad for that. So, with all of that great information, um I would consider a motion to approve the highly capable district plan. So, moved. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded. All in favor? >> Any opposed? All right. Consider approval of interlocal agreement with Walaw Wala Community College. >> Um I can help because I just texted Christa because I think she forgot this was on the agenda. She says it's a regular running start interlocal for one of our students might be the last year for this one. >> Okay. So it's one particular student that wants to participate in this program. >> Okay. Um I'm I'm all about making sure students have pathways and opportunities as they so I would consider uh approval of interlocal agreement with wall. >> It's been moved and

143seconded. >> All in favor. Motion carries. Consider approval of donation agreement from Benity Benvity online. I'm I think the matching >> is this a matching from like a [clears throat] work. >> So I think we've done this one before the American Online Giving Foundation, but I don't know the details on this one. Supporting EMS ASB activities. We are grateful um for those who are willing to do that. And this is I guess a public service announcement. If you donate and you work for Microsoft or some other Boeing or other companies, they will match um what you donate. So please keep that in mind. So I would consider approval for uh this donation agreement. >> I moved and second. >> Seconded. All in favor? >> I motion carries. So on on that um if you donate,

144how do you coordinate with them to let them know that there's [clears throat] >> money to be matched? >> They so those um companies that do the match, they coordinate with their state through their garden. >> All right. >> Sneezak's really good at it. So if you need a contac [laughter] and he um has helped the foundation for the stadium seats by also purchasing his stadium seat through the match so it helped the high school even or the stadium even more which was wonderful. >> All right, superintendent comments. >> Yes, I've been able to uh throughout this meeting kind of weave a lot in here. I did want to uh uh give Dre a little bit of time on on the matter. >> Yeah, I wanted to give a couple updates about our student services

145advisory group, our SAGE group. Um each month this year, we've been having parent trainings. Uh we started with just um explaining what special education is and the 504 process and the difference between the two. Um we have been doing uh communication device training for our parents. So, they are bringing in their students devices and we are programming them and teaching them how to to use them. We'll have another training um this month uh do or next month, excuse me. Um circling back around to those devices. Um we are also doing a Hannon parent training series for our parents um and how to deal with their behaviors that might happen with their student with special needs. We have quite a few families signed up for that training and that goes beyond our stage nights. So that

146is us um doing a few days a month of providing these trainings and actually it's a it's a great training. Uh the parents are recorded working with their student and they get to come back and break it down and uh our trainer gives suggestions on we'll try this next time. What would this look like? Um last week we did a um we had DDA here, Department of Developmental Disabilities. We had PC2, so Pierce County Correlation and PAVE here, uh, to just talk to our parents about resources and what life could look for their special education students after high school. Um, we had 25 parents here for for that event and I was very very happy. Um, we had scheduled a lot of appointments, paperwork days for our families and I just am really grateful for

147those organ organizations coming and spending the evening with us. We were only supposed to be an hour and they're here almost two hours. So, they really did a great job. >> Um, we got a $36,000 grant um for ADA accessibility at CCA um working on some of the doors and making them wheelchair accessible. So, uh, that is a good, uh, a good good thing for CCA. And then last week, Pette was there. We had our healthy youth street fair, which is part of a grant that we got from Pierce County Health Department. Um, happened right after school and we had over a hundred people uh, come to this event. We had uh conco, kids mental health of Washington, Washington State Patrol, horses guiding humans, multicare of eatenville, multi-care behavior health, our middle school kindness gang

148was there. Um and we had our EES um elementary mentors come as well. And the students when they visited each booth, they got a stamp on their passport and at the end we had a taco truck. So um they got a taco and a drink at the end. So awesome. >> Yeah, it was very exciting. And I cannot thank Anisa Parks enough. She planned the event and put it on and just did a fantastic job. >> Great. And who wrote the grant? >> I wrote the grant. >> Thank you for writing. That's really great. >> Yes. Great work and revitalization of the sage group. That's outstanding. >> It's been it's been really wonderful to have to see it just grow. We had I think three parents the first time. every time it's just and they're

149they're learning how to better serve their >> I just want to end in saying uh again thank you to the board for all the time and energy you give and I I feel very full very thankful uh to work with everyone in my spokes who is always striving to create policy and and uh with innovative ideas uh looking at how we can best meet our strategic plan and we say that it's from board to building and beyond is kind of what we've tried to do with the strategic plan, but that can't help without your leadership. And then to our staff, um they work way too hard, way too many hours. Um sometimes get worried about them. Uh but they are literally all about kids and are doing everything they can. Even with the budget cuts

150and all the underfunding that we have in order to best serve our kids, uh they still somehow u commit the time and energy to keep kids first. I just can't say enough about all of our staff um at every level. And so, um, we're we're our kids are very fortunate. That's all. >> Wow. >> I guess you did cover a lot of it in between, so you all right. Uh, board comments. Katie, you get to go first. >> I I don't like going first. Um, thank you everybody for all of their hard work. I'm still kind of taking all of this in. I know I've been really quiet, but that's just my style is I like to observe and then comment when I have something hopefully uh impactful to say or positive. Um but yeah,

151thank you to everybody and I really enjoy everything that we get to do with these student representatives. So that's that's my favorite part. >> Awesome. >> Yeah. And when you get to go visit a school with us, >> you're gonna love it. It's great. It is really because when you get to >> Thank you everybody for everything. Um, thank you for sticking it out for a long evening and for you. Thank you so much for doing this. So tired. >> That's okay. >> All good. Um, I just encourage people to keep asking questions. Um, keep uh, you know, don't just take information from one source. Uh, ask ask questions as far as like what's going on with the legislator, what's going on with how we get our funding, and what it means between a large

152district and a um, small schools. Um, just don't take things at face value. And, uh, different scenarios work differently for each of our districts. And um so keep champion for Eatenville because we're unique out here. >> Well said. So so true. Travis, do you have anything for us? >> He dropped from the call, but before he left, he did say, "Shout out to Mr. K. The podcast project has been great to listen to." >> Awesome. Thank you. And thank you for being his voice today. >> Thank you so much for being here. It was so great to hear about the work that you're doing with students. That's really uh that is why the money and stuff is really crummy and that's the part I don't enjoy, but the part I do enjoy is really seeing

153the great work that our staff is doing for kids. That's why we're all here here for kids. So, thank you for all the great work you do. Happy schoolboard appreciation month to all of you. And um special >> Oh, Pette. Yes, Pette. [laughter] >> I went to Travis and then I didn't turn my deck over here. Um I wanted to say um the uh health street fair was amazing. I was so impressed with the presenters with the students um just you know hoping we can grow that because I think at that age group the middle school age group getting that information into their hands and into their minds I think is critical and it was so well done. I mean um Ana did an amazing job. It was it was great. It really was. And

154then um I [clears throat] attended pizza Wednesday at Columbia Crest. And uh one of the things that I think is really great about that is um Emmy does such a wonderful job that she always tries to get um either fire department or police, somebody there that the kids can interact with in a in a pleasant atmosphere and and learn, you know, and get one-on-one with these people. And I think that's just critical to u what goes on there. And then the staff or whoever put on all the other stuff that went on there was crazy. It was wild and crazy. It really was. But it was fun to be there. I I enjoyed that. And thank you for your high cal presentation. >> I can you love what you do. >> Yeah. >> And it's

155obvious. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> And I really appreciate what you're doing. That's great. >> So, it's great. And one of the things that they were talking about the funding and the sports made me think back. I was in my early days I um I was a volleyball roughly for a while. [laughter] Um and [snorts] um I could get paid more to go from my house to Columbia Crest and referee a game than I could to go to Tacoma because everything was out of the central mileage. And I've been offered to donate and they wouldn't let me. they had pay me. But I mean that's some of the crazies that go on, you know, in in these kind of things where funding could be changed, you know, and a simple thing like that. >> It's

156true. >> Good. So anyway, it was and I really really enjoyed at our last board meeting the kids that came around and talked to us about what they're doing and the different um things that they're doing um outside of the standard classroom >> and I'm so excited for what the what we're able to offer. I mean I've been at this a long time and I've never been so excited about what I'm seeing going on now. Thanks. >> Again, I have to say I'm super um appreciative of all of the staff and I think the reason we keep going back to this strategic plan is that this isn't our plan. We didn't sit on those committees. That was those were communitydriven. And so, um when we are focusing on the strategic plan, we are then taking

157the instruction from our community, the priorities from our community, and making sure we're moving them forward. And that's why it's really important that we keep tying all the work back to the strategic plan. >> 1600 people contributed to the strategic plan. >> So if we are representatives of our community, then we need to make sure that we are listening to what they've asked us to do. So with that, we're going to end this meeting at 9:08. Thank you all for being here. Do you have a long >> tomorrow? Yeah, I want to go