School Board Meeting - September 9, 2025

001Good evening. The time is 5:30 p.m. on September 9th and I call this regular board of director directors meeting to order. Due to safety concerns, the board of directors made the decision to move this meeting to a virtual setting. This was not a decision made lightly. As a board, we are committed to providing a safe and respectful environment to listen to public comment. Per state law, the board must provide a location for the public to view tonight's meeting, and all tonight's comments will be virtual. Based on incidents that have occurred over the last few weeks, we felt this was the appropriate response. While we won't go into specific details, we can share that district staff have been subjected to threat threatening and harassing language in person and online, received emails and phone calls that were

002intimidating in nature, and in some cases had personal information, including home addresses and photos of their vehicles posted publicly. Staff members have even been harassed in their at their homes, leading them to involve law enforcement and take steps to protect themselves. Our focus tonight is on continuing the work of the district in a safe, respectful, and constructive way and to always represent the best interests of our students and families. Please join us 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. Director Grwalt has our land acknowledgement. >> Thank you, President Withersp. Evergreen Public Schools resides on the traditional lands of the Shinukin peoples and the Celix

003tribe. They have lived on and cared for this land and its waterways since time of 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 you. The first item on our agenda is to adopt the agenda. Is there a motion? >> I move to approve tonight's agenda as presented. Second. Second. Director Booker moves to adopt the agenda as presented, seconded by Director Perkins. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. So moved. The next item on the agenda is public comment. We have quite a few people signed up for public comment tonight. We will call your name in the order you have signed up to speak and our IT tech will look for your

004name and promote you to a panelist to address the board. You will have three minutes to address the board and a timer will display on the webinar screen. We ask that comments be directed to the board of directors as a whole and not to any individual member of the board, the administrative staff or the audience. Although the board will not engage in dialogue, the board chair may ask a speaker clarifying question or follow up on an issue raised during public comment at a later time. After an hour comments, the board will take a fiveminute recess. Because we have a number of comments today and because we're virtual at 3 minutes, this speaker will be muted and we will move on to the next speaker. The first person in our list is Wendy Van Valkenberg. I

005see that Miss Van Balkenberg is present. We're just waiting to connect. Thank you. Hi, my name is Wendy Van Vulenberg and I've proudly served as a sped para educator at Ellsworth for the past four years. I'm also a mother to three amazing kids in this district. I'm here tonight because to be honest, I am exhausted, frustrated, and livid. In my role, I teach math, reading, writing, and social emotional learning skills to students in grades K through five. I'm responsible for running numerous small groups independently throughout the school day. To give you perspective, last year I led 10 different groups during my six-hour workday. Over my years at Ellsworth, I have worked with highly disregulated students, conducted room clears, and spent countless hours supporting students who have eloped, encouraging them back to class. I know the

006names, family details, personalities, quirks, behaviors, triggers, triggers, trauma histories, favorite foods, hobbies, and IEP goals of 14 to 16 students. Every year, I give them high fives. I dab them up. I laugh with them. And truthfully, I spend a lot of time away from work worrying about them. I hold high standards and expectations while meeting students with love and respect. I haven't even mentioned the physical risks or injuries associated with this job because frankly there isn't enough time. And for all this, the expertise, the emotional labor, and the exposure to aggressive behaviors, pair in this district average $28,000 a year. Most of my co-workers work at least one additional job just to make ends meet. Yet, in 2024, your COO received a raise that exceeds what most parents make an entire year. The district cannot

007continue to claim an affordable sustainable budget while hiring lawyers to fight unions during strikes, giving raises and bonus to administrators who already make 9 to 10 times what paras do and paying temp agencies more money to fill positions you fail to retain. I urge you to look at your par retention rate. It's abysmal. At the end of the day, we should not be made to suffer for the district's inability to balance a budget. I am exhausted, not because of my students or the many responsibilities I juggle daily, but because I have had to walk the picket line with my co-workers to prove that we are worth the more than poverty wages. I'm tired of explaining to my children why our district preaches equity while treating classified staff as expendable. I pour my heart and soul

008into this job every day, and I have nothing to show for it. Most of all, I'm exhausted because I have to be here tonight to convince you guys that paras are essential to a safe, healthy, and successful school district. And we deserve dignity and a living wage. To be honest, we're doing work most of you would be unwilling or unable to do. While district leaders sit in offices inventing new buzzwords for professional development and drawing six figure salaries, we are out here supporting our most vulnerable and challenging students. The pay gap and hypocrisy are unacceptable. Pay us what we're worth and show us the respect we deserve as as educators. Give us a fair contract now. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Adam Aguilera. >> Dear Evergreen School Board and Superintendent Maloney, my name

009is Adam Aguilera and I'm a teacher in Evergreen public schools. I want to address the Evergreen School Board's decision to change the schoolboard meeting from in person to virtual at the last minute due to safety concerns. The board has held contentious in-person meetings during strikes and budget cuts for years. Tonight, the public is still allowed to gather in the boardroom where they are meeting safely while the board hides behind computer screens. This isn't about safety. It's about avoiding accountability. We are here virtually because this board refuses to face its constituents after delaying the school year by 10 days. If the board was concerned about our safety, they would have settled a fair contract long ago because it is the PSSE classified staff, Evergreen educators, students, and families who have been risking their safety out there

010on the streets every day facing the public and being accessible while the district's bargaining team has been hiding in their aironditioned offices all day. I also want to call out the board for allowing the district to publicly lie in communicating to evergreen families. Let's look at an example. On September 7th, the district posted a timeline of when they responded to proposals from the PSSE union. The management bargaining team claimed they sent a counter proposal, but multiple times the district sent back a counter proposal within 3 to four minutes within their own timeline. There is no way the district management read through, thought about, and deliberated on a full proposal that PSSE offered. In fact, the PSSE bargaining team corrected the record to say the district's bargaining team was only responding with no. No is not

011a counter proposal. No wonder Evergreen Management failed to convince the judge yesterday to grant an emergency injunction against PSSE workers. The Evergreen School Board needs to understand that their management bargaining team is failing to bargain in good faith under the supervision of Superintendent Maloney. Superintendent Maloney, >> please remember not to address anyone by name. >> The superintendent is responsible for supervising the strike. After 10 days, um the credibility and reputation um of this role has been destroyed in Evergreen public schools. when the superintendent is walking into schools where staff are looking at the individual serving in that role, how are they supposed to have the trust and confidence to be able to continue in this school year? Um the only redemption at this point is to realize that the role of the superintendent needs to

012address the corrupt district managers um who have their own personal scandals and and to change the profiteering lawyers and choose to clean house and form a new management team who is going to work with the superintendent to rebuild trust and collaboration within the Evergreen School District. Otherwise, we just expect to announce uh by the end of the school year that we'll have a rotating superintendent choosing on to uh pursue other career opportunities. Let's hope that the superintendent is here for the right reasons. Schoolboard superintendent, show leadership, settle a fair contract. >> Thank you. Next speaker is Katherine Bennett. My name is Katherine Bennett and I'm a parent of two children at Illehey Elementary. This is not only my first time speaking at a board meeting. This is my first time attending a board meeting. I

013am not an employee in the district, but I have volunteered in my children's classrooms, field trips, art discovery. I've met with teachers, the principal, and the school counselor at various times. I voted for the levy this year, which by the district's own website said it would go to support parah educators and others who directly teach and care for my children. I am invested and involved in my kids' education, and I am disappointed in the delay to the start of school, but the PSSE strike is not harming my children. I am more disappointed in the lack of ethical leadership that I have seen these past two weeks. My groceries have almost doubled in the past three years and I worry about the staff who are represented by the union in the strike. What would a good

014leader do right now if while looking ahead you project that there is not enough money to give cost of living adjustments for the lowest paid employees? Why would a good leader decide to give themselves an even larger raise earlier this year? If the district can only spend a dollar once, surely it is best spent prioritizing the employees who directly interact with students and for whom that dollar would make the most impact. Why would we pay negotiators a bonus for dragging out negotiations two years ago? Doesn't that incentivize the same situation we find ourselves in? This isn't the first time that our process for negotiation has been contentious and broken down. My oldest child is about to enter third grade and this is his second strike. And if nothing changes in the district's bargaining team, we

015can expect yet another next year. This board has chosen to attempt to strongarm employees back to work rather than to try to address their underlying concerns. In deciding what to say tonight, I was feeling rather hopeless. What could I say that hasn't already been said? So, I decided to just speak the truth. I am baffled by the decisions this board has made this year. I am disappointed by the misleading communication from the district and I am mistrustful of the district's so-called bargaining team as they seem to receive incentives from dragging out negotiations. Please do better. Thank you. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Mindy Crawford Cooper. There we go. Okay. Sorry about that. Good evening. I had a very different speech prepared for you tonight, but I will make that one when I can

016make look you in the eyes when you aren't hiding behind computer screens. Tonight, I will be telling you about some of the events that transpired yesterday. One of your directors chose to make racial slurs against one of my members. You turned on your sprinklers for 3 hours in the middle of the day to get the members wet. What are you doing? Do you think that that shows respect? It's actually assault. This shows more about you than it does about us. I would also ask you, where is your positive intent? Was that being kinder than necessary? How did that serve? And please explain how that was culturally responsive in your leadership. You think you were being threatened and intimidated, but let me tell you, you or the people or I'm sorry, you and the people you

017trust are guilty of these actions and so much more. And then as we're waiting for your meeting tonight, you tell our members we have reached a TA. That has not happened. And that is one more oops on your behalf, which is also another unfair labor practice. Please, for the love of God, do better. right now. Thank you. The next speaker is Sean Gundard. Hi, I actually emailed at about 11:50 a.m. this morning, so I think I should be toward the end of the list to speak. So, I would be happy to uh defer and wait until I'm at my appropriate place in line. >> Would you please mind just speaking now since we can go and listen? Everybody will have a chance to speak tonight. Okay, thank you. Do you mind if I don't go

018somewhere else, please? >> Thank you. >> Hi. Sorry. Thank you. Um, my name is Sean Gund and I am a teacher in EPS. At multiple board meetings, the board heard testimony from some of their lowest paid employees that it's a regular practice in this district for them to work off the clock. Uh whether this practice is intentional or not, it seems to be systemwide. And in other industries, this is called wage theft and the employer would be held responsible for maintaining this. This should have been caused for the board to take serious and immediate action and to do anything other than that makes the board complicit in a morally reprehensible practice. To make plans to withhold pay of your lowest paid workers and then to pay them back over the course of the year while

019that money accurs for the district and loses value for the worker would rightly be considered wage theft as well and is also morally reprehensible. It crossed the line that I think that this board is complicit in. Last year the board heard options for closing schools to rightsize the district. It's my understanding that the money that closing select schools could save would have easily closed the financial gap in prop proposals during the current contract negotiations. Instead, the board deferred consideration of this into an unknown and uncertain future. As leaders of the third largest employer in the county and as elected governance, this board has a duty to act. Any newer board members or future board members should know that effective governance does not rely on sacrifice and morality. that the culture of this board and this

020district are not set in stone. This board took vocal steps over the last two years to listen and learn, but not steps to take action or repair harm. This isn't an issue of sides or disputes. Many years ago, I sat in the room while EPS board discussed about the distinction between intent versus impact. So, I know that you have the knowledge to understand the following. There is real damage done to the evergreen community that this board is complicit in. The community deserves amends. The community deserves a governance that can act. I know that tensions are high right now, but I want you to understand this clearly. None of what I'm sharing here is settled once these negotiations close. I personally didn't become a teacher to shepherd the decline of public education, and I expect the

021same is true of the board. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Rebecca Goldman. Rebecca is on. We're just waiting for connection. Thank you. Rebecca, there's you're muted. Um, do you have the mute button on the bottom? Jackie, maybe we could go back to Rebecca after the next person. All right. Uh, Rebecca, I promise we'll we'll get we'll we'll we'll go to the next person and try to come back. The next person on our list is Shemea Potter. Let's see if this one works. Can you hear me? Okay. My name is Shmea Potter. I'm a parent in this district, a community member, and someone who is deeply tired of the nonsense families like mine are forced to deal with. I came to speak to you, the board, the district. The one saying there's no budget

022for fair wages. when what you're really asking for is more than that. What we're really asking for is more than that. We're asking that you give compensation that matches the time, energy, and care these workers give. We're asking for support during the busiest, most critical moments, bus drop offs, classroom transitions, kids who need extra help. We're asking for staff to be protected when they show up for students. And when something does happen, we're asking for them to be taken care of, not tossed aside. In short, we're asking for safe schools. I'm just trying to understand. We've got money for lawyers, for admin bonuses to silence the people keeping schools afloat, but no money for the people watching our kids, supporting classrooms, helping the nurse, transporting students, watching halls and playgrounds, giving students the help they

023need, and cleaning up the messes you guys like to leave behind. Make it make sense. Nearly $500,000 in legal fees in six months and 105,000 in February alone. and an injunction against workers asking for basic dignity. And now you're passing out flyers talking about graphic images and hate speech. Like these workers, these parents, these community members are one protest away from chaos. Clearly, you don't think very highly of the community you serve. Be honest. You're not protecting students. You're trying to make yourselves look good. You want us off your property, off the sidewalks, off your radar. But guess what? We're not going anywhere. I wrote a letter to the editor published with Clark County Today standing up for what's right and I got hate. Personal hate. And I'm not the only one. People are getting

024attacked in comment sections all over just for speaking up just for pushing back on your misleading emails like the one that went out earlier. I don't know where these people are from, but I can't help but wonder if Evergreen's gaslighting and spin is what gives these people the nerve to say the things they're saying. You want to silence them. You want to threaten them with legal action. You want me a parent to stay quiet and believe the line that you're negotiating in good faith and being kinder than necessary? Well, not today. We see the truth and you should be embarrassed. You say students first, but when push comes to shove, the only thing first is damage control and making yourselves out to be the victim. You can throw around injunctions and pass out flyers, but

025you will not stop families from standing up. You will not stop this community from demanding better. and you will not make me believe silence equals safety. We're watching. We're showing up. And we're not backing down. History has its eyes on you. Have the day you deserve. Thank you. Let's try going back to Rebecca Goldman. Is Rebecca still connected? We'll move on to Joshua Fertado. Um, one comment before you start the timer. Um, I know there's comments to change your name. Um, I was not able to change my name or view my name until I became a panel member. Um, so I don't know if the tech person can provide instruction about how to do that. >> Thank you. >> Hello. Um, my name is Joshua Fado. I'm a licensed mental health and substance use therapist.

026I am a parent of a student in the district and I'm a comm community member. Um me and my son have lived in the area since 2017. My son is a current student uh at uh Pacific Middle School and has been in Evergreen District since kindergarten. Um the school staff have supported my son through many challenges. Um it wasn't the superintendent or the board members who supported my son. It was the counselors, the teachers, and the support staff. Um the bus driver last year picked my son up from the front of our house because they were the only person at our bus stop. Um I'm concerned that this is the third strike in Evergreen. In 2018 when my son entered first grade, there was a teacher strike that lasted 6 days. In 2023, sixth grade

027was delayed by a strike that lasted 8 days, which was uh a fortunate and unfortunate thing for my son. Um, as of writing this, the 2025 strike has lasted over uh at least 10 days, and I'm concerned that it continues to go on. Evergreen is the largest district in the county, serving over 22,000 students. Every year, there are issues that impact the students, staff, and families, including bullying, harassment, intimidation, threats of violence, and other safety concern, including school lockdowns. We need assurance from the board of ed education who are elected officials who represent all the voters including the superintendent. As a resident of the community, I voted for this board to maintain my interests as well as those of the schools and especially my son and other students at their schools. I am insulted and

028offended by the bullying and intimidation tactics enacted by the superintendent and the board of education. My public uh public bargaining and sharing private information regarding the bargaining process is being used to sew discontent and create a rift between the families and union union members. These tactics were employed during previous negotiations and in other districts in the county. It is hard to maintain my job and be a single parent for my child who needs their education. School employees deserve fair contracts including wages. There are many more aspects to negotiations than just salary increases and cost of living increases. Cost of living increases that were afforded by the state. Public safety, work hours, class sizes, and other factors impact education and student success. Education standards and engaging materials that ensure students progress into higher education and future

029employment, not just sports. Parents and students need assurances that this district will engage in fair and equitable ne negotiations now and in the future. Educators know that they will not have perfect jobs, but none of them have set the intent to strike. They know how this negatively impacts students and families and their own livelihoods. We need to focus on integrity within the community. Uh I just have one more sentence. within the community and protect the community from further strikes. Not by threatening the legality of strikes and vilifying the educators for exercising their rights to free speech, but by having fair and equitable negotiation tactics free from bullying, harassment, and intimidation. Thank you. >> Thank you. I see Rebecca Golden is back. >> Thank you, Rebecca. >> Hi there. Thank you so much for waiting for

030me. Um, I need to apologize for my public comment last week when I addressed you all like you were a bunch of children. Um, I realize now that I shouldn't have assumed a neurotypical audience. U, I'm a special needs mom, so I should really know better. I'm going to try some strategies I use to help my young kids play nicely with friends who have different needs and abilities. Hi, school board friends. Hi EPS admin friends. Oh, what's wrong? Are you feeling scared? Is that why you didn't want to come today? Oh, yeah. I know. It's hard for you when friends don't follow the rules. Well, that it's it's not illegal, it's unlawful. And sometimes there's a difference between what's legal and what's moral. And our PSSE friends are striking because they have a moral responsibility

031to stand up for themselves and their students. Okay. Yes, the rules. I hear you, friends. There are other rules we have to follow, too. Did you know our PSSE friends sometimes have to help students onto the bus after their shifts end? Legally, they should be paid for that time. But they can't just leave the students unattended. It's not safe. Uh did you know that when a student has an IEP, their school is legally required to provide the services listed in that IEP? Okay. Sometimes when friends play together, we play games where different sides have different rules like like hideand-seek. Okay. Some rules are explicit, like you can't peek while the hiders are hiding. That's not fair. Some are implicit. If you're a seeker, you have to actually look, not just pretend. Or look for not

032look for a few minutes and then go home. Can't do that. You can't say you want to play hideand-seek with a thousand people and then not give them enough time or a big enough room to play. Those things really hurt your friends feelings and make them not want to play with you. I know it can be so hard to play with friends. Some friends struggle with reading social cues or dealing with uncertainty. Some friends have a hard time staying focused or or they get too focused on one thing. Some friends need extra time to process information and understand what another friend is trying to say. Maybe our brains work differently, but our hearts work the same. We feel bad when people are hurting. We value fairness and honesty. Even when we don't agree with our

033friends, we care about them in our hearts because we're a community. That is how we get success for each. Belonging for all. Okay. Wow, that was really hard. Uh maybe we should pay our special education workers a living wage. Thank you. All done. All done. >> Thank you. Next person on our list is Claire Curtis, >> can I ask a question before my time starts? >> The board can't engage in conversation about >> Okay, thank you. All right, here we go. You can't claim to have been bargaining in good faith with the PSSE large group. That is far from the truth. you have had since March to negotiate with the union and have waited until now to come to the table, putting a necessary pressure on the union and on the community. You say that

034the strike is unlawful. That is again not factual. Strikes are protected by the National Labor Relations Act as long as the strike is for acceptable reasons, which the PSSE strike is a strike against unfair wages and unsafe working conditions. You state that per negotiations continue, but you have lost the trust of the union. Three years ago, the Paris had the option to strike but didn't take it in hopes that the ne the negotiations would continue. With the pressure and attention taking off negotiations, few changes were made and Paris didn't get the raise they deserved. You say that there are budget shortfalls, but you have yet to make cuts at the district level. Administration hasn't been fired. Salaries haven't been cut. Raises haven't been diminished or stopped at the district level. In fact, members at the

035district officers earn as much in a single month as a parent educator earns in a year. Yet, you continue to cut, underpay, disrespect these vital student facing staff. You're also handed handed out questionable supplemental contracts of $31,000 to individuals during the teacher strike of 2023. That would be enough to pay a pair of and a half for a year. You refused to sign a document that stated that there would not be supplemental contracts this time. a simple way of starting to regain trust. You also kept a certain dirt sticker official in their current job. We know we are no longer uninformed and unorganized. We as parents, parents, community, and teachers are watching you. My question is for you is how have the people at the district, how have members of the board directly influenced a

036student in our district? You probably haven't. If you ask a student to name an influential person in their life, I promise they will not name you. They will name their favorite teacher, the parent educator who helps students with special needs, which are protected by the IDA, the kitchen staff who feed our children so their brains are ready to learn. The playground and security staff who keep our children safe. The bus drivers who ensure equitable access to transportation to and from school. The maintenance crews that keep our schools clean and functioning. the library staff that teaches our kids a love of books and many others that I'm sure I've forgotten. The power is in your hands to provide a well- paid and safe environment for our essential staff and rebuild trust with the community and the

037union. Please take this seriously. We do we want to be back at school. We want our children to learn and become an educated populace. But that is not possible if you will not negotiate. Do your job. Get back to the table and get us back to school. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Olivia Davis. Well, hold on another second while we try to connect. Let's try moving ahead to Derek Stema systemma sites but good track. >> Thank you. Sorry. >> Oh, you're fine. I appreciate you. >> Good evening. My name is Derek Sitesma, special education par educator in Evergreen Public Schools. We are now in our third week on the strike line. Not out of want, but necessity. Before I came to education, I spent 15 years in retail. And if there's

038one thing you learn in corporate America, it's the difference between controllable and uncontrollable erosion. In regards to retention, uncontrollable erosion is what no company can prevent. Employees retire or pass, move away, or are completely change careers. In schools, that looks like a bus driver who passes, a protek who earns a degree outside education, or a parah who finishes their teaching credential and moves into a certificated role. Those losses are expected. They're natural. But controllable erosion is another story entirely. Controllable erosion is when you drive your own people away. When bus drivers leave Evergreen to drive in neighboring districts, when mechanics leave to work for Sean because the pay is better and the respect is greater. When para educators cross district lines for the same job because the conditions are fairer elsewhere. That is not an

039accident. It is a failure of management. Right now, Evergreen is bleeding talent because it refuses to invest in the employees who keep kids safe on buses, support them in classrooms, maintain the buildings, and provide the stability that education requires. Abraham Lincoln once said, "Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is the only fruit of labor and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Yet, Evergreen has chosen to prioritize capital over labor, executives over staff, and in doing so has forgotten its foundation. I must say I'm not mad. I'm disappointed cuz this is not just a financial failure. It's a moral one. I'm disappointed that a superintendent who asserts mentalities of be kinder than necessary and assume positive intent would allow inflammatory rhetoric to be sent out under her name. I'm

040disappointed that belonging for each success for all has become belonging for the silent success for few. Three years ago, classified staff worked under an expired contract for half of the school year. We gave grace then hoping for reciprocity now. Instead, we're told that we can again work on an expired contract. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. We remember and we refuse to go back down that road. Frederick Douglas reminded us, "Power conceds nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will." We have demands for dignity, for respect, for the safety afforded by a properly staffed classroom and the timeliness afforded by properly staffed transportation, for our time to be respected by being paid for every minute we work always. Dr. Maloney speaks of her five mindsets to be

041led by. I too have a maxim that I live by. In all that you do, above all else, do good. I have one more sentence. It is deceptively difficult as often doing good is the hardest thing. even more often though the hardest thing is the right thing. So tonight I implore you do the right thing. Thank you for your time and your attention to this matter. >> Thank you. >> Let's go back to Olivia Davis. Are we able to get Olivia Davis on? >> Uh, just as a note here, I was asked to unmute. I think I was probably misdirected. Come back to Miss Davis. Next person on our list is Louisis Bernard. >> I don't believe that. >> I don't believe Louis Bernard been in the meeting. He's not on. Okay. Thank you. We'll

042come back to Mr. Bernard. Our next speaker is Robin Bowman. >> Hi, my name is Robin Bowman. I'm an Evergreen parent. Um, I'm not an employee. I'm not related to one. I'm just one of the thousands of households who rely on your schools. and we're gamely adjusting to these abrupt ongoing cancellations. I have a second grade son. He loves Legos and making up silly songs. And being a second grader means two of his three years of big kids school have failed to launch on time. Next year could be three out of four for this kid. I don't want to be here speaking to you tonight. Last time around, I just put my head down and toughed it out. This time, I'm here to share the optics from this side of Parent Square. I have little

043interest in how union negotiations work, what the pay scales are, or trying to decipher who's being unreasonable today. That's not my job. highly compensated employees are in place to run this district. And I don't know them, but if I was in charge of an event that 20,000 people and their families were planning around, I wouldn't wait until days before to secure critical staff. I wouldn't count on that staff showing up, even if I hadn't worked out what to pay them or addressed their safety and employment concerns. That seems breathtakingly arrogant or maybe inept. And someone probably deserves to be removed from their role. Union members on hourly pay don't owe my child an education. The buck doesn't stop with them. The buck lots of bucks it seems like stop with the superintendent and the negotiators.

044They control the money and they could have solved this months ago. School boards are not directly involved in day-to-day management, but you ensure basic priorities and accountability and you advocate for the students best interest. Please push for removal of ineffective seuite employees. Reject misaligned financial incentives and condemn this outright administrative failure. This strike is Evergreen's canary in the coal mine. It's an alert that we risk losing desperately needed and valuable personnel due to pay and safety concerns. Replacing them would be even more costly, if even possible. So, it's time to work with what we have. What we cannot afford, neither financially nor from a morale and personnel perspective, is the administration's ongoing failure, waste, and lack of urgency. That's the view from the home front. Thanks. >> Thank you. Going back to see if Matthew

045Claire or Lewis Bernard are on or if Olivia Davis is able to unmute. Matthew Claire is joining now. Hello. >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay. Just making sure we have a connection. Uh, good evening all. Um, my name is Matthew Claire. Uh, my wife works for you guys and like any husband, I just couldn't uh sit by and and say nothing. When I see people around me that are hurt, it makes me want to advocate for them. Um, I just want to start by saying that everything I really I I believe in being proactive and not reactive. So, everything I really want to share with you guys goes beyond three minutes as I am a pastor. So, I have emailed you the thought out uh things I wanted to say to

046you guys. Uh I don't want to I believe in never making big decisions when emotions are high and there's a lot of high emotions around right now. So, this in my 3 minutes, I just wanted to show up cuz I didn't want to just no show, but the bulk of what I have to say, I pray you don't power delete and stuff is you probably have 500 emails like I do in the role I have. Uh and that you would take time to really just digest those. Um, I work and I learned uh going through seminary and when I heard Simon Synynk say that leaders eat last. And that changed me through my bachelor's and master's degree in seminary to to be by vocational so that I could support my family with two working hands

047as well as be able to do ministry completely free because I believe in servant leadership. I also believe that you do at the core of your board decisions because you don't become a board member to get rich. Obviously, you guys have other bivocational things that you do as well. Obviously, to take care of your own families and I respect that. Uh you guys got a heavy burden and my heart truly goes out to you guys as well. However, um I've worked for Fortune 50 as well as Fortune 10 companies. Uh, and I could tell you that what this really comes down to you guys is in your roles is really understanding the dynamic that comes through um taking care of your front line. When you take care of your frontline people, they will take care

048of you. Uh, Sir Richard Branson said it best with the way he runs his business regime. And I really think that uh to get really down to the grassroots of it, you guys really need to take a look at at really not just offering pennies to people. In the industry I work in, a $53 billion company. We as leaders get paid less than our front line and they know it. And we get crapped on all the time to be honest with you. uh because you don't get in these roles as a leader to get rich. And I know the parents aren't, you know, many of them have other jobs, too. No one's looking to get rich. They're just asking for more than just meager crumbs. And I just know that from the sacrifices that they

049give day in and day out and the frustrations that they endure that I hope that the leadership here at the district really wants to take care of their front line. Um because when you take care of them truly I will say it again they will take care of you and they take care of these kids. I'm sorry Mr. Claire we you've exceeded your three minutes. Thank you. Going back to see if Olivia Davis can connect. And if not, Lewis Bernard Lewis is here. Can you hear me or see me? >> Yes. >> Bear with me. Hi, I'm Louisis Bernard. Thank you for your time this evening. Last month, I attended a school board meeting in which Jennifer, the CFO, gave some startling statistics up on >> You remind you not to um address people by

050name if possible. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. Um the CFO last month gave a projection on the on the slide screen that indicated some startling information that was a shock to me. Uh but specifically she mentioned the 10-year decline in student enrollment approximately. Now that's a pretty interesting number because if my me my memory serves me correctly seven years ago there was a school board levy or bond measure to rebuild schools. And so as a taxpayer and as a parent, I'm asking myself why why why are we investing so heavily in new school buildings when we have decline in revenue. Secondly, uh 10 years is the collective average of three of the senior current board members. And so when I view this landscape from a parent perspective, from a taxpayer perspective, and also as a

051candidate, as you all know, I'm running for position five in this fall's election, I have to ask myself, what in the heck is going on here? Now, I certainly understand that the problems that the district is facing to today and now didn't arrive here overnight. And I certainly understand that these problems aren't going to be resolved overnight. So, I don't want to comment specifically on the negotiations between the striking parties in the district as many others have already commented on that. But there is one thing that I would like to ask the board and that is would you please put a freeze on hiring and adjusting any other compensation non-discretionary outside of these negotiations until after the elections. And what I mean by that is let's show a sign of good faith by the district

052to the the striking staff that there's no backdoor financial shenanigans happening. And secondly, let's allow the outcome of the elections this fall in the next two months in the event there are two new board members that can replace some of this um decisions that have brought this district to this point. So, I'm asking each of you, the superintendent and the board members, would you be in agreement with that statement and request and would you honor that? In addition to that, to those watching, if you believe in change, as I believe in change, then please vote this fall for Bernard for Evergreen. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Jamie Allen. Good evening and my name is Jamie Allen. I'm a parent in Evergreen Public Schools. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to

053speak. My son was all ready and excited to begin kindergarten this year. The strike and the uncertainty of when school will start is very hard on him. He's anxious about school and he asked me often when school will start. After the open house, he was in the school mindset, but now after a significant delay, I worry how he will fare when school does start. I'd like to also add that I have a son with a disability who isn't getting the services that he so desperately needs. For families like mine, the delay is creating a real financial and professional strain. I'm paying for daycare I did not plan for and I have requested multiple days off so I can be present for when school finally begins. I don't want to miss his first day of school

054because I have to be at work and I can't take the day off. and it's stressful stressful for me as a parent and also is putting pressure on my workplace as well. I really hope the board and union can work together towards a resolution quickly, but if not to please call in a mediator to help get this to help get the kids back to school, get some stability, families can have certainty and the staff and staff can feel valued and supported. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Camille Lman. >> Hi. Um, so after that press release just went out about from the district about the TA um without any knowledge of the of the union apparently, does the board truly believe that the >> district 23? That's right. In fact, there are

055about a dozen people inside watching this meeting. >> Is the new Did you hear I There's like news or something. Anyway, um with the injection not even scheduled to be heard until Thursday, what steps is the board taking to ensure genuine proposals are being made rather than simple rejections labeled as offers? Has the board even reviewed the bargaining timeline that the district keeps putting on the website? and like and and you guys have also referenced in your uh very templated email responses that you're just sending out without I don't even know if you're actually reading our emails to be honest. I don't I don't feel like you are. Uh those copypaste responses to community members are disingenuous and very dismissive and fail to address the specific concerns being raised uh and make the board appear

056disengaged. And this pattern prioritizing board and district personnel comfort as we can see tonight. I just had to like go find a room to do my public commenting because I wanted to be here. Um uh your personal comfort over transparency and authentic engagement is very disappointing and incredibly not only harmful but practitionally been criticized by board members for referencing the community too broadly. Yet, the board itself makes sweeping claims in recent resolutions like staining that the stripe will cause irreparable harm to everyone. Uh, but those comments didn't stop me. Um, and now that attorneys and lawmakers and others have approached me and and others in the community about how vital myself and others have been, uh, and and can be to create real change in K12 public education, perhaps there's more merit to our community's

057advocacy than the board is willing to admit, especially by uh, your choice to not appear in person tonight. So, at this point, um, I I guess if you can't beat them, join them. uh or in this case beat them and then join them. See you up there or or here because I'll be here uh in in 2027 um running against uh uh in district 2. So, um, further being beyond just being confused by the board's decision to move tonight's meeting to the strictly virtual format, um, I also want to bring attention to the fact that it's not just PSSE who are in contentious negotiations. It's also the EAA, the uh, Evergreen Administrative Association. They haven't received raises. They they had anou last year um just to get through the year and they're still fighting with

058the district. Does the district bargaining team have a good relationship with any labor partner based on track record? I'll I'll let you make that decision. Um pretty jumbled up based on everything going on. and there was like echoes and uh and everything and this and but right now the district exceeded its 1,000 license licenses for Z. Thank you. Our next speaker is Katherine Fertik. >> Hello. Can you hear me? Yes. >> Good evening. My name is Katherine Ferdick and my four children graduated through EPS. For the last few years, it feels like we've been on perpetual loop of the princess bride where every time we turn around, we hear the words good faith, bargaining, checks and balances, value, legal, clear, and timely communication. And I've lost count of how many times I've said out loud,

059"You keep using those words. I do not think they mean what you think they mean. only it's anything but funny or entertaining. It is absurdity. I am especially appalled at the example district leadership is showing our students. Dishonesty, distortion, manipulation, and abuse of the figurehead of leadership in its communication with the public through both broad and personal statements which have selectively and strategically misrepresented bargaining efforts on both good faith efforts of the district and reported disinterest of the union. I'm truly astounded that our leadership would both represent yourselves and the image of the district in such an unprofessional manner. Is this truly what you want to be modeling and the traits you hope our children aspire to cultivate? True leadership serves and does not distort or manipulate the trust and goodwill of those it serves.

060This is not wolves of Wall Street. This is our students and your community who vote both for their board and to pass or fail those crucial levies. Leadership is an example of character, integrity, and ethics. Your names are attached to these communications. Do you truly want the district to be proud of this example? Are you personally proud of this example? Are you counting on the same blind trust of the community that is given to trusted experts? That you wouldn't possibly abuse the position of communicating accurate and neutral information? And wouldn't you say your whole district being shut down because your employees can't afford to work for you is an emergency you should address? How can you justify those RO US's raises of unusual size to top tier positions while you continue to lowball the staff

061whom you say your schools cannot safely and effectively be run without? And once again, in a truly ironic transparency to say publicly that you couldn't guarantee your bargaining team wouldn't receive extra bargaining money for working a weekend. How crystal clear where the priorities of spending are. And just because you say you can legally, which is in question at times, you do something doesn't mean you can or should ethically in this bleak financial climate. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Nancy Doyle. >> There. >> Okay. Hi, I'm Nancy Doyle and um I am a parent in the district and my grandson is next to me because he also has signed up to speak um as a student. Uh Gavin Astrals and uh what I want to say is that the district is in

062jeopardy. Um and I mean that in a big way. I am backing up. Um, I'm hearing parents and community members literally by the dozens seeking other districts at this point and it's because of the continued um inability of the district to um open schools on time um have have students attend school um on time. We've had all these delays which you guys have heard repeatedly tonight. Um, but it's just it's just um ended up giving the district really a bad name in so many ways. And I think that's sad because one of the reasons why we are having our grandson um attend this district is because of the diversity. There is a lot of diversity. He um he's also attended KA schools which was which is an excellent school district does not have the diversity

063that Evergreen does. Um, and there's absolutely no reason, I mean, zero reason why schools should be closed at this point. The very very first week, I was very hopeful that uh the board and administrators would settle this. You should have settled this, by the way, because um it's on you at this point um that you're keeping the schools closed and are not agreeing to um the negotiation points. uh they're not asking for a huge amount uh these par educators and you have some very very excellent PAR educators and certified staff in the district. Um so I am pleading with you the district again is on the downslide because of all these delays um and because of the the very real sense that there's just you know arguments and mudslinging um going back and forth um

064again our kids need to be in school and I'm going to turn this over to my grandson Gavin Aspel. Uh hello as you know I am the grandson of Nancy Doyle who was just speaking and my personal opinion though I am just a student and don't know much is that the district's gross negligence has led to this uh repeated delay and I would like to bring up a personal example of how this affects students specifically and especially um I was separated from my siblings at around 8 years old and I rarely get to see them in the summer is basic the basically the only time I get to see them because of this strike and the uh typical like seven day snow day seven days of snow days in February that we've consistently gotten for

065the past three years. I truly believe that I'm really not going to have any spent sorry I'm not going to be able to spend much time with them. Also, my grandparents have worked over for over 30 years as administrators, educators, and now they are happily retired. I personally would not want their hardearned uh tax money to go to what is essentially a war of attrition at this point. Who can hold out the longest? I don't see the point in continuing this. And I truly believe that it is almost completely the district's fault. I really don't see a point in continuing this. And like like my grandma said, they're really not asking for much. And I uh as I've gone to Evergreen Schools, I've seen so much money wasted on stuff that could have been spent

066on paying our classified staff. Like the what, like 15 TVs that display the school logo constantly. That's just at the school I go to. Imagine all the other schools, including elementary, uh, high school, and also middle school, which is, of course, where I go. I think it's quite frankly very ridiculous. The uh gross misuse of the budget in Evergreen is, as stated, ridiculous when we could be using it to pay for our incredibly important classified staff who have helped me and many of my friends throughout the years. Additionally, I've already had many friends tell me that they either know people who are unenrolling from Evergreen currently thinking about it or are themselves as in thinking about or currently unenrolling in Evergreen. If this continues, that number is just going to soar. And not just soar,

067it's going to skyrocket. And I'm passing this over to my grandma again. >> Yeah. So, thank you uh thank you very much for listening to us. And again, I hope that you're really thinking about, you know, the reputation of of the district and the feeling of the community because um I think the the community parent feeling is not necessarily coming through um to let the district know um we are sad and disappointed in the decisions of the school board and also the um >> Thank you. Um going back to Olivia Davis. Hello. Thank you so much for your patience. Uh, technology, I tell you. So, uh, my name is Olivia Davis. I am a parent here in the Evergreen School District. And last year was actually my first year working as a parrot educator. Um,

068I am a sped parah in a prek class and I also help out K through five when we have no school on Wednesdays. And I have a lot that I want to say, but right now I really just want to lead with kindness. I feel like everybody's been getting beat up on both sides. And instead of talking about everybody else's history, I kind of want to take a little time to talk about my history because I've been through a lot. And I'm not even from this area. I grew up in northern Idaho and went to school during No Child Left Behind where it left a lot of kids behind. Unfortunately, and I never thought that I would be working in a classroom, because of my personal experiences with school. I didn't have enough adults, even

069in my own home, there to help support and boost me up and encourage me to go to school and be the best person I could be. It was just you're going to school to get a job one day. So, I had a job when I was 15 and then I dropped out by the time that I was 17 because I didn't have enough support. Idaho was not the place that I wanted to grow up. Is not the place that I wanted my kids to grow up. So when I found a very good man, I was able to make a family with him. And unfortunately, we lost our first born on our due date back in 2016. And his birthday was September 5th. And so instead of baking cupcakes on his birthday, I was out with

070people that I work with in my community that I care about. And it's multiple communities that I've been able to connect with through this strike. So, thank you for that. I guess if I'm going to thank you for a strike, because I've gotten to know a lot of amazing people who truly care about the job that they do. Our little boy would be turning nine. He'd be going into third grade. He's got a little sister who's going into second grade. He's got a little brother who's going into first grade. There is more going on with these kids and their lives because it's not just as simple as going to school and then coming home and playing. There's dealing with grieving families because still birth affects 26,000 families in the US every single year. And then

071families aren't getting paid enough to do a job that they love. I didn't think I was going to be good at the job that I do. And I had people asking me, "Are you going to come back tomorrow after my first day of work?" And my first day stepping foot in a classroom was on Friday, September 13th last year. I'm a superstitious woman. And so working on Friday the 13th in a school scared the crap out of me because kids today have to worry about being safe from school shootings. I'm terrified to send my kids to school so I got a job working in a school so that I can be there just in case something happens. >> Thank you. I'm sorry. Thank you. Our next speaker is Angie Bunda. Hi there. Can you hear

072me? >> Yes. >> Okay. My name is Angie Bunda. I have two kids in the school district. I'm going to try something a little different. Ever green, evergreen, ever green, ever green. I beg of you, it's time to take a stand. Evergreen, evergreen, evergreen, evergreen. Please help our kids. You know, only you can. No funds, you say yet. Get your raises. And we're supposed to sing your praises. As parents, we will fight and stand our ground. The children need it more than you. The teachers and support staff, too. We'll advocate, and we will not back down. A culture of toxicity, retaliation, and pure greed. The grasp for power makes weak minds feel strong. Silence your staff with policies in hopes that others will not see. Your checks and balances are long since gone. They live

073in fear and cannot speak out. But I am not afraid to shout and use my voice to say that this is wrong. Evergreen. Evergreen. Evergreen. Evergreen. I beg of you. It's time to take a stand. Evergreen. Evergreen. Evergreen. Evergreen. Please help our schools. You know only you can. I'm not the only one who hopes the board can change things with their votes. It's up to you to change your cold hearts. We value our community. Cooperation sets us free. You need to lead so that our school can start. Let's come together and be strong. to do what's right and fix what's wrong and watch our students and our schools succeed. New trust, accountability, transparency is what we seek. It's time to stand up and help those in need. Evergreen, evergreen, evergreen, evergreen. I beg of you,

074it's time to take a stand. Ever green, evergreen, evergreen, ever green. Please help us all. You know only you can. Thank you. >> Thank you. At this time, we're going to take a 5m minute recess and rejourn at 6:48. Thank you. The time is 6:48 and the meeting has rejourned. Our next speaker is Susan Louderder. Good evening, board of directors. Superintendent Maloney Louderder. Evergreen has been a part of my life for decades. I have deep roots in Evergreen public schools. I attended Milplane, Ellsworth Elementary, Cascade Junior High, and Evergreen High School, class of 81. Woohoo. Um, my father even served on this board in the early 1960s. And for the past 23 years, I have served this district as both a pareducator and a certificated teacher. Evergreen is my history, my family, and my livelihood.

075Since Evergreen has been such a part of my life, I have some very specific memories. One was when I was a fifth grader at Ellsworth Elementary. It was 1973. Evergreen faced its very first strike. I remember it vividly. At just 10 years old, I watched my teachers stand up for themselves and for their students. That moment shaped me. It taught me that when rights are denied, when fairness is withheld, people have not just the ability, but the responsibility to stand together. That lesson has never left me. It's why I'm here today. And yet 50 years later, we are still here. Evergreen's history is marked by strikes, and each one leaves scars on students, on families, on educators, and on this community. Strikes are never entered into lightly. They are a last resort, the result of

076broken commitments, ignored voices, and a lack of respect at the bargaining table. History shows us a pattern. When educators are undervalued, conflict follows. And every day that conflict drags on, students lose, families scramble, and trust in leadership erodess. We cannot keep repeating this cycle. We cannot keep forcing children to experience what I experienced at 10 years old. Watching their teachers fight for the very basics they need to do their jobs. And when I say teachers, I mean educators in general. That goes for anyone that works in a school. The working conditions of educators are the learning conditions of students. If this board does not respect and support its staff or if the bargaining team doesn't, then it is shortch changing every child who walks through any school in Evergreen. This is a turning point. You

077can choose to repeat the mistakes of the past or you can choose a path of fairness, respect, and stability. Thank you. Our next speaker is Mary Elias. >> Hi, my name is Mary Elias and I'm an academic interventionist at two schools in Evergreen. Recently, I've had some difficult years working for the district. Every time there has been a cut to the intervention program, I get transferred to a different school. I've been at six schools in the last six years. My contract says no more than one school every 3 years. So, I'm not sure how that math works out, but it that is my reality. I also had new problems with severe spinal stenosis that required accommodations last year. I had doctor's notes to allow the use of a mobility device that I provided for myself.

078And I asked for 10 minutes added to my travel time in the form of one of my breaks and um between because I had to go between Silverstar and Harmony, which is a 20-minute drive, so that I could unload my mobility device and have time to get into the building. I requested separately to have a disabled access button put onto the interior wing doors at Silverstar and um all of that was denied initially by HR and they told me not to report to work. So at that point, after 22 years of devoted service to this district and teaching literally hundreds of kids how to read, I was afraid that I might not be allowed to continue to work because I was partially physically disabled. The only reason I was allowed to go back to work

079was because my principal told the district that the secretaries would open the wing doors for me when I had to travel through the office to get to my next teaching assignment. I was having to pop over all around the building. Um, I got no relief on my travel schedule. So, I had to arrive breathless and in pain every day to Harmony and start teaching the moment I arrived after the abuse that I've suffered by this district. And I haven't filed any grievances or made a federal case out of anything that kind of think I could, but I haven't yet. Um, I just want you to forgive me if I have no faith in your HR department and their decision-making abilities and their ability to bargain fairly with this the PSSE union. So, please, please direct

080your team to finish this bargain or we need you to try and clean house. If they're really stuck, maybe they can take some of our juice and add a little mirillax to get things moving. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Trina Stew. Pardon me for mispronouncing your last name. >> Hi, can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Hi, my name is Trina Stew. I've been a special ed PAR educator in the district for 20 years. When I was hired back in 2005, Evergreen School District was the place people wanted to work. Not anymore. It shows in over the 80 open pair of jobs posted. Why am I still here, you may ask? It's the support from parents of kiddos in our class. If we could vote for the best

081pair in the district, it would be you. Thank you for guiding our son to kindergarten these last two years. I can't wait for you to do it again with his brother. We love you, teacher Trina. One more. Your love for the kiddos is never unseen. Two years ago, our son couldn't even make two-word sentences on his own, and now he can have full conversations. We love you. Our son constantly says he is going to miss you the most when he starts his new school. I do this job because I love the connection I make with these kids. I have been invited to birthday parties. I have even had students ask me to ride the bus home with them so we can play 15 minutes longer. What I despise about this district, number one, there has

082been a huge uptick in behavior. I have been bit, hit, spit at, and even had a desk thrown at me. Safety is a huge issue. The district would like us to leave at our quitting time. I'm to look at my teacher and say goodbye. See you tomorrow. She is trying as she's trying to get 8 to 10 specialed kids to the bus by herself. As usually there is at least one student not wanting to go home. So we wait while the other students are waiting. I am a compassionate person. I cannot leave her by herself. I have given at least 15 minutes every day past my stop time. I want and should be compensated for all hours worked. And number two, after all these years I have given to this district, it is really disappointing

083and disheartening to hear that the district is more interested in hiring new people than retaining the employees with longevity. That is a slap in the face. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Channing Rossy. Hi, can you hear me? All right. First, uh thank you for having me uh in the space to speak tonight and thank you for uh actually holding firm during these negotiations. Um I know it takes a lot of courage to see all the parents, emails, the empty schools and all the parents who've showed up tonight and uh you know it'd be very easy just to give into their demands. Uh but you have all stayed the course and that's extremely admirable. Uh I really think people need to remember that we are in a budget crisis here. All right.

084These are the lessons that we need our children to learn that when a large group of people are crying out about living wages, there are more important things that we need to look into and that is things like the budget. So, we have to ignore those people and look into that. No one should expect to live off part-time income. So, I really appreciate that you guys have been so transparent on the uh bargaining website and showing us like the actual bargaining that's been given to PSSE. Uh it totally shows that PSC's absolutely are making 28k a year in a school year which you know you compare that to the 60k that's pretty much needed to live in Vancouver that's not that big of a gap and uh you know I think parents really need to

085take a lesson from the board and from our other administrators and obviously they just need to work more like you know you have your nights you have your weekends you have your summers there's plenty of hours here that you could be doing um you There's it seems like a no-brainer to me that after dealing with just, you know, all these hundreds of kids of, you know, the tantrums, the fighting, the behavioral issues, getting kicked, spit on, chairs thrown at you, you just really need to suck it up, and you need to get another 20 or 30 hours in your schedule to be able to make up for that short fall, and you know, you'd probably still only be within about 10 to 15k of livable wages. It's not that hard. Um, let's also not forget

086we need these executives to keep making six-figure salaries, guys, because that's the only way we are going to get out of this deficit. Okay? We need this to run like a welloiled business machine. It's also inspiring to know that if you work for this uh district for decades, you can even get up to 35 36k a year. And I've even heard of some paras who are making more than six figures somehow. It shows that if you actually have the right friends and loyalty, anything is possible in this district. Um, I especially wanted to thank that the superintendent's messages are reminding our community that this strike is unlawful because it is. And students need to learn that when you feel mistreated and misrepresented, the important thing to do is to obey the status quo, keep silenced,

087and don't be disruptive. So, in closing, I just want to thank you again for showing our kids what's really important in these times and in their education. It's it's not about, you know, the wages. It's the administration. It's the it's the budget. It's the lawyers. We need to make sure that this district is running correctly. And God bless one day if I get 30 years in this district, I can get a $500 bonus. That's about a penny for every hour that I've worked. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Samantha Bowler. Hi, my name is Samantha Bowler. That's my cat. It's my emotional support animal right now. Um, actually, thank you so much for putting this on Zoom cuz I get to hug her instead. Uh, but jokes aside, my

088name is Samantha Verer. I am a special education para educator at Ilh Elementary. I have made it a priority to talk to each and every one of you at some point when you have visited and if you have not yet talked to me. I'm very happy to speak with you as soon as we return to school. Um I am a product of the Evergreen School District. I was in the original graduating class of the Ilhi Elementary School in 2001. Uh went to Shahala Middle School and then graduated from Union High School in 2014. I had a 504 plan and I uh am so frustrated that what was once such a great district that I could proudly stand behind being an alum to has turned into what it has today. I want to tell you a

089little bit about what I do. Um, I of course do my job as a special ed uh, PAR educator, but um, I've also coached track. I have uh, hosted or MCED most of the uh, assemblies that our school puts on. I was the MC for our talent show. Um, I also ran the Lego robotics club. And when we didn't get the uh stipen for the Lego robotics club, I went to my principal and found a way to create an entirely new Lego building club for our students where I I personally reached out to the community and received hundreds of dollars in donations of Legos. um that ended up being a huge success with our kids and I'm very excited to be able to do that with them again. I am also getting my degree in

090elementary education and currently uh working part-time quote unquote but using all of my energy because I'm also tutoring doing these after school activities. We aren't. The idea that you just need to work more or you are not worth what you're putting in is horrendous to me. I um I also have a chronic illness. So there's only so much that I can do before my body will shut down. So I am giving everything to this district. And it is disappointing to see that you would rather me be replaced by some random person because I can't survive on what you are providing now. Thank you. Our next speaker is Audra Peterson. Uh, good afternoon. My name is Adri Peterson. I am a one-on-one uh special education para educator and I a 2020 high school graduate from this

091district. I am before you today to express why I am on the line striking with my fellow co-workers, friends, and classified staff. I am here because I want to be able to pay my bills without the stress of not affording them. I also like the option to have an apartment. Uh right now I live with family and I am very grateful for that. But once I get my check I only have a couple hundred left over if that. And this is just me taking care of myself. I don't have kids or pets or anybody else to care for. I have fellow co-workers and friends who have to work multiple jobs in order to just pay rent and food for their families. Again, I am grateful I don't have to do that, but I would love

092the option to be able to afford an apartment and somewhere to live and have my own space. And I don't I don't think that's fair to my fellow co-workers that they have to struggle so much just to afford the basic necessities. I would love to see everyone in highpaying positions, budget, and live on our salaries to understand where we are coming from. I don't think you guys would be able to have the comfortable lifestyle that you may have now. We are not asking for super fancy luxuries. We are not asking to drive the newest car or have the biggest house. We are asking to live without stress. We are asking to afford groceries. We are asking to afford our rent. We are asking for the basic needs so that we can live. We are also

093asking to pay for be paid for all hours worked. In my position, I get my kid on and off the the school bus. And with that with all all of those minutes, that's about 2 hours weekly that I don't get paid just so I make sure that my kid gets on and off the bus safely. I don't think that's fair. and how also the negotiating teams from the district also gets paid hundreds of dollars to bargain over the weekend for 20 month 21 minutes worth of work that you guys posted on the district website. As a district, you posted those minutes from Sunday as a way of maybe bragging that you were bargaining in good faith. Well, it shows all it shows is how little you care about actually bargaining in good faith. This comment

094is about 3 minutes long and you want us to believe that you read, discussed, and planned a new proposal in this time. I don't trust that the bargaining the proposal you sent out last week took me just over 3 minutes to read. So, I know you guys weren't able to do that in 3 minutes. This district used to be the best, but now people are pulling out their kids because they don't have the trust in the district. The levy that we passed in February was also meant for this cost of living wage. It was meant for us so that we could afford our basic needs. This district is having a hard time passing these levies because of the mistrust from the school board and the mistrust from this district. I am here because I love

095the kids I work with and I know that I have made a difference in their lives. I have seen kids light up as I walk into the room as they know that I am helping them. As a kid that gets dropped off late at school, I've come through those doors into the front office and they were previously crying, but they see me and they light up and they know that I am their safe space and they know that I am there to help them. I have seen several kids come to these strike lines with us and they light up when they see the teachers that make a difference in their lives. If that's not us doing our job and not us making an impact in these kids' lives, I don't know what is. I think

096I can say um for almost everyone on this call that we'd do this for the kids and not for the paycheck. Yes, I want to be in school working with these amazing kids and co-workers. But I want a fair contract and fair pay. I want safety while in school. Please bargain in good faith like you guys keep saying you are. see that we have the juice and we won't back down. We are here every day. Please listen and give us this livable wage that we are asking for. And as it has already been mentioned, thank you for turning on the sprinklers yesterday. It helped cool us off. It was getting kind of warm and it kept us going. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Julia Apple. >> Can you hear me? >>

097Great. Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I'm a special education teacher at Hartwood Elementary and I have been with Evergreen for over 20 years. To the board, Dr. Maloney, Miss Gomes, district bargaining team. I can't begin to imagine how difficult it is to consider increasing wages when the money coming from the federal government is unpredictable and insufficient, when funding from the state isn't enough, and when doing what's best for students costs more each year. But this could look so different. This was our new superintendent's first opportunity to show our families and community to show Evergreen employees that she has been listening to us and that she could make the budget work and pay the people who are closest to students what they're worth. A long drawn out bargain that results in a

098contentious strike and delays school starting by over two weeks does not make a good first impression. After what this community has been through over the past eight years with multiple superintendent leaving midterm, money wasted on severance packages, a failed levy when we have a history of consistently passing levies, two strikes since 2016. I thought for sure that going into this bargain, your biggest priority would have been to start repairing the damage that's been done over the years and avoid yet another strike. You say it's harming our children to delay schools, but I have to ask, what effect does it have on the community each time a disrespectful or misleading message is posted on the district's website? Is the amount of time and money it's going to take to regain the trust of this community worth

099the salary increases that you're rejecting? I encourage our superintendent to look at the people around her, listen to the voices in her ear, and ask herself if what she's doing aligns with her vision for this district, the vision she promised us just a few months ago. If I could address the community, parents, taxpayers, those who are finding and using their voices, I would say your support is amazing and so appreciated. Continue to email this board. Attend schoolboard meetings. Say what's on your mind. Do you agree with what they're doing? What information are they missing? Tell them. Ask questions. Call or email your elected officials in Olympia and Washington DC. Tell them that public education needs their support. Engage in making public education what it should be. Again, thank you for continuing to show your support.

100It means the world. If I could address my PSE colleagues, I would say you are amazing. You are beautiful. You are courageous. I'm so proud of you. Stay strong. Keep fighting. You deserve this. You are worth every dollar and more. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Jacob Smith. All right. Can you all see and hear me? All right. Uh, all righty. Good. Am I ready to roll? Okay, got that. All righty. Uh, hi everybody. Um, I said if I said about a month ago, uh, to BMI oil to, uh, get this contract done and, uh, clearly it's not been happening. Um, there's been a lot of frustration, uncertainty about when Evergreen's going to start school. Um, I've had somebody that's for the pro union, a pro-UN Democrat say, "I'm tired of these strikes.

101support union, but I'm tired of these strikes going on. Um I've had one and I've had a somebody went to Heritage with they um they're just thinking about pulling out their kid and going to another school district and that we just cannot happen. And when we have shrink in the district, it affects a lot of things. Funding um division realignments for going from 3A to 2A. Um it's just not going to it's just not very pretty. And one of the things that I want to say too is um I feel this board should have had committed and said uh that you would not get bargaining bonuses because I would have signed if I was the board president I'm signing the paperwork that says you will not be getting bargaining bonuses because to me 31k uh

102that helps Heritage Dea get a retail student store uh for the other schools as well. um that could get us another PAR educator. We could get a new rockstar and uh looking back for um PSSE uh DECA or DECA um student store aid, it's under the PSSE contract. And another thing is that um that affects um reason why this contract's important is that for allocations to state from area to state, if our area shrinks, we lose allocations going to state. And if our chapter is too small, we don't get delegates to vote for state or national presidents because the um delegates are based on how big your chapter is. So if our chapter is shrinking, we're having less delegates. And how are we going to get somebody from our district to be a state? If

103not, we can shoot for the stars, a national officer. Um let's just get this contract done. And I would encourage the board to use parliamentary procedure aka Robert's rule of order to uh negotiate the contract rather than saying, "Oh yeah, we read the contract and we did this, we did that." Because if the if the EA contract's 160 pages, PSC is probably roughly half of that. There's no way you can read like the whole contract in like 20 minutes, sorry. Or even four. Um, you know, just freeze just commit to freezing salaries. Get this contract done. Just burn midnight oil. a little bit frustrated that school's not starting, but uh thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Lynn Nichols. Hi there. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Hi there.

104My name is Lynn Nichols and I'm a licensed physical therapist assistant for the district. I spoke last time. It was on a very specific topic. Um although it affects many and all of us. This one is about the longevity that many of us have been here um through the thick and thin of CO and have watched this district go through several different difficult years struggling. Um I specifically am talking about uh something that has been bargained for us people that have been here for over 30 years. and I brought it up. It was brought to your attention that it had been taken off the table for negotiations. And I do appreciate that it was put back on and there was um an agreement for bonuses. And I guess I'm still struggling and irritated along with

105my peers that this did not follow the typical precedent. I appreciate the bonus. It was a 500 one-time bonus. But after working here for 33 years, I truly believe that all of us that have been here for over 30 years deserve that 2% jump that we consistently got at 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, and 25 years. So to be here now after 30 years and get a $500 bonus, it's it's actually kind of insulting. It seems not I understand the budget constraints but again this does not seem like an offer that demonstrates retention for me and my peers especially speaking just loudly that it is time for us to leave and that you don't appreciate our years of services. This $500 works out to about $41 a month. We'll pay taxes on it. we

106have um insurance increases and by the time we get that bonus we might be able to buy a couple cups of coffee if that. So, you know, basically it was tossing out a bone. We got a little bit of kibble and it just feels really disrespectful. Um it's it's pitiful really. there was a precedent in there for 2% and um there really is only a handful of us that are at this level of commitment with the district and and to us it's it's truly a slap in our face. Um you know Battleground could get this done and they did it at 3%. We're huge. It's a large district and it just goes to show that you guys are not respecting our longevity, our commitment and the years that we have given to you and the

107knowledge and wisdom that we have been able to provide to the newbies that have come on. I'm a licensed physical therapist assistant. I work with PTs. I have worn many, many hats over the years. and I have worked I can tell you above and beyond what is in my job description. Thank you. Our next speaker is Andrew Gilbert. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh my name is Andrew Gilbert. Good evening members of the board and superintendent. Uh I'm a parent of a fourth grade student at York Elementary. Our schools have now been closed going on the third week. I have read the district proposals and I have seen the bargaining logs and I understand that the severe financial reality that our district is facing. I've seen the $60 million in budget

108reductions over the last three years and resulting in elimination of over 400 staff positions. But I also know that you are projecting a further 26 million in reductions over the next 3 years, including shortfalls of over 11 million for the 2627 school year. As a taxpayer, I expect financial or fiscal responsibility, and I do not expect you to agree to a contract that ignores the reality and leads to even deeper cuts for our students. However, my child's right to an education is not negotiable. And right now, that right is being violated. I am here to demand action because the current strategy of waiting for a breakthrough in negotiations has failed. Your own communication shows a process that is not working. The public is watching and we see a stalemate that is only hurting our children.

109My first demand is regarding the loss of instructional time. The last time this district had to make up significant days, the solution was to add five minutes to the end of the school day. Let me be clear. Five extra minutes of a tired classroom at the end of the day does not equal a full day of learning. It is an accounting trick that does not serve our children. I am demanding a commitment from this board that every single day lost to this strike will be made up with a full equivalent instructional day added to the end of the school year. Our children are owed nothing less. My second more urgent demand is for the board to change its strategy. Though striking employees is currently under contract for this school year, we see other districts in

110our region successfully negotiating while keeping schools open. Why is Evergreen failing where others are succeeding? This is not a legal legally protected activity. We expect you, our elected representatives, to use every tool at your disposal, even an injunction through the court to end this legal strike and reopen our schools. Finally, to all the parents watching tonight, and I didn't realize this was going to be such a teacher oriented event, um, but all the parents out there that feel powerless like I do, I would like to give you a specific constructive action we can all take together. The leadership of the Evergreen PSSE Union needs to hear directly from the families they are harming. I'm asking everyone of you to join me in emailing the union president, Mindy Toeer Cooper. Google will produce her email. Use

111it. Email her and the entire Evergreen PSSE Union Executive Board tonight. This message is simple. End this strike. Return to work under your current contract and negotiate without holding our children's education hostage. Let make our voices heard. Not just here, but directly to the union leadership. Let's demand that they do right by our children. And to the board, we are past the point of asking. We are demanding a resolution. What is the plan beyond just waiting for another bargaining session to get the kids back in classroom this week? Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Adam Hadad. >> Hello. Can you guys hear me? >> Yes. >> Um, hello and thank you for letting me speak tonight. Um, I am Adam Hadad and I have gone to school in this district since kindergarten. This

112is my second year teaching in the Evergreen School District and I would like to tell you a little bit about my history in the district to give you a better understanding of my point. My point before I was a teacher, I was a substitute and before that I was a PAR educator. I became a PAR educator towards the end of COVID when we were reintegrating schools in the classroom. Uh it was me and one other PAR educator. The teacher was at home videoing in due to health concerns. I noticed right away how different the behaviors and circumstances were compared to when I was in school. I was grateful to have a job and was privileged enough to not worry about how much I was paid. I was concerned by my fellow educator who was older

113than 70 if I remember correctly. I wondered why they would put their life in danger to be here and assumed they just loved educating and loved being there for the students. After that year, I eventually went on to substitute and had many experiences. Yet, it was my time as a long-term substitute at the middle school in this district that really stuck with me. While I was a long-term substitute, I essentially worked as a transition coach and security and got to see a different side of the education system. In one instance, I had to guard a student from being attacked by others. I sat in that room for at least one hour where at one point I had to hold the door closed so the other students could not harm the one I was guarding. I

114was not deterred by these experiences. In fact, they made me want to make a difference more. So when I became a teacher, I was excited. Yet I realized that I was in my classroom all day instead of being out there with the transition coaches in security. I wondered what major behaviors were happening that they handled so our school could function. I was very relieved when a parent educator in my classroom was able to take a student aside and help them learn or give them a break, making sure I could teach my other 27 students. While all my recollections are par educator, transition coach or security focused, I will mention the bus drivers who worked overtime so my soccer players could get home safely. I will mention uh meaning uh the maintenance who kept my room

115clean and cleaned up throw up and the media tech assistants assistant to who do the work of a librarian keeping a communal space for students to create community in. Apologies to you that have been threatened and harassed. I don't think anybody should be but um apologies I love my base um professions in PC I did not mention in all my recollections if there is no PSSE staff there is no school or at least a very safe school in my ignorance I do not understand why administrators are paid so much when it is the educa educators putting their mental and physical health on the line and not sitting in an office away from students I apologize the board were threatened but when I or another staff are threatened by our students we do not get to

116choose to have class online. This leads to my ultimate point. Why does the board uh why does the district villainize its workers? I understand that by trying to erode public support, you are hoping the PSSE will stop and go back to work. But how can then you turn to around and ask the public to support a levy? We are already in an anti-education climate. And by not negotiating in good faith, I wonder does the board of directors actually know what is going on in these talks? I certainly don't, and I would like more transparency. But in the meantime, it makes me wonder who is being a useful idiot, who is making a positive change, and who is actively working against our district's future. Thank you. >> Thank you. That concludes public comment for this evening.

117The next item on our agenda is the board consent agenda. Is there a motion? >> I move to approve tonight's board consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Director Grunwalt moves to adopt our board consent agenda as presented. Seconded by Director Wilson. All in favor? >> I so moved. The next item on our agenda is our superintendent consent agenda. Is there a motion? >> I move adoption of the superintendent's consent agenda is present. >> A second. >> Director Perkins moves to adopt our superintendent consent agenda as presented, seconded by Director Boenegra. All in favor? >> I opposed. So moved. The last item on our agenda tonight is board comments. I guess I get us started. Um I want to thank everybody tonight who um gave testimony for the board. Um we are listening. We are

118reading your emails. Um, we are wanting resolution of this. We want our students back in the classroom. Um, we do value all of our employees and um, we want everybody to keep working hard to get this resolved. >> Yeah, I'd like to thank all everybody that spoke tonight. Um, I know emotions are high and no one's really happy at this point. Um, I do want to, um, try and quell the fear of a repeat of the supplemental contract that was paid out back in 2023 during the EA um, contract negotiations. Um, it's come up repeatedly, came up from a few comments tonight, and we've gotten several emails about it. Um, I know Dr. Maloney has stated publicly that there will not be any monetary uh supplemental contracts and she's assured uh each of us on

119the board that that's the case and I take her at her word and um yeah um I think we can move past that concern and um and just work hard on getting a a deal done here. um compromise and you know just I think that we're starting to continually now bargain in good faith and hopefully agreement tenative agreement can be can occur soon and I'm again once again hoping that future bargaining we can have an open bargaining where um everything's transparent. I believe in transparency uh and the more the better. So in in bargaining that would be a big help and would just I think stop a lot of the you know fingerpointing and um yeah I think it would help. Uh so thank you. >> I appreciate you bringing that up Gary. Um the

120part about the uh supplemental contracts um I know that Dr. Dr. Maloney uh actually assured us very early on in her uh tenure as interim superintendent that that was not in her plan. Um and it's good to um it's good for us to publicly recognize that. Uh she has assured us that um going for this bargain. Um I appreciate the comments that have been presented tonight. Um and emotions really are high. Uh, and I'm sensitive to that and uh and concerned for the uh uh ongoing trust relationships um that could be damaged uh or have been damaged. Um the work will be to repair the relationships uh going forward once the tenative agreement and ratification has been reached. I'm looking forward to doing that work. I would just like to quickly address the pivot to

121an online format for this evening. Um, in just the optics that it looks like we went behind our computer screens. Um, and as it had been alluded to earlier, we have never backed down from being present in front of our community members to accept these, you know, our citizens comments in person. There has been a lot of heightened security concerns that have happened and I can speak for myself in that I was not in a place nor I was I comfortable in creating a space that our presence in created um an unsafe an environment not just for our staff but the community members that were in attendance. the the conversation was never around really our safety. It was around the safety of the people that have that we have opened a space for. Um my

122fear was that we would be creating a a more in an environment that just created even more of of not good feelings. And I just didn't I I for one was not okay with creating a space for someone else to get hurt um because of us. And that is one of the biggest reasons why we pivot to Zoom tonight. And I just want to say that we it was not to hide behind a computer screen or to hide from our community. It was to make sure that there was not an environment that created harm to people in the rooms. >> Thank you, Director Gronalt. Um, thank you for going into more detail about how we were thinking about making that decision. I want to say that I appreciate people coming tonight and sharing with us,

123sharing their experiences. Our board deeply values our classified staff. Your contributions to our school district are immeasurable and to our students, our community. We understand also that families are carrying a heavy burden with this strike continuing to go on. students are missing school and we are deeply committed as a board to resolving this. We are meeting daily to keep track of what's happening to make sure that our district is bargaining in good faith which we believe they are and we want to make sure that we continue to put students first with all of our decisions and that as a board is what I believe we are all doing every day. I really hope that very soon we can come to a tenative agreement and as director Perkins put it, start rebuilding our relationships. The relationships

124we've built in this district are important and we value and appreciate all of our staff members and we again appreciate everybody coming and speaking tonight. Thank you. The time is 7:33 p.m. and our meeting is now adjourned. Thank you. [Music]