001Good evening. The time is 5:33 uh on February 10th, 2026 uh for the board of directors regular meeting. Um please rise with me for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. The next item is our land acknowledgement. Uh Laureli Medina, do you have that? Evergreen public schools resides on the traditional lands of the Shinukan peoples and the Kowitz tribe. They have lived on and cared for this land and its waterways since time in memorial. We thank them for their stewardship and make this acknowledgement to open a space of recognition, inclusion, and respect for all indigenous students, families, and staff in our community. >> Thank
002you. The next item is to adopt tonight's agenda. Is there a motion? >> I move to adopt tonight's agenda as presented. >> Mr. Vice President, may I interject? >> Well, I'll insert a second for that and then uh what do you have, >> Gary? >> Um, in the interest of transparency and since we've made a major, uh, departure in the recording of our minutes, um, I'd like to ask that we pull that off the board consent agenda and for discussion. >> Okay. The motion is to pull item which item is it, Gary? Item A >> B A >> A 5A uh from the consent agenda for discussion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded, Gary. >> Yeah. In the interest again of transparency, um I know board comments, we've kind
003of whittleled it down uh in the last year and now all of a sudden we're not including any description in board comments and I feel that's a departure from being more transparent. I know there the meeting is recorded, but for people to have to go through an entire recording to, you know, listen to see maybe well maybe there's a comment I want to review. Um, if it's in the meeting minutes, they can just review it quickly and it again, it's just kind of buried if we don't give a little bit. >> We can pull that for discussion uh uh and then get into the discussion. >> Oh, okay. >> Uh but for now, it's just basically a vote on whether or not to uh pass Gary's motion and pull it. >> Got ahead of myself.
004>> Oh, good. >> So, what are you looking for? Um >> um but just if there are any other comments or discussion about the item hearing none, we'll uh call a vote on Gary's proposal to pull item 5A from the consent agenda for discussion later. Um all in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> The motion carries four to zero. So, the next item, oh, and then I need a vote on uh the consent agenda as amended or or no, the meeting agenda as amended. >> Do you need a >> All in favor? >> I >> Yes or no? I And that motion carries. And the agenda is adopted as amended. I'm going to put 5A after uh right before board comments tonight. So, it'll be it'll be there after the uh reports and the information
005items. The next item on the agenda is the superintendent's consent agenda. Is there a motion? >> No, it's a superintendent report. >> Oh, the next item on the agenda is the superintendent's report. It's this little line. I apologize. Uh go ahead, Dr. Mal. >> Thank you. All right. Um again, I will be uh using our operational expectations policies and highlighting those um followed by the topic that it corresponds to. So for um OE which is short for operational expectations. So OE0 is equity and OE1 is instructional program. So the topic here is um on boundary exceptions. So, as I have examined different practices within our district over the past year, um I have noticed that our boundary exceptions practices are not aligned with our commitment to equity for our students and families. And this is
006what the data is showing. We have hundreds of students in the district obtaining boundary exceptions to leave their neighborhood school for another school within our district. This shift in student enrollment has led to inequities among some of our schools. So, I've asked a team to look into these practices further and to provide a recommendation to me to better create a system that serves each student. Balanced enrollment helps ensure that all students across the district have equitable access to rigorous academic programming, extracurriculars, and support services. It also supports the long-term stability and health of each school community. So, what are some of the concerns that are swirling around right now? The current boundary exception practices. First, it really is that in inequality, inequity in student demographics. The current practices exacerbate social, economic, and racial and ethnic
007divisions across our schools. It also creates a resource imbalance because funding and staffing models follow the enrollment. Schools with declining enrollment may lose programs, elective staff, um creating a kind of a cycle of underresourcing and underenrollment in those schools. Moving forward, we'll be looking at changing our practices to align with the goal providing equitable access to highquality education at each of our schools for each of our students. Okay. The second topic falls underneath operational expectations. Um zero for equity and three for community stakeholder relationships. Last week, I held the held the winter cultural responsive leadership gathering made up of leaders from our community-based organizations. As part of the process of listening and recording their thoughts and ideas from the fall gathering, we made a short video to share some of the work that is being
008done in support of equity and community family engagement. So, I'm going to ask for the video to be shown. My name is Adriana Ramirez Reyes. I am the uh Spanish speaking family liaison for the Evergreen School District. We have a lot of families that are new to the country. Um a lot of them don't speak the language. So I am that bridge of communication between schools and families making sure um that we don't have that language barrier and um any cultural barriers. Well, right now, given the political climate of um just how uncertain it is for a lot of our families, we decided that we needed to take action and to doing something that is um great for our families, just help them out in whatever way we can. And one of those things that
009we do is um we are having legal clinics in partnership with community leaders and organ and organizations and along with the FCRC's they are having um legal clinics where families come in um and um fill out their documents. Uh for example the power of attorney and intentions of care of minors. This will really ensure and and help them create a sense of um protection when it comes to legal matters. I am the Russian speaking family liaison uh for the Evergreen School District and my name is Elena Deltoso and since I was born and raised in Ukraine uh I also speak Ukrainian. you know, parents, they feel very nervous when when they come to talk to someone at the school district. Um, so I always remember that and I'm trying to do my best to make
010sure that they feel comfortable talking to me. One of the moms said, "My hands didn't even sweat after meeting with you." So that was the biggest compliment. Community tour is an event where parents get on the school bus together and visit um a middle school, a high school, and some of the Cascadia Tech programs. Um it's a great way to uh build a relationship of trust. There is a saying in my language uh it is better to see something once than to hear about it hund times. So um it's just a great opportunity for um parents to connect with schools administrators and to see as is. My name is Shannon Shamba and I am one of two student equity and family engagement specialists or coaches here in the district. I work with staff and students
011and community um to try to break predictable patterns that unfortunately fall along the lines of uh race and um language and other identity markers in in our student outcomes. What we know is that first students need to feel safe in order to perform at their highest levels. So when I talk about culturally responsive practices, I'm talking about um helping staff to understand how power and culture um impact the experience for students in their classrooms and then also how to build those really strong learning partnerships with our students so that they feel um psychologically safe and confident uh to really be able to engage in the rigorous curriculum. So, I feel like we have such fertile soil um for for teachers to really start pushing on rigorous content with our students um because students are feeling
012safer. Um not always and we're always going to have to keep working on that. Um which is the other thing that I'm super proud of. Um this year we implemented a series of lessons for students on harmful language, how to interrupt harmful language and and bias in their classrooms. And so we have to do that first thing first, which is a safe environment. Then we can really work on building um super independent amazing students that we have. >> My name is Kyle Helm. I'm currently a student equity and family engagement specialist for Evergreen Public Schools. I work directly with administrators, with instructional coaches, with language specialists as they think through their plans, develop actions, and actually implement them. I'm doing work with a teacher right now around the idea of student agency. And what we're
013talking a lot about is how do the students feel about school, about engaging in their education? How do we help them shift or change their identities as learners so that they can and do take on more ownership of that learning? And then how do we make school relevant for them and do it in ways that honors who they already are? One of the the projects that I get to work on is family and community engagement. And really, it's more family engagement, but through that work, we created a framework to improve family engagement uh districtwide in uh Evergreen Public Schools. And so now in my role, one of the things I get to do is directly support the six schools. We're calling them demonstration schools who are actively implementing the framework and they're trying to shift
014their family engagement practices to create better trust, more partnership, um give families and position families as the leaders they are in our community and as the experts they are on their children. >> My name is Kelly Brown. I'm the coalition coordinator for Connect Evergreen, which is a drug-free communities coalition in our district. I hope that the community learning sessions have been really useful. I wanted to provide an opportunity not for it to just be with one school, but with the whole district um so that parents can really get tools and know that they're not alone. So the impact has been I think just learning about these these topics that are really the roots of why students um and really anyone finds themselves in substance misuse. I think um the first one that we did which
015was on suicide awareness was really impactful and we had a great turnout and um it really showed me the need to have these sessions and to really dive deep into some of the topics that we might not feel comfortable um discussing with our friends or our family and or topics that may or may not be covered while in the classroom. the turnout see and hearing the feedback from that has really um let me know that we're on the right path in terms of providing these opportunities for folks to come and learn. I am Trisha Harding and I am the language access coordinator. The role is to develop tools and resources for the staff across the district to make sure that all of our families can be engaged and involved in their kids' education. And so,
016um, whether it's an IEP meeting or a parent teacher conference, we're allowing these families in their language to communicate both ways. They can hear from the staff, but they also can ask questions and get clarification. Uh, so this is year two of the online system where they can request interpreters and translated documents. And, um, largely all requested meetings are getting filled with qualified interpreters. Um, last year was a lot of, "Oh no, I need someone today at 3:30. You know, this interpreter isn't available anymore." Um, and that just isn't happening this year. Parent teacher conferences are only 3 or 4 days and so we need to have kind of all hands- on deck. And we were able to support um almost 300 hours of interpretation just outside of contract hours. So that doesn't include any
017time in the afternoon for early release where um EPS staff supported families during conferences. So um 300 conferences and and almost 300 hours outside of contract time in those three or four days. Yeah, I'm Mac English. I am the McKenna Vento foster care liaison. Um I currently serve all of our families that are facing housing instability in our district. We are currently working on our heart tutoring program as well as an unaccompanied youth event um on top of FAFSA letters for all of our um seniors serving nearly 70 seniors um to support them post-secary. McKenna Vento is a federal law um that ensures that we support all of our students that are facing house housing instability to make sure that they have all of the same services um that any other student in the school
018district would um based on transportation um after school activities um make sure we meet all of their basic needs um and provide um outside resources as well. We currently have about,00 Mckin Vento students. Um last year we ended around 1440. Um and so we are looking about reaching that number as well again serving about 6% of the district's enrollment. Yeah. Whenever I'm asked this question, I think about one student that I started working with when I first started here in Evergreen Public Schools. Um and he was um living in his car by himself um in a parking lot and we had got him reenrolled in high school over at Legacy and we supported him through that transition um and really like direct support. It was a lot of you know time effort um spent with
019him but we end up getting him to graduate on time from Legacy in person um and he went off to get a job afterwards. Um and so whenever that question's asked, that's the one kid that I always think of. We um all signed his grad cap forum. Um all of his support staff in the schools. This video um is by no means comprehensive in its scope or reflective of all of the staff that do this work, but it's just a snapshot of what is being done in support of our students and families. And I thought it was important to share what was shared with our community based organizational leaders um with the board and and community as well. The last topic um falls underneath operational expectations 4 which is personnel administration and OE9 which is
020communicating with the public in Evergreen public schools. As you know we stand for belonging for each and success for all. Our mission is to remove inequities by supporting, affirming, and growing each student so they are prepared for success while they are with us and after they graduate. This work, serving students and supporting our schools must remain our collective focus as a community. Over the past several months, however, the district and members of our community have been navigating a public controversy that has drawn attention away from that work. Because of the seriousness of the claims involved, I believe it is important to address this matter directly and transparently. During the most recent bargaining in August and September of 2025, it became widely publicized that a police report had been filed concerning Evergreen School District Chief Operations
021um officer Jana Gomes. The public narrative suggested that Miss Gomes had misappropriated money by accepting a supplemental contract connected to the 2023 bargaining process. The Vancouver Police Department spent several months reviewing the matter. The district has reviewed the conclusions of that police investigation. That investigation concluded that these allegations against Miss Gomes had already been raised previously and reviewed by the district and that no improprieties were found. They further document that the state auditor examined the district's financial practices for that same fiscal year and concluded that the district complied in all material respects with applicable state laws, regulations, and its own policies and that no material non-compliance was identified, including in regard to supplemental contracts for Miss Gomes and others on the bargaining team that year. The investigating officer wrote that based on his review, Miss
022Gomes did not engage in any unlawful activity. In addition, the police report addressed how these allegations were used publicly during the strike. The officer documented that the materials and publicity surrounding this manner appeared intentionally designed to damage Miss Gome's reputation and career and to pressure the district to remove her from her role as bargaining lead during a contentious strike. The report describes posters placed around the community that specifically targeted Miss Gomes as well as coordinated social media activity directed at her. All with the intent to pressure the district to remove her from the bargaining team. After evaluating the totality of the information, the police concluded that the investigation did not support criminal allegations against Miss Gomes. The record instead reflects concerns about the manner in which the allegations were advanced by certain individuals and then
023publicized in a coordinated effort. The bottom line is this. Miss Gome's name has been completely cleared. She is innocent of these allegations. I hope this moment serves as a reminder that public accusations and campaigns have real impacts on people's lives, families, and professional reputations. Disagreements, especially in the context of labor negotiations, must be handled responsibly and constructively. I want to thank our community for its patience while this matter was reviewed. As a district, we are now returning our full attention to the work that matters most, ensuring belonging for each and success for all our students, and providing a highquality educational experience for our students in a district our community can be proud to call home. This concludes my superintendent's report this evening. >> Thank you, Dr. Maloney. Are there >> Thank you. >> Are you
024taking questions? Okay. Nope. Okay. The next item on the agenda is public comments. Um, and I have this uh to read before we begin. Any community member wishing to address the board on matters of public concern may do so during the designated time on the agenda for public comments. Comments are to be directed to the board of directors as a whole and may not be addressed to individual members of the board, the administrative staff, or the audience. Although the board will not engage in dialogue, the board chair may ask a speaker a clarifying question or follow up at a later time on an issue raised during public comment. General reminders pursuant to existing policies. All members of the public attending school board meetings must treat each other and the board with respect in compliance with
025policy 5161 which states univil conduct on district property or at district sponsored activities by school directors, staff, parents, volunteers, contractors or visitors is prohibited. Univil conduct does not include the expression of controversial or differing viewpoints that may be offensive to some persons. Individuals are not permitted to engage in comment conduct that interferes with the ability of other individuals to observe the board meetings, interferes with the ability of other members of the public to offer comment to the board, or interferes with the ability of the board to conduct its business. False or defamatory statements may expose speakers to civil liability. Members of the public may offer praise or criticism of school operations and programs, but the board will not respond to any comment concerning specific school personnel or other authorized individuals, positive or negative. Complaints about
026staff or programs can be addressed through the public complaints policy 4220. Each speaker has a maximum of three minutes. The microphone will be muted at the end of the allocated time. No individual may speak more than once per regular meeting. There is no mechanism whereby a speaker can donate some or all of their time to another speaker. To reserve each speaker's full allotted time, audience members must refrain from excessive applause, cheering, booing, or other disruptive demonstrations of support or opposition during public comment. Violations will result in a warning. Continued disruption may result in removal from the meeting. And finally, please state your name and your district affiliation if any. The first person signed up to speak tonight is online. Angie Bunda, are you here? Angie, uh, can you hear us? >> Please go ahead. >>
027Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can hear you. >> All right. Uh, I'm Angie Bunda and I'm a parent. It is the belief of many that in our educational community, trust is earned or lost through clear, transparent communication. In early 2025, I asked the superintendent direct and specific questions about the 2023 supplemental contracts. Now, I don't believe I received an honest answer. It is understood that the Evergreen School District supplemental contracts under policy 50/50 allow for someone to be paid for performing additional duties, not overtime pay. Prior to October 10th, 2024 uh appeal proceedings, the board was provided information regarding a third-party investigator's document summarizing the investigation from August 23rd, 2024. On June 25th, 2024, John Boyd was interviewed by the third party investigator, and he said the COO had worked an excessive amount
028of time on weekends and after hours. She was performing duties she was already being paid to perform. Mr. Mr. Boyd related that the COO requested payment for additional time through a supplemental contract. It is understood that supplemental contracts were never used by anyone, including John Boyd, to pay for excessive time on an assigned duty. It is understood that John Boyd had no documented past practice of ever using or doing out supplemental contracts with respect to salaried administrators. It is understood that in line with policy 50/50, Mr. Boyd did not actually have the authority to authorize the use of supplemental contracts for a purpose that is outside of the intended use of that document. The five of you did not approve or adopt the payment to the COO or anyone. On January 14th, 2026, the ESD
029president contacted a VPD detective because she had to correct a police report documenting her conversation which occurred with the detective October 9th, 2025. on January 2020 uh on January 27th of this year, the ESD president stated she had not told the detective that she wasn't on the board in September of 2023. The supplemental police report does show this correction. My questions are on October 9th, 2025, why did the president tell the BPD detective that John Boyd had a practice of doing out supplemental contracts when this is not true and is not supported by any facts? on October uh excuse me, on January 14th, 2026, why didn't she correct this false or misleading statement when she contacted the detective for corrections? On October 9th, 2025, why did the the president tell the detective that the action
030was found to be legal when there was no such finding known to exist on January 14th of this year? Why didn't she correct this false or misstating misleading statement? If there is a finding that these were legitimate, why haven't the five of you ever produced it to anyone? The overall expectation is that we count on our elected officials officials to be truthful. Deception cannot lead to the building of trust. Thank you. >> Thank you, Angie. Uh the next person signed up to speak is um Jake Osmos. Please correct my pronunciation if I've gotten it wrong. >> Hi. Uh >> evening. >> Okay. Uh my name is Jake Osmus. I'm a public worker and a WPA union steward. Uh today I've come to speak in support of the local union serving this district as well as
031its brave students. Uh I applaud faculty for their concerted efforts in achieving a better wage, benefit, and quality of life. As a fellow union member, and a human being, uh you we deserve fair compensation and a workplace that respects the need of your labor and the pride that they often take in it. They are the front line, spending hours with this community's children, and strong teachers create strong students. I pray the board recognizes this. I applaud union leaders and organizing their members and I abhore that every bargaining session they must consider the option to strike. This district could instead work with the union benefiting everyone especially the students. I applaud the brave students of this district as well as the other districts around our city and nationwide in upholding the sacred duty as human beings
032to fight for civil liberties promised to them. I abhore abhore that we must fight for these things. ICE has no place in our community and our unions or in America. We do not want the hate and we will not regress. Together, unions are strong, students are strong, Americans are strong. We build a better tomorrow through our actions today. And this board should recognize that when your people are fighting so hard for something as simple as their basic needs, then you should listen to what is being asked of yourselves. Also, you should bring back your teacher librarians. Thanks. Thank you for your comments. The next person on the list is Sydney Morgan. Good evening, Cindy. >> Good evening, board. I'm Sydney Morgan. I'm a parent. Um, just a question bringing up around restorative justice uh training
033and conversations that I had the opportunity to have with you all as a school board. Um, my question is where does that conversation still sit for you all and when will you all discuss potentially looking at bringing that back into our schools? Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. >> The next person uh signed up to speak is Clarissa High Totower. Clarissa. >> Good evening. >> Good even Good evening. All right. I'm Clarissa High Tower. I'm a culturally responsive community leader. I keep coming here to press on you all because accountability is actually how I show that I still care and that I have hope for this district as a whole even if I lose hope in individuals. Okay. I know that the problems that we are facing as a district are not ones
034that any of you created individually nor do you have the ability or power to solve individually. We are going to do that together. Um, now my accountability partner reminded me that I need to make sure I treat this district that I love so very much like I treat the students that I love so very much. Um, and that is to celebrate their strengths and utilize them to help with the areas of growth. So that's what I'm going to do tonight. I'm going to talk about two areas of growth and then some strengths that you have that I hope you will use to address them. uh number one area of growth as we are all very aware of you have a larger budget deficit and cuts looming that will disproportionately impact your already underserved populations. You
035also have several of your district decision makers who will be making the final decision of on those cuts who are not aware of all of the community resources that you have available. However, your strengths, you have been uh you have an amazing community of people, many of which are in this space, but you have also been gathering your culturally responsive community leaders over for over about a year and a half now. And we as leaders of those orgs have services and skill sets that can help you fill the gaps that your cuts will create. For example, I know myself, I'm working with Union High School and Shahala Middle School to expand a nearper tutoring and mentorship program there where the high school students go to the middle school during their sixth period and an hour
036or so afterwards to tutor and mentor their multilingual learners. Um, just for reference, your multilingual learners are one of your targeted um, subgroups of students who are historically underserved. And this service is at no cost to the district. Zero. Um, it happens to be a passion project of one of your very own students at Union High School. Her name is Alexandra. She will be here, I'm sure, to talk with you all in the future. Um, and the teacher who stays after school with those mentors um, is paid for his time. That's Gustavo Vas. He's amazing. and he's paid via a stipen through ESD12. So, none of this is at cost to the district. Um, Leadership Northwest offers culturally, excuse me, Latino Leadership Northwest offers culturally responsive mental health supports for students. I know for sure
037we have a need for that. LUAC has a farm and a free uh farmers market and you all have space that unfortunately is underutilized because of, you know, enrollment decline. What better use of that space than to help distribute that that produce? Um, let me pause. These are lots of different ways. And so the more that we can tap into community, I think the better we can fill those gaps. >> Thank you. >> Clarissa, I have a follow-up question for you if you could. >> Yes. >> Could you send that in writing to us, please? >> Uh, the >> what you read out the resources, the list of resources. >> Uh-huh. It'll be longer than this. >> Thank you. The next person signed up to speak is Adam Aguilera. Dear Evergreen School Board and Superintendent
038Maloney, I'm Adam Magguilera and I'm speaking as a member of the Evergreen Education Association. I am here again because as elected officials who impact the lives of thousands of evergreen children, your credibility is directly tied to accountability and transparency. These tenants are at the core of public trust. I spoke to you on these issues on January 13, 2026. On January 14th, the public schools employee PSSE union president was contacted by the chief operations officer during work hours to a meeting where the COO doled out inaccurately incomplete documents. That day on just January 14th, the COO wasn't contacting the PSSE president for union business. She was summoned into a meeting on the COO's personal business. It was known by the Evergreen School Board President that the documents the COO was doing out were inaccurate because also
039on that same day, January 14th, 2026, the Evergreen School Board President contacted the Vancouver police detective and she made corrections to the very documents that the PSSE president received from the COO. This was verified in this room. Two weeks after the fact on January 27th, the Evergreen School Board President stated at the end of the meeting, there were statements in these documents attributed to her that she did not say. It is the legal responsibility of the school board that all members of any union associated with the Evergreen School District should be able to work in a safe environment where free speech isn't subject to retaliation, intimidation, or harassment. On January 27th, 2026, I spoke to you and asked you direct questions. I followed up my questions from that meeting with an email to all of
040you asking the same questions. So, I will ask them again as the superintendent's previous statement before public comment did not address them. One, did you authorize the chief operations officer to engage in the contact with the PSSE president that incurred on January 14th, 2026? Two, did you authorize the COO to tell the PSSE president that those who had reported the facts relating to the COO providing false or misleading information or the related criminal actions would be held responsible? Since you are all now aware that the chief operations officer took these actions against the PSSE president while in the midst of criminal referrals for investigation, why isn't the chief operations officer on administrative leave? Two weeks have passed and no one has answered these questions. I expressed to you my concern of retaliation by the COO
041and I would like to have these questions answered to better protect my safety and well-being in this district. Based on what the PSC president provided you with a statement under oath indicating what occurred at that meeting with the COO, I have another question. Why hasn't anyone from the Evergreen School District contacted the PSC president about the COO's actions against her on January 14th? Why hasn't anyone done anything to protect the PSSE president from further intimidation and retaliation? I think what is the most disgusting part of this all is that the school board is preparing to cut millions in student services and jobs but continue to allow the chief operator. >> Thank you for your comments, Adam. Your time is expired. Take your seat. The next person on the list is Kendall Theman. >> Oh, Cynthia
042Van Diner. I apologize, Mr. Theman. >> Good evening. Uh my name, excuse me, my name is Cindy Van Diner and I am one of Evergreen's uh seven transitional kindergarten that we call kinder uh the teachers um that find immense value in teaching this program and have seen significant evidence that it is giving our preschool students a solid foundation for academic and school success. This is EPS's fourth year having this program and as you've heard from Gaylin Mills, our program coordinator. We have three years of data to show the positive outcomes of our kinder students. It is amazing how well these targeted at risk students are doing in comparison to their peers, even those that have attended pre other preschools. Our teachers and school communities are grateful that you took the initiative to offer this early
043intervention program for our district's at risk four-year-olds that don't otherwise have access to early learning opportunities. So, thank you. The kind students not only learn pre-academic skills, but more importantly, they learn social emotional skills like self-regulation and friendship skills. Many of them learn English in our classrooms and some begin interventions for behavior or learning challenges earlier than they than if they waited until kindergarten. This allows for smoother transitions for students, families, and classrooms. All of these areas of learning and support allow them to better access content um learning and to be um behavior leaders in their kindergarten classrooms and in their school careers. As you're making important and very difficult decisions about funding and cuts for the upcoming school year, um I would like to share why those of us involved believe that students have
044pos the positive outcomes that they do. We have a leader uh with the deep knowledge of early childhood best practices. Um we have been provided an engaging developmentally appropriate play-based program focused on social emotional skills. Um, we have a 1:9 adult child ratio which allows for safety for students and the ability to better know and meet the needs of our youngest learners. Um, a statemandated screening process that allows us to identify the students that will benefit the most from our program and allows us to be prepared with the plans and supports to support those students. We ask that you consider the points above when you are considering considering cuts or changes to our program. There is well doumented research that if prek is not done well or is focused on the wrong outcomes that it
045can have negative effects on their school career. Gayen Mills can share more resources with you. This is why we are asking you to continue provide students with a program where the staff is led effectively, well trained, focused on whole child and early childhood best practices, has a safe adult child ratio, and is able to screen students to target the ones that will benefit the most from our program. Preschool is an important time in the lives of children and their families when it comes to learning and intervening in learning challenges. Thank you for offering this opportunity to the children that need it in our community and we ask that you do all that you can to continue to have it be done well. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comment. >> I apologize for missing
046a line. The next speaker is Kendall Theman. Good evening. My name is Kendall Teeman. I'm running for EA president and I'm a proud union member. Transparency, accountability, and safety have I have been screaming about for the last three years. I've observed the last uh board meetings from afar, the last two meetings, and it appear that there's a lack of confidence in the COO, members of the board, and potentially a superintendent as it relates to credibility. Prior to two of you being hired and also the uh superintendent, the COO has established with the second highest federal court in the region the ninth circuit court of appeals in Dodge versus ESD a documented history of hiding information from the ESD board. From that decision in the fall 2019, it was found that CO directed a third party
047investigator to delete relevant information from documents that were subject matter of an ESD board proceeding. From those court proceedings, the CO did not tell the ESD board that she had in fact hired that third party investigator to delete those records. Three of you here today were provided incomplete information in that appeals proceeding. Deleted information was key to the Ninth Circuit finding against the ESD in a settlement that cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars. Moving to current concerns regarding the COO. Uh it's understood that there are two principal forms in the district that are allowed to pay for additional payment outside the contracted amounts. Form A, extra hours certified staff contracted hourly rate. And the second form, a supplemental contract, which allows employees to seek additional compensation when performing duties outside of that contract.
048Uh the form A for extra hours overtime. Supplemental contracts are for over excuse me form A is for extra hours overtime. Supplemental contracts are for extra duties performed. The co ackn has acknowledged that in writing that she knows the form A are not to be used by noncertificated salaried employees. On September 4, 2024, according to John Boyd from his June 25th, 2023 interview, third party investigator, it said that COO had worked excessive amount of time on weekends and after hours and the COO had requested additional payment for the time worked through a supplemental contract. The COO wanted to be paid for would normally fall into form A, but she knows she couldn't use a form A. However, she was paid overtime after signed the document that indicated that compensation as bargaining lead chief negoti negotiator
049had been stipulated for special and extended services for which the board adopted and approved. None of these statements are true. The co's being salary is not entitled to overtime pay and if she were given a supplemental contract that language would have required the ESD board approval. Finally, >> thank you for your comment. Your time is expired. The next person uh signed up to speak is Katherine Ferdick. Good evening. My name is Katherine Ferdick. My children received their K12 education through EPS and I'm also a volunteer. For the last month, we've heard public comments where you've been provided sworn documents along with additional documentation illustrating that the COO and the district's attorney have provided false or misleading information to law enforcement. There have been ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability relating to our COO for years.
050Now, it's understood that Miss Gomes has had ongoing communication with and met with the Evergreen Administrators Association, the EAA, for at least the last month and informed them that approximately 38% of the 44 associate principles in the district will be subject to a reduction in force in the near future. Again, it appears the COO was at the center of communications with the EAA. It is also understood there was a request that principles not disclose this information. Why would such a request be made? And why haven't the members of the budget committee been informed if it's been known for this long? How is a reduction of this nature going to impact the already alarming safety concerns at our schools? How are you coming up with these numbers? Are you taking into account each uh school's enrollment
051um and proportions of safety issues to those schools? At the last board meeting, three people indicated during the public comments that the board was notified by email that the COO contacted the PSSE president and provided the president with inaccurate information. At the end of that meeting, the school board's president confirmed on the record uh that she had to contact law enforcement to correct the content of one of the documents the COO had claimed was accurate. A direct confirmation that the COO's source information was inaccurate. Examples of the COO's repeated lack of transparency and credibility are disturbing. How many examples of a lack of transparency and honesty are needed before appropriate action is taken? And again, this has been going on for years. This isn't just the isolated uh strike stuff that um was referenced in
052the report. Comparatively, the school board has a responsibility uh to their constituents that those entrusted with public funds are trustworthy and credible. It is absolutely necessary for the budget committee, collect bargaining units, and the general public to have confidence in the district's administrators, specifically the COO. How can we trust the COO with decisions relating to our money? And what is our exposure to future liability with her current record? How do we trust this board if this behavior continues to be tolerated from a person with a documented history of withholding information from not only the board, but also from law enforcement and the public in general? Through an established record by the COO of providing misleading information, the hope for public trust in a partnership with our school board has been lost, and our district continues
053to face greater risk and liability. The school board has reliable information of documented issues relating to the COO's credibility and transparency. It's necessary for this board to do its duty to protect the district and restore public trust. It is time to hold your COO accountable and remove remove further liability to our district. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comment. Next speaker is Camille Lman. My name is Camille. I'm a parent and a very active volunteer within the district. I found it very suspicious that Dr. Maloney would have her superintendent report prior to public comment, but I actually expected something very similar to what was shared at the end of her speech. To clarify, I have been in direct contact with the prosecuting attorney's office and law enforcement, and there have been no final findings
054and no final reports related to the matter of COO Jana Gomes. There are countless emails and documents that are public record supporting this. On January 22nd, 2026, I sent the board and the superintendent an email which contained a declaration. On January 27th, 2026, board member Gary Wilson at 1 hour and 11 minutes into the board meeting acknowledged my email containing my declaration. Gary Wilson asked this his fellow board members and superintendent if there was an RCW that prohibited him from responding to my email. It is understood that no one on the board is an attorney and it is unclear why a board member sought legal advice from people who are not able to provide such an answer. I have not been contacted by anyone representing the district relating to anything contained in my email. I
055could not locate NRCW which would limit the ability to respond to my email. And while I hope that I'm able to be responded to this evening, history seems to repeat it itself often here. So I assume that my words will continue to be ignored, silence by the board and leadership is deafening and the anti antithesis of transparency. Based on the superintendent's report tonight, the actions of COO Jana Gomes, would it be correct to assume that the actions are sanctioned by the Evergreen Public School Board of Directors? Why has nothing been done to protect protect the PSSE president? I recall conduct of very similar nature by an administrator at Mountain View High School a few years back, and the district's reaction was immediate. I don't understand why the conduct described continues to be brushed under the
056rug, and why leadership continues to share misleading and untrue statements regarding the status of the police report regarding Miss Gomes. I recall there being a reference to those who are lukewarm being spat out. The board has a duty to their constituents and their oath. Avoid having to prev sworn duties is not going unnoticed. As a side note, you allowed one commenter to go beyond their time and then gave at another. Your double standard is obvious. Thank you for your comment. The next person signed up to speak is Mindy Drawer Cooper. >> Jacob Smith. I apologize for skipping lines. It's I'm filling in today. All righty. Uh evening board and uh superintendent. Uh my name is Jacob Smith. Um ran for the school board last year. Didn't get the position, but uh I'm going to switch
057up the topic a bit. Um it came up to me uh at one of the meetings that we had recently the danger of body spray and um cologne and antipersperants and I would urge this board to uh have a policy that says perspirants antipersperants uh cologne perfumes aren't allowed in school because I've worked at the Walt Disney Company and one of the things that we have is called the Disney look and our Disney lookbook on page six it says due to the contacts that we have with guests uh anti-persperence uh body sprays and perfumes are not allowed. So, I'm a little bit concerned um that we're not really doing attraction, especially um with that policy because we've had two close incidents and with staff members almost dying because of the allergies. And um I actually
058got uh first aid certified because of what I've heard because with good first aid and good practice um you're seconds away to saving somebody's life. Um and we had a near miss at my work where I had a co-orker um my supervisor, he'll go up to you, he'll do story time and talk about back in my day. I worked here, here, and here. And we had a co-orker pass, we had a co-orker fall on the ground, and my supervisor thought he had fallen off a stool. And thankfully if my supervisor had been talking to that employee in the back um that employee would have died would have had passed on. And so um I would also urge this board to uh susp um to not allow to make a policy that doesn't allow body spray
059um antipersperants cologne perfumes. And I'm a little bit concerned that we had administrators say well they have to use it before you take it away. But, uh, if you fly through the TSA, I flown quite a lot last year. Uh, the TSA does not wait to take away, uh, contraband. Um, they have policies in place for that. Um, do we apply this logic to like alcohol, vapes, pens, uh, lighters, knives? No. So, why is this administrator feeling like, oh, you have to use the body spray before it gets taken away? And I would urge this board to like workshop it and then try to adopt it within a month and a half. And uh thank you. >> Thank you for your comment. The next speaker is Mindy Trougher Cooper. Good evening. I'm Mindy Tropher Cooper.
060I am a 16-year PAR educator in Evergreen School District and I am also the infamous PSC president. On January te 22nd, my declaration was provided to each of you um the ESD board of directors. Included with my declaration were statements and attachments which I had also read previous to them being sent to you. On January 27th, 2026, during the board meeting at approximately 1 hour and 11 minutes, Director Gary Wilson acknowledged the receipt of the email contain containing my declaration. Also, on January 27th, the ESD board president acknowledged on the record at about 1 hour and 16 minutes that some of the content in the reports that I had received was inaccurate and that she had amended hers. I have not been contacted by anyone representing the Evergreen School District relating to anything in my
061declaration. I related concerns related to events contained within that declaration. I recall also conduct of a very similar nature by an administrator at Mountain View and the district's reaction was immediate. I don't understand why the conduct in my declaration as described has to this date gone completely unressed. Thank you for your attention to this matter for both myself and the members of PSSE. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comment. >> Next uh person signed up to speak is John Velasquez. >> Good evening board. Um I'm a music teacher at Furrest. I'm an EA member. I'm an also a parent of an evergreen student and I'm addressing pending budget cuts. As a district, we have asked to ground our work in our shared culture of belonging. That mindset publicly posted on our website and also
062out in the hallway calls on us to assume positive intent, be kinder than necessary, create systems that serve, and measure twice and cut once, as well as lead as cultural culturally responsive leaders. Those values matter, but right now possible sweeping cuts to education funding would directly undermine them unless we strictly follow our mindset. Creating belonging doesn't happen by accident. It requires time, people, training, and stable resources. asking all educators to be kinder than necessary to respond to diverse communities and and to build systems that truly serve students while simultaneously stripping away the resources that make that work possible puts our values in conflict with our actions. Measure twice, cut once is especially important here. That principle calls for careful evidence-based decisions. Hopefully, not blunt across the board cuts that disproportionately harm students with the greatest
063needs. When we cut broadly, we weaken the very systems we say we want to strengthen. And we make it harder for schools to live up to the commitments we've made to equity and belonging. This brings me to the reserve fund. Fiscal responsibility and educational responsibility are not opposites. But building financial reserves should not come at the direct expense of students daily learning and well-being. Increasing the reserve fund from 2.5% to 5% through sweeping education cuts would contradict our stated values. It will erode trust, reduce reduces staffing supports and puts culturally responsive programs at risk, especially for families who rely on them most in our schools. True financial stability comes from sustainable planning, phased increases to reserves, targeted efficiencies outside the classroom, and exploring new revenue strategies and creative thinking. Using classrooms as the primary tool
064to pad reserve may balance the spreadsheet, but it creates deeper academic and community costs that will be far more difficult and far more expensive to repair in the future. If we are serious about belonging, equity, and serving students well, then we must align our budget decisions with our values. That means investing thoughtfully in education, not weakening it through cuts. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comment. Next speaker is uh Phil Cronbush. And finally, good evening. I'm Phil Cronbush, EPS grandparent. This concerns the Carmen Shoemaker restroom incident. Carmen Shoemaker has a right to not be subjected to harassment by other students or by policies this board approves. She entered the restroom for privacy, not politics, sexual judgment, or ridicule. Procedure 3211P created an environment of sexual harassment and provoked fellow students to carry out the
065offenses. >> The restroom's exclusive use is reserved for hygiene only. >> We pause the timer for a second. I just want to caution you that discussing the circumstance of a student is protected by law. >> We'll turn it back. >> Discuss it in public. So therefore she brought herself forward in public and therefore the subject matter is open for discussion. >> Understood. Um continue please. >> Although I would I would I would understand you know removing her name. We could put it for the record that >> All right. So I this >> it'll still work. Um anyways I I I did not consider that. I I I would next time I would do that but I think since it related obviously to a very important topic it had to be connected. >> I understand. Please
066continue. >> Okay. Procedure 3211P created an environment of sexual harassment and provoked fellow students to carry out the offenses. Restrooms exclusive use is reserved for hygiene only as I believe anyone with a com with a conscience would agree. What policy allows students or staff to carry out political debate, religious activities, illegal drug sales, or any activity other than personal hygiene inside a district restroom? Carmen did not deserve seeing multiple students engaging in activities in a single stall. She did not deserve to have her beliefs about modesty challenged. She was forced to endure the conflict over sexual identity rather than carry out her immediate private hygienic needs in peace. Was the space designated with appropriate signs offering her modesty with regard to her biological reality? Should she be challenged by policies that cannot resolve human reality,
067reality she and her parents chose to follow that conflicts with the personal views of a group called the everin school board? Does she not deserve the right to freely associate with the multitudes that follow modesty conventions and not be harassed for it? Why would you, as a group of supposed grown-ups, write policies that are embarrassingly chirish, immodest, and insensitive? I acknowledge, applaud, and stand behind Carmen for having the courage to stand up to this board. Anyone is welcome to email me at brassduck8gmail.com. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Phil, uh, for your comment. The next uh and there is one more person uh who signed up to speak just at the last Rachel Ernst. Um please come forward. >> Thank you for fitting me in. Um that was my first time using that system.
068>> Welcome. >> Uh yeah, my name is Rachel Ernst. Um, and uh, I'm a public library employee, but I wanted to speak out about um, your libraries. So, uh, I'm here to ask you, the school board, I know there are conversations about budget cuts. Um, but I implore you to reinvest in your libraries. Um, reinvest in your libraries and specifically your librarians. Um, I feel like there's a lack of understanding in the role school librarians have in the academic performance of your students. As Evergreen continues to underperform in reading and math, you have simultaneously cut librarians from your staff as if they're a luxury item. This is a trend we are seeing all over the country and with it the dwindling of literacy in our students. It must be noted that this is not a
069critique of your teachers and their tireless work that they put in. Instead, it's a failing on your part to fully grasp the needs of librarians in schools. Studies show, like the 2022 report by every library institute, that when students have access to their school libraries and more importantly their librarians, literacy rates increase. In particular, you see these benefits in vulnerable and at risk populations. School librarians are not just keepers of books. They foster lifelong reading habits. They build strong research and digital lit digital literacy skills like fact-checking and how to detect misinformation and disinformation. These are life skills that are becoming vital for navigating our complex world. But I ask you to also think of the children and their access to libraries and the vast institutional knowledge that comes from having certified librarians. something um
070that is now missing from our students and their families. I want you to think about how many students their first library memory is actually their school library. Even as someone who works at a public library and they come to story time maybe, but like their first authentic individual memory is probably their school librarian. um helping them with their homework or helping them find a book and just starting that love of reading. Um an argument is often made that students still have access to public libraries while not thinking or acknowledging the actual barriers that these students face, transportation, distance being a huge factor of that. For those who rarely take public transit, there's often a weighing of options of what is a necessity and sometimes the local library is not the that one. Um, so I
071implore you to think about your community. Uh, these kids are our future and uh, please support your staff and um, pay your teachers a living wage. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comment. This concludes the public comment portion of the meeting. Uh the next item on the agenda is finally the board consent agenda. >> I move to approve the board consent agenda as amended. >> Second. >> Director Grwalt has moved and director Bokanra has seconded approval of the board consent agenda as presented. All in favor? I >> I >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Um I have a discussion or >> uh yeah, it's at the I put it between um the last information item and board comments. The >> next item on the agenda is the superintendent consent agenda. Is there a motion?
072>> I move for approval of the superintendent's consent agenda. >> Second. >> Director Boengger is moved and director Wilson has seconded uh for approval of the superintendent's consent agenda as presented. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. The next item on the agenda is a presentation, our teaching, learning, and equity update. Dr. Fox, the update this evening, we will hear from two school leaders who are deeply committed to a simple but powerful belief. When students feel connected, supported, and known, their learning accelerates. At Frontier Middle School, the work begins with a shared sense of purpose and responsibility. Adults and students alike understanding that success is not accidental, but the result of intentional culture building and collective effort. Tonight, principal Ruben Dorandorf and Associate Principal Sheamus Shaheen will share how culture, relationships, and instructional
073coherence come together to support students not just in a single classroom or year, but across their entire middle school experience. I'm pleased to welcome Ruben and Shea to share their work and their impact. Shamea, you have to come on up, too. >> Good evening. Um, thank you for having us. Um, I'm excited to share some of the, um, fantastic work that we're doing at Frontier. I'm also really excited to see Lorelli as a Frontier alumni um um and continue to represent Frontier Splendidly and Evergreen Public Schools. So, thank you. Um all right, so I get to talk about our collective efficacy and we've really held on to the um belief around belonging for each and success for all and really developing and pushing on on those two things. So, I'm going to talk about the
074belonging for each. Um, and then Miss Shaheen's going to talk about what does academic success for all look like. Um, one of the things that we've done, um, and Lorelli, you weren't there when we did this, but, um, coming out of CO, we learned some things and we learned that we needed to be more intentional about our tier one interventions of of how do we function in a school and how do we behave? And so we do pride of the pack at the beginning of every school year and it's two days of lessons where every student has common experiences and they also learn the school expectations. Collectively we teach the students and the students learn the frontier 4. We are safe, we are kind, we are respectful and we're responsible. Um these are some students
075doing those activities where they're challenged to make Frontier their own space. what does that look like? Um, and these this is the art some of the artwork that they create. It is truly amazing. And of course, you have some lovely sixth graders here. Very proud of their their work. And this was um after a delay to our school year, they were really excited to be back in school. Um the next thing we do uh is we do shoutouts. And this is we want to teach our students to learn um they learn about the science of gratitude. And so specifically we teach them how to write a shout out to each other. Now way back when um I started calling it when we first did a writing notes of gratitude. And of course that's the adult
076language and a kid goes I got a shout out. I'm like bingo. That's that's language. And and I remember um this sixth grade girl says I got a shout out. And I thought that's the language. So that's where we shifted to um doing shoutouts. Um we teach students how to write them in pride of the pack. This is one of their lessons that they learn. It's part become part of our school culture and we go around and during first period we read them in classrooms. So admin and guests get to to read those. Today I have a couple of example shoutouts to read and then um I have some shoutouts for the board as we um just wrapped up January board appreciation month. But it comes with a caveat. There's homework. I have some blank
077shoutouts and I challenge you to write a shout out to somebody. Preferably, I would love for it to be somebody at Frontier. If you don't know somebody, Lorelli could probably um help you out. >> I think I have my compartment still. >> You very well, very well might. So, um I'm just going to read these in order. Um last week was National School Counselor Appreciation Week. And so a student wrote to our counselor, Miss Gohan, I appreciate how you always check in check in on me. I feel safe when you are around. Thank you for all you do for us eighth graders. Part of our culture. It's it's permeated. Um happened by accident. Our parents found them and so parents started writing them as well. I started finding in my box. I'm like, how did
078a parent get a hold of this? Um so now it's just part of the culture. So this mom says to her daughter, "I see how hard you are working, how much heart you put into it, helping your friends and being a good human. I am so proud of you. Love, mom." Now you can imagine what a student when a middle school gets that one read in class from their mom and dad. Um here's one. I have one from one student. This is from one sixth grader to another. Thank you for caring about me whenever I'm down by making me smile when you do your goofy face. I love you for who you are. And I get to model one um for you. And I have one for Miss Shaheen. She doesn't know that I have
079this. Um this is from a seventh grade student and says, "Miss Shaheen, thank you for being there for me when there was a lot of drama with my friend. Thank you. You are awesome." From Macy. Oh, thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, I was trying to think how many of these we go through. Um, and I think this year on track to do about 8,000 of them um based off how many we um we work with Bellag Imaging. Um they provide the cards and so the power of of having during a school year 8,000 positive comments to somebody in a world where that's not always the norm. Um it's really powerful. So, I'm going to hand these out to you guys um with your homework and then I get to introduce Miss Shaheen. >>
080You leave those in the office, Reuben. So, that's why we how we get a hold of them. Thank you. >> And now, um, Miss Shaheen gets to talk about what does success for all look like at Frontier. Hi everyone. I get to talk about my favorite subject, math. So, um, tonight I would like to share with you how Frontier Math PLC's professional learning communities collectively and intentionally use the math interim assessments to increase our student academic achievement in mathematics. This is year four of our math inquiry using the interimm assessments as tools for instruction math practices and calibration. Teachers incorporate the interim questions in their lesson plans as warm-ups and exit tickets. And you can see some of the pictures right here. Those were actually interim questions taken out of the SBA website. And they
081use the data collected to monitor student progress and to inform instruction. Our math PLC collaborates as a team and plan for 540 days. Teachers share the belief that they own the responsibilities of our student learning not just for the current grade levels they're teaching but for all three years. Okay. As a result of our collective efficacy and this is where I get to brag a little bit. Last year's eighth grade students had a 15% growth in achieving proficiency under math SBA from sixth to 8th grade. This is a co cohort data. Um I'm going to draw your attention to the green and the blue bars right there. The green is meeting the standards, the grade level standards and the blue is exceeding the grade level standards. And this is from their fifth grade data all
082the way to eighth grade. Okay. In addition, our eighth graders also surpassed the state average by 1% in meeting and exceeding grade level standards on their math SBA. So again, drawing your attention to the green and the blue portion of it. Okay. Planning for 540 days of learning is challenging. We continue to build collaborative culture and to focus on aligning and using the interimm assessments to meet the learning needs of our students. Thank you for the opportunity to celebrate our students academic achievement in math with you and thank you for your support. That's it. If the snapping and the clapping hadn't happened, I was going to suggest that that would be an appropriate time. Thank you for bringing that great report about Frontier Middle School. I really appreciate the teamwork demonstrated among Frontier staff and
083the notion that teachers and staff members are not working in isolation. Ruben and Sheam have shared with me that sometimes staff don't see results of their efforts until the last part of those 540 days they have with their middle school students. Sixth grade teachers may have to wait to see results in student achievement in eighth grade, but I love that the teachers all share and we all share in the celebration. Looking ahead to your meeting on February 24th, we'll feature another middle school, W East, and the impact staff are having on multilingual learners. This concludes TL update. >> Thank you, Dr. Fox. Uh Dr. Fox, I'm sorry. Um is there a way um Ruben and Shea can share this with some of the other uh middle schools to get similar results? I'm certain they'd be
084willing to share. Um I I don't I don't know if you've noticed, but in the the monthly TLE newsletter, I feature all of the presentations with links to the presentations and often the graphics, and those uh newsletters go out to all the ASC staff here in this building, all secretaries at each of our schools, and all EPS leadership. So, all of the principles and assistant principles would also receive that information. So, I'll make sure it makes it to our our February newsletter. >> All right. Thank you. >> Very good. >> The next uh item on the agenda are two information items. The first is a financial statement uh and the second is an addendum to the -ate category 2 administrative follow-up resolution number 7108 an award of proposal for uh phone and internet systems is
085what that is right. Mhm. Uh no action is required uh on either item. We'll now take up the uh item 5A on approval of minutes uh for discussion. Uh remember that we still need to approve the minutes. Uh so uh this would be time for a motion to approve the minutes and then um we can hold the discussion. >> I move to approve uh the meeting minutes from last meeting January 23rd 3rd 7th. Thank you Lori. 27th >> second. The uh director groundwald has moved and director Boganra has sec uh has seconded the approval of the January 27th meeting minutes. Is there any discussion? Yeah, thank you. Um in previous years like I looked at you know some um board comments from years before I got on the board and it was very descriptive. it
086had um who said what and really had a lot of input there and we were recording meetings at that point too and in the last year or two it's consider you know continually been kind of whittleled down and you know I've brought up the concern previously and and now all of a sudden this month or this past board meeting I noticed board comments there's nothing on recorded on the m the minutes of the ing and that for me is concerning. It's I I think transparency, the more we could be transparent, the better. Um I know when I ran for election, that was one of my uh topics was, you know, being helping the board to be more transparent and this would I think do that. Um and it's it's not a matter of making it
087more transparent. It's like trying to keep it at least somewhat transparent and not keep regressing backwards. Um, and I fear, you know, what are we going to do next? The public comments, are we going to just wipe them out as well? And I don't think people that attend would really uh come and share their heart would um definitely not appreciate that. So, I'm trying to make a a stand now to, you know, in the interest of transparency. So, thank you. is there a action do you that you'd like the board to take with regard to these minutes? >> Um yeah, if we could go back and put in for board comments u a summary of what was uh mentioned. >> Okay, I could take that as a motion to uh adjust the minutes uh in
088that way. Uh is there a second? I'm not Do we have to have a second? >> No, if there's no second. >> I wasn't going to second. I was just going to comment. Um I think kind of in our you know when we move to I mean things evolve over time and when we move to um board docs and then through diligent the way that it's structured is that just a recap of the meeting and because we film um and record all of our meetings all of them are available on the public website to review. And when it comes to um public comment, we list the names of the speakers, but really not any descriptive what was said in those three minutes. So, it's it's pretty much the same for board comments. Um and if
089anybody in the public needed to go back and refer to them, the video recording is right next to all of the meetings on the public website. >> I agree with Julie. Um, the other thing I would say is that if when we're actually, you know, putting those in the agenda or in the meeting minutes, if there are errors made and that need corrections, it's taking additional time away from staff. Um, so and that costs money. So, if we can eliminate extra work for having to have people go back in and having to rewatch our board meetings just to make uh more detailed meeting minutes when if someone has a question, they can go back and watch the video. I'm aware that the practice of uh reducing the content of the written minutes uh in light
090of the state requirement now to record uh and make those recordings available to the public. Um I have here samples of the minutes from Vancouver uh and from CAS where uh they're essentially doing the same things. Um, let me see if I can find Yeah. And in the case of CAM, um, the public comments lists the names of the people who signed up to speak. Um, and then board communication is listed. There's the other page as just uh I can't even find it. Um in the case of chemist uh do you remember which part public hearing culture actually it's difficult to find uh in in this in this set but I also have Vancouver's uh where they listed as uh audience participation communications and public comments without any other detail. Um and then uh the
091board of directors report lists only the action that they took um without detailing the comments and uh that comes in light of that new law and also some uh some recommendations I'm told about uh from the auditor's office is that if uh staff attempts to uh summarize or or uh rephrase what was spoken. Um, the differences between that summary and the actual record could constitute an audit finding. Um, so the advice we've been getting, and Dr. Maloney, you can interject if uh I get a detail wrong, but the advice we've been getting is to create minutes that include the video or audio recording. Um both are public records and both are being retained by the district um according to um the public records act. Um so I see the format that we've got right now
092as compliant with the law uh consistent with uh practice around the state and uh also uh more resistant or not resistant but uh more durable uh when subjected to auditing. Um they're legal and so I I think uh I think we're in a good place uh formatting them in the way that we have or the way that uh Dr. Maloney's office has. Um I did notice uh in going through uh the links uh that we provided and I discussed this with Dr. Maloney before the meeting. Uh it can be um a little difficult uh to find the video by going to the website uh without knowing where the schoolboard page is. Uh so I've asked them to consider putting a direct link to the YouTube playlist where we keep all of our meetings um so
093that people can go directly to those places. Yeah, it's just, you know, you got a meeting that's an hour or two on occasion even three and for people to have to go through all that rather than be able to just quickly see kind of like a little content to know if there's something in there that interests them that they want to research further. But that would in the interest of transparency, I'm not trying to be like Vancouver school district. So, um I don't think we aspire to be Vancouver school district. So, and we're evergreen. So, yeah, good. In the past, we were doing it and now we're not. So, okay. Well, hearing no second for the motion to uh amend the minutes. Um I'll have to lay that down. Um and if there are no
094further comments, I'll call for a vote to adopt the minutes as presented. I >> I may >> I motion carries 3 to one. >> Thank you. The next item on the agenda are board comments. Are there any comments? >> I'll just give a quick um legislative update. Um it was actually a pretty quiet week this week in um testimony. I think there was only one day which is tomorrow where they're having anything with education and it's just um it's a minor bill that really doesn't do anything. It has to do with um medications in schools. >> So that's all >> I don't have anything. um a few concerns that were brought up tonight. And one I noticed um there was an email back uh in January that the gentleman responded uh over two weeks later
095saying he hadn't been responded to and tonight there were a couple of mentions of people emailing that hadn't been responded back to. So, I know we made somewhere along the line since I've been on the board um made u the determination to have an email respondent being one of us, you know, on a particular month. But if we're not responding, that reflects on all of us to that we're not responding back and people are expecting transparency. They're expecting to be, you know, communicated with. So if we're not going to be doing that, then that reflects on all of us, including me. And I want to start responding to people if we're not responding to them. So are we going to respond to people or are we going to change that and just allow each of
096us to respond when we feel it's, you know, our interest or or just to ensure everybody does get responded to? Um it's a concern. I have no comments tonight. Are there And if there are no further comments, >> um I've still got some more comments. >> Yes, of course. >> Okay. Um let's see. Uh oh, thank you Rachel or thank everyone for their comments. And Rachel, I know you mentioned about librarians and um I know I was pushing for that back two years ago when we did cut our elementary librarians, trying to work some sort of compromise to keep at least maybe half of them. So I I know with our budget constraints, it's going to be hard to uh implement them back in. Uh but it is definitely something on my mind and I
097know Christine, your mom, I believe, was a librarian. So, um, school librarian was it or Yeah. Okay. So, um, we'll hope and pray. Um, okay. What else? Um, I know, uh, it was mentioned by Jacob about the cologne perfume, and I know we brought that up, and I know, um, Maggie brought that up a few board meetings ago, and it was determined that we were going to do a, um, board workshop on that. So, I haven't heard of anything since then. I don't know. Jackie is not here to mention it, but I'd like to make sure we're definitely have that on the near future because we don't want the same thing to occur again. Uh, and you know, before we can get to a board workshop to discuss it and maybe implement a policy. So,
098um, okay, that's another item. Um, yeah, Phil, uh, had brought up and, um, he had mentioned he was going to be bringing that up. Uh, and I did a little research after he told me he wanted to discuss it and I believe we might have an issue with, um, two policies, uh, policy 3205P and 3211P. In this instance, there's definitely a a possibility that they're in conflict and they're not compatible. And reason being um Title 9 um 1972 is a law protecting biological girls from discrimination based on sex and athletics, academics, and other areas. And it goes on to say that sexual harassment requires schools to address unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that is severe, pervasive, or creates a hostile environment. And I believe when Carmen was here in December, um she felt that
099that was a hostile environment when she was in the uh girls' room and three individuals came in um two of them of a biological different gender and um so we got to look at those two policies. Which one are we going to care about? I mean, why does one does one have precedence over the other? I know we got state law and we have federal law and right now it's apparently an issue before the Supreme Court and that could have ramifications not just on sports but on um public restrooms. So um yeah, I think maybe a review of those two policies and seeing where they you know intersect and are not compatible. Um, >> so, um, are you requesting a workshop about the two policies together? >> Yeah, I think down the road. Yeah. >>
100Uh, and what was the other one? >> What was the other >> the two numbers? >> Oh, 3205 and 3211 P. >> Okay. I appreciate you bringing up the numbers. Uh, make it easier to look it up. Um, I share your interest in workshopping uh the issue with fragrances in schools. Um, so I'll make sure to call for that to be on a workshop agenda coming soon. >> Yeah. And I I know I communicated with Christine about um after she had spoken to get more information. I had asked for more details, but I was I failed to ask this question and was it ever communicated to the three individuals that going into one stall doesn't matter same biological sex or not. Is that ever appropriate? And were they, you know, talked to about that? >>
101I don't think we can address the specific issue without um running a foul of some privacy laws. >> Okay. Well, I I don't think any names were given. So, >> Right. Uh but >> I can't say that the situation was addressed. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. Right. >> You have more? Um well, since we're not recording our board comments anymore, I guess I'll on occasion bring up um some if I feel it's still relevant. I know I had mentioned um uh previous board meeting about um being in favor and another board member actually agreed with me some months ago about uh this next budget, about a salary freeze for non-bargaining admin. And I personally I you know I've mentioned this one time when we were hiring Christine that um yeah I in my whole career I
102never made more than $52,000 and um I know I retired in 2017 so that's probably $80,000 now whatever but I just can't relate to you know 200,000 $300,000 salaries. And I believe, you know, that our district would really appreciate this moving forward for our next budget. And to be honest, I can't see myself voting in favor of a budget that doesn't have this in as a tenant in it. So, just wanted to share that again. So, and I I did want to make one clarification on something that was said last board meeting and it was mentioned that I had asked someone to not submit a police report. I that's technically not correct. I had asked them to hold off on it until I could find out if an RCW would prevent me from being, you
103know, commenting or being included in it. And when I got that information, I let them know. So that was and it was within hours. So I did not ask them not to. That is their decision. That's their um I would not ask someone to not if they felt there was reason to. So just wanted to make that clarification. Thank you, >> Rob. I have another comment if that's okay. >> Yes. >> Um I just wanted to u thank Dr. Fox and the leadership team at Frontier for presenting tonight and also for uh Dr. Maloney's um superintendent report including the video from the family engagement and the work that's being done there. It's super refreshing when we can have um and showcase all of the good works that are happening throughout the district. It's um really
104important to me and um to know all of the things that are happening and the good stories. So, thank you for that and um thank you for the good work that's happening at Frontier Middle School. >> Oh, and I apologize. I have another comment. >> Go ahead. um the um interaction between the union president and our COO that happened during work hours and I'm hearing conflicting reports of what happened there and maybe an investigation would be under uh would be warranted to just find out you know what happened um was it appropriate or was it inappropriate. So, okay, I actually do have a comment. I am moved by the shout out. Uh, and I'm sorry that they've left the room. Uh, but, uh, I really appreciate receiving something like this. I know it's a small
105thing. Uh, but I'm somebody who believes that small means are how we accomplish great things together. Um if there are no further pu uh comments by the board then this meeting is adjourned. Thank you for coming.