001Oh, crap. Where's my script? Oh, I shouldn't talk like that. I know. I promise not to do anything nearly as dramatic as last meeting. >> [laughter] [gasps] >> All right. Good afternoon. I would like to call this meeting to order. If you are so inclined, please feel free to join us in 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. >> Okay. Welcome. For those of you who were here last time, I have assured Dr. Irish that I will not be saying anything inappropriate tonight. So, we'll see if I can keep that going. Woo, it was a lot. All right, on behalf of the board, I welcome all
002members of the audience to this afternoon's meeting. This meeting is a working session of the board to conduct the business of the district. The agenda for today's meeting has been published and the agenda items to be discussed and or voted on have been studied by the board members. I would like to introduce the people participating in this meeting, recording secretary Peggy King, superintendent Dr. Irish, board members Elizabeth Sotak, Han Tran, Carson Sanderson, Kimberly Kelly, and I am Sandy Hayes, and I currently serve as president of the board. An agenda for this meeting is available online at BoardDocs, and copies are also located on the table at the back of the room. There will be an opportunity for both uh virtual and in-person public comments to be shared during the association and public comment portion of
003the meeting. Community members who are interested uh in viewing the meeting with closed captions are encouraged to follow the link on our website to the district's YouTube channel. The YouTube stream includes closed captioning for both regular board meetings and study sessions. Visit nsd.org and under our district click school board then board meeting materials and videos. If you are here to address the board on agenda items, please sign in using the sign in sheet on the table outside in the foyer um and take a number which corresponds with the line where you signed in. The first order of business is the land acknowledgement and Director Kelly will be reading it. >> We take We take this time to acknowledge that the Northshore School District occupies the unceded Coast Salish lands that have been here since time
004immemorial. We honor the ways of knowing and ways of being of indigenous peoples and tribal nations who are still here and thriving in our district community. We also acknowledge that this is a working land acknowledgement that will continue to evolve as our partnership with local indigenous peoples and tribal leaders expands. >> Thank you, Director Kelly. Next step is the approval of the agenda. Does the board have any changes to the agenda as it has been published? Okay, seeing none. I'm going to call for a Nope, first I'm going to have Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> Okay, any discussion? Okay, seeing none. I'm going to call for the vote. >> [snorts] >> Okay, and the agenda has passed. So, next up is the superintendent's report, Dr. Irish. >> Thank
005you, President Hayes. Over the past couple weeks since we last met, I've had many engagements internally and externally. I had an opportunity to touch base with our PTSA leadership. Um and as our typical one-on or two-on-two meetings. I had an opportunity to visit Timbercrest Middle School for a school board visit alongside all of you. I attended Cottage Lake Elementary specifically focusing on inclusionary practices and learning from their staff. I had a SAP meeting at Kenmore Middle School, a SAP meeting at Frank Love Elementary. I also attended with Dr. Thomas the REJ and NSEA collaborative meeting. I had an opportunity to attend a statewide conference with superintendents to learn alongside leaders across the state. And focusing on a variety of topics. One in which is relevant to all of you in regards to superintendent and school
006board relationships. Had an opportunity to engage with principals and assistant principals with Dr. Campbell in regards to our strategic planning refresh. And had a great opportunity to attend North Creek High School. I was an avid guest speaker and got to engage in two classes with students, sophomores and seniors, talk about career pathways. That was incredible. As well as Inglemoor High School for their phase one topping ceremony. A huge milestone in that construction project. And then lastly on Friday, I attended the Lockwood SAP meeting as well. And that is the update for the last couple weeks. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. Before we move on, I just want to do a shout out especially since we have so many Bothell uh folks in the room that are Bothell Jazz Band was at the Duke
007Ellington Festival in the last 2 weeks and we have a number of students that received awards and recognition at it. So, we will give them a shout out specifically at our next meeting during our Northshore highlights but since you're all here, we wanted to say congratulations to the Bothell Jazz Band. >> [applause] >> Okay, here we go. The Northshore School District Board of Directors has set aside of a period of up to 60 minutes to receive updates and comments from the district association leaders and community members. As referenced in multiple policies adopted by the board, we expect all parties addressing the board to present their comments in a way that is civil and respectful. This means whether we are school directors, district staff, students, members of the community, or some other guest, we must all
008follow the same standard of civility during school board meetings. Please speak directly to the board and address matters related to district operations, policies, procedures, and agenda items under consideration by the board. Washington state law requires that the board limits its business and discussion at the board meeting to only those items that have been captured in the previously published agenda. What that means for us today, any public comment regarding items that is included in the published agenda will be taken into consideration by the board when the topic is addressed during the agenda. Any topics brought up during public comment that are not included in the published agenda cannot by law be discussed at this meeting and so will not be addressed or receive a response during the meeting. In either case, depending on the nature of
009your topic or questions, a district employee or board member will follow up on any comments that relate to district business. Please note that the board's silence during public comment is neutral. It is neither a signal of agreement nor disagreement with the speaker's remarks. Also, please note that comments made should not make reference to any employee or representative of the district by name or by identifiable reference. If you are interested in making comments or complaints regarding an individual, you may use the complaint process available through the office of the superintendent. Finally, please remember that your words have impact and you, not the school district, are responsible for your words. We caution all speakers that it is possible that your statements could violate the rights of others under various laws, including laws protecting privacy and laws prohibiting
010defamation. If you are unsure of the legal effect of your remarks, you should seek independent legal advice. In any case, what we ask that you help us model for our students what a respectful and inclusive community looks and sounds like. So, we have a number of people here today, and I'm going to get to associations, although I don't actually see any association. Oh, there you are, of course. Thanks, Diana. Okay, we're going to have you come up and do um association sharing, and then I'll give my final instructions. >> Hi, I'm Diana Christianson with Northshore Council PTSA. We just have a couple updates. Um tomorrow is the last of our parent map parent ed talks that were sponsored by Northshore Council and the Northshore School Foundation, and families can register for family tech reset hope
011and help for rebuilding connections with the code north PTSA all in caps, and then there's recordings of the previous talks that are still available. So, we hope that community members will take advantage of that. Um we have our convention coming up this weekend for Washington State PTA, and we're looking forward to connecting with all of our local PTAs. And our last general membership meeting is May 18th. Um and then the last thing is we just want to congratulate two of our national reflection winners. We have in literature Miss Margot Soye Margot Soye Zardbichuk um in accessible arts of the secondary from the Northshore Family Parent Cooperative, and in film Adam Bolra at Sunrise Elementary. Um the theme this year was I Belong, and we're really excited to see what the kids do for the theme
012next year, which is what my culture means to me. Thank you. >> Thank you, Diane. >> [applause] >> Okay, so we're going to start public comment. It is our practice in Northshore that we start with students. So we're we're going to start with them. The way this is going to work is that you will have 3 minutes to share your thoughts with us. Um Peggy King will let you know when there is 30 seconds up, and then when the time is up, then it's time to stop talking. Yes. Okay, great. Um and then and then we will move to to the adults. Um you have received a number, and so I'm going to call number I'm going to call the obviously number one um for students. Student number two, what you're going to do is
013be on deck. I'm really carefully using sports analogies, that's not my thing. But uh there is an X on the floor, so I will call the person that's speaking, and then I'm going to call the next in line for you to come up and stand on the X, cuz we want to make sure that we get through everybody tonight, and we can hear all of your voices. So um that's the plan. We understand there's some people in the room that are going to be using an interpreter, so we're modeling that equity. Um those folks who we're going to start with 3 minutes and 30 seconds for your presentation cuz we recognize interpretation takes a little bit longer. So, um yes. >> Do we have interpretation devices for them to listen along? >> We have a
014live interpreter. >> Great. Thank you. >> Yep. Okay, we ready? Excellent. All right, so we're going to start with student speaker. So, students num the number one, you're going to come up to the microphone. You're going to say your name. And then student number speaker number two, uh if you can stand on the X. >> She's going to stand with me. >> That works, too. Okay. Whenever you're ready. >> Okay. Good evening Good evening, members of the school board. My name is Ariana Benita and I'm here with Cambria. I'm a junior at Bothell High School and I'm here to speak about someone who has truly changed my life, Officer Ware. When I moved to Bothell my sophomore year, I wasn't just coming to a new school. I was coming out of a really rough and
015mentally challenging freshman year at another school. I felt drained, disconnected, and honestly unsure of where I fit I could trust in a school. Walking into a new environment like that is overwhelming. It's scary and challenging and for a while I carried all of that on me on my own. But then I met Officer Ware. The first day I met Officer Ware, he had this light, a light that I just could never explain. All he said was hi, asked how my day was, and continued with his day. But after that day, the hellos had become constant. He started to notice when I wasn't myself or having a bad day. He became someone I could go to when I just didn't feel okay. I would sit in his office and just talk to him about school, about
016life, and about other things that were just weighing on me. And he never made me feel like I was a burden. He listened, he cared, and somehow even on my hardest days that felt like they could never be fixed, he made me laugh with the jokes that we would make back and forth. Those moments meant everything to me because it wasn't just about having someone to talk to, it was about finally feeling safe. It was about knowing that there was at least one person in the building I could rely on no matter what. Someone who would have just be there consistently with a smile on his face and a willingness to listen. Officer Ware didn't just help me adjust to a new school, he changed my entire perspective. He helped turn a place that once
017felt intimidating and unfamiliar into somewhere I could actually feel comfortable in. And what makes him so special is that it's not just me. He builds a real connections with students all across the school. He shows up to our events, supports our activities, checks in on people, and creates relationships that go far beyond what people expect from a school resource officer. He's [snorts] not just here for safety, but he's also here for us. And the impact he has doesn't just stop at the school doors. He's made a difference in this entire community. The amount of help he has provided emotionally, mentally, and personally is something that cannot be replaced. Taking Officer Ware Ware away wouldn't just be removing a position or removing someone that has no purpose. It would be taking away a support system, a
018safe space, and person who students trust, who students depend on, and who students genuinely care about. He is a shining light in our school, not because he has to be, but because because he chooses to be every single day. And sometimes that is all a teenager needs in their life. I'm standing here today because I know first hand what it feels like to struggle, but I also know what it feels like to have someone help you through that by just being there. And Officer Ware had proved that without any struggle. Please don't take that away from me, and please don't take that away from the countless other students whose lives he's touched. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ariana. >> [applause] >> Okay, if student speaker number three could come up and stand on the X,
019that would be great. >> [snorts] >> Okay, I'm speaking on behalf of Elena Reader who couldn't be here, but I'm Cambergus Smith. Um okay, good afternoon. My name is Elena Reader, and I'm a junior at Bothell High School. I'm here today because I have heard there's a possibility of removing our school resource resource officer, Officer Ware. And I need you to understand what that actually feels like from a student's perspective. For a lot of us, school safety isn't just something we hear about on the news anymore. It's something we think about more often than we should. My generation has grown up with school shootings as a reality. In 2022 alone, there were more than 50 school shootings in the United States that resulted in injuries or deaths, and the numbers have remained high in recent
020years. Since Columbine, more than 390,000 students across the country have experienced a school shooting on their campus. Those are just Those are not just statistics. Those are students like us sitting in classrooms just like ours. That's why it's honestly scary to think about coming to school without an officer on campus. Having officer Wear at school gives students peace of mind knowing there is someone trained, someone and someone who can respond immediately if something happens allowing us to focus on learning and just feel like normal students. In emergencies, seconds matter, and having someone already on campus who knows the school and the students can make a critical difference. But officer Wear has done so much more than people probably realize. He helps with car accidents, students locking their keys in cars, flat tires, traffic issues, and
021situations involving drugs or unsafe behavior. Those things may seem small, but they matter. They help keep our campus safe and supported and under control every single day. He's also built relationships with students. A school resource officer is not only there to respond during emergencies, they help prevent situations before they become dangerous. When students know and trust officer on campus, they are more likely to speak up when something feels wrong or unsafe. >> [snorts] >> Uh prevention matters just as much as response. Safety should always be number one priority because when students don't feel safe, everything else suffers. Our focus, our learning, even our mental health. And I want to say that it might be uncomfortable, but I think it's important when this decision is being made. I hope the conversation is not only about budget
022numbers because when students see how much money is already spent on high-level administration salaries throughout the district, it's hard to not question why funding one school resource officer is suddenly considered too expensive. If Officer Ware's position costs 60,000, 70,000, or even 100,000 a year, I think students and parents have the right to ask, is protecting students really the place we want to cut costs? And that's all. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Okay, if speaker uh student speaker number four could come up and stand on the X. >> Hello, members of the board and Dr. Irish. My name is Valeria Nava. I was at the previous meeting. I'm a junior at Palo Alto High School. I come here today with no script because I'm going to speak my mind right now. Um I'm
023here to concern my frustrations about your decision that will not impact only me, but everybody else in this room. Sorry. I think it's unfair what you guys are doing because as a student of color, which has mentioned in the previous meeting, I think it's unfair to us that you are claiming that we feel uncomfortable, but as mentioned before, we are not. I feel more comfortable as not only a Latino student on campus, but as a woman on campus with Officer Ware because I know Officer Ware is going to be there for me no matter what. >> [gasps] >> There might be a situation where my our my life is in danger, my peers' lives are in danger, and Officer Ware is there no matter what. If there's an incident on campus that is a police
024officer is needed, both if we don't have Officer Ware, both the PD both the PD can take up to 5 to 10 minutes to respond. In the time that it takes to call 911, in the time it takes to address the emergency that's happening, something else could have already happened, but Officer Ware is there and immediately reacts, and he's there for help like in an instant. What else? Officer Ware is not only vital to our safety, but to our education. As I mentioned before, he helps us with student projects. He helps us learn in classrooms about the work he does, about the work that both of PD does. And he's a great person to just reach out to. He's just there for students that don't feel comfortable going to somebody that isn't a counselor, or
025somebody that isn't a teacher. He's there for support mentally. You know, if somebody's having a bad day, they can go to him and they can talk about it. He cuz he's there for students that don't have, you know, students that can't have breakfast, he has a snack on hand for them. Officer Ware has is not only great for protection and safety, but he's great as a just someone to be there to talk to. Like I previously mentioned, I haven't had many one-on-one conversations with him, but I have never had a horrible experience with Officer Ware. My peers, everything I've ever heard about Officer Ware was positive. So, I think that you should take considerations into our voice. You preach about education and the safety of students, but removing Officer Ware is removing that level of
026safety that we have at Bothell High School. That is all. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Okay. Thank you. And if number five could come up and stand on the X. Student speaker number five. Okay, go ahead. >> Okay, I'm going to say this both in English and Spanish. I hope that's all right with all of you. >> That's as long as you say your name. >> Yeah. >> Good evening. My name is Cathy. I'm a sophomore at Bothell High School. I would like to share my personal opinion about Officer Ware in our campus. We have all came to this country in many different ways. For me, I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be cared for by an officer in campus, who I learned to trust and ask questions if I ever needed.
027To me, he has helped me a lot to not be scared of police. I have learned to reach out without fear when I need help, now and for the future. He has impacted me not only in school, but outside of school, and it has shown a lot in his character. I hope your decision is the best for everybody in Bothell High School. Thank you. >> Thank you, Cathy. [applause] >> And if student speaker number six could come stand on the X. Okay. >> Hi, my name is Natalie and I'm a freshman at Bothell High School. My last name My last name is Banks. Okay. I think that one of the biggest problems in conversations like this is that adults constantly talk about what students need instead of actually listening to us. So, as a student
028I can confidently tell you what students need. Students need a safe space. Students need a sense of security throughout the campus where they spend four years of their lives retracing similar steps. And I think it's funny that decisions about the future of our campus are made by people who don't walk our hallways every day, don't sit in our classrooms, and won't experience the environment that these decisions will create. I strongly believe that if this decision was prompted to a person that attended Bothell, getting rid of our SRO wouldn't even be considered, because feeling safe at school should never be treated like a political debate. What bothers me most is how quickly student voices are celebrated when they fit to a certain narrative, but dismissed if they don't. If this district truly values diversity and inclusion,
029then that should include the diversity of all of our opinions. Student voice should matter all of the time and not only when it's convenient. As a student of color, I'm tired of watching people assume that they already know how students of color feel. We are not all the same. We do not all think the same because there are many students of color at Bothell who feel safer having an SRO on campus, including myself. Students cannot Students cannot focus in classrooms where they feel anxious or unsafe in their environment. And you cannot expect students to succeed academically while dismissing the concerns that they have about their safety. So, if you truly care about students, then listen to us. Not the version of us that people create in meetings during during conversations behind closed doors, but listen
030to the actual students in these classrooms. Listen to the students that are yearning to feel protected because school safety should never be reduced to politics, assumptions, or outside narratives. And at the end of the day, students are the ones who have to walk into these buildings every morning and live with the impact of these decisions. We deserve to feel safe in the place where we are expected to learn and grow. So, before making decisions about what students supposedly need, I ask you to listen to the students in front of you tonight because our voices, our experiences, and our sense of safety should matter, too. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] And if student speaker number seven could come up and stand on the X. >> My name is >> All right. All right. >> All
031right. My name is Jimmy Simonton. I'm a junior at Bothell High School and I I feel officer where is a non-negotiable for for our school's safety. I think he is beneficial for our school's safety for multiple reasons. One of the reason is is protect campus from kids doing from people in general doing stuff they shouldn't be doing, like car prowling, except and like car prowling. And I think he and and other unwanted visitors. He can also prevent tragedies because in this area era of school gun violence, people can it can take longer to just to it takes longer to call Bothell PD and and dispatch emergency services, whereas in that time he's already there to deal with it. And I think another reason why I think this is because he is a he's a trusted
032adult for people for some students that are going through abusive relationships. They can they can get justice for it. The justice they deserve. He prevents violent crime and a lot of people I've talked about with him talked about it, think he's beneficial for our school's safe for our school's safety. And some people and the people that don't feel unsafe, I respect their I'm not calling anybody out, but it's literally he's doesn't make anybody feel safe at all cuz it's literally just one officer, but it makes a huge impact. Um He also He also prevents hate crime towards students that of protected classes such as race, color, religion, national origin, um gender and ethnicity and other LGBTQ+ and other protect community and other protected classes under this under the Civil Rights Act. Um I think if
033a He also prevents He also can prevent stuff from happening if a student has intent to harm people or do any other stuff that is going to pose a risk to everybody else's safety. Um I think he prevents other thing more than just stuff I mentioned above for for everybody and he's a trusted adult for every for all students no matter like if they're having going through abusive relationships or not or any other given any other given stuff. So, in in conclusion, I think Officer Ware needs to stay on campus to prevent people because he makes people feel excuse me because he makes people feel safe and welcome by preventing things like gun violence on campus and other crimes. After that incident last year, I'm not saying what it was but I think he should
034stay. >> Thank you. [applause] And if student speaker number eight could come and stand on the X. >> Hello members of the jury and Dr. Irish. My name is Layla Wallace and I'm a sophomore at Bothell High School. I spoke last meeting on why the SRO program is so at Bothell is so important and I thought I was done but I have more to say. If the issue with Officer Ware is that he has a gun on him, have him keep the gun in his office or have a lock on it. There are solutions for this but I don't believe that taking Officer Ware away is the best solution. Or the safest option. I wouldn't be here if I didn't care and I think that it's really important to have a safety resource officer because
035in a time we're living right now, anything can happen. You literally never know and this is in all over the news and everything. So, I think having a safety resource officer I feel so much safer going to school, getting to school. I talked to my parents, I talked to Officer Ware all the time. I say hi to him, I ask him how he is. He's not just a police officer, he's a real school model. So, I wouldn't be here today if I was speaking to you on this matter if I didn't care but I do. I want nothing I want nothing but the best for myself, my peers and my classmates. The best is Officer Ware. Thank you for considering this matter from a student's point of view. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause]
036>> And if student speaker nine could come and stand on the X. >> Hello, I'm Morgan Lockner and I'm a sophomore at Bothell High School. I felt the responsibility to advocate for our incredible campus officer, Mr. Officer Ware. Apart from being a part Oh, sorry. Apart from being our campus officer, I can confidently say that he is a kind and trustworthy friend to all. I always look forward to going to school in the morning and seeing him smiling, throwing the football, and playing music for us. It's awesome. And I am confident to say that he is not afraid to put himself in front of danger if that ever was to arise. Although it is incredibly uncomfortable topic to address, if danger did arise, and unfortunately in the world that we live, it's a scary time
037to look on the news and be a student and have a thought in the back of your head that you don't always know what's going to go on. So, I feel so much safer and have faith that Officer Ware would not blink twice to put himself in front of any threat for any of my peers. The role of Officer Ware is irreplaceable, and I simply do not see how fostering positive relationships with young students and law enforcement leads to negative outcomes. In fact, I think it does the opposite. He plays an incredible role in our school community, and I want to thank you for your time and listening to one of the thousands of students who has been supported and uplifted by Officer Ware. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> And if student
038speaker number 11 could come up and stand on the X. >> Um hello members of the board. My name is Malik. Um I was here last time. I am a junior at Bothell High School, and I'm also the president of the Black Student Union Club at our school. Um I just want to say that the students before me did a really good job, brought up some really good points, but I especially want to say I agree with Layla when she says that I wouldn't care or if I wouldn't be here if I didn't care. Um but I also want to say that it's important for students like us to represent the the students who feel scared to have a voice or scared to have a platform, um, scared to to share some of the things
039that they want to share. And so, I'm going to share some of those things. Um, last meeting I mentioned that it feels like, um, it feels like this decision to to cut the SRO program at Bothell is kind of an afterthought to justify a predetermined goal. Um, I say this because there is one person that ran for city hall on trying to defund the police. And, uh, that's just the fact of it. I also know that the, you know, as as students of Bothell, I want people on our board that represent us and not, um, their own beliefs. And, you know, and that is really what it is. Um, I also want to say as representing, you know, my my club, some of the conversations that we have about Officer Ware include how we feel
040about the law and safety. And we realized that our relationship with the law has been improved just by having Officer Ware on campus, whether or not students have a relationship with him. And I think that's a really important factor, um, in the decision to keep Officer Ware on campus. Um, another thing is, you know, what if it wasn't Officer Ware? What if it was somebody else? And I think that, regardless of this if it was somebody else, we would still have a a really good relationship with our SRO. Um, as mentioned in a previous meeting by, um, a parent, uh, of Bothell, um, the chief of police was also an SRO. And, um, just the the the relationship that that Bothell PD has with our community, not just with the Bothell High School community, but
041with the community around it, I think is just really great. And I just I really hope that you guys are are not going to axe this SRO program. Um, like I mentioned before, I hope that you don't, um, remove this program uh, for the reason that black students feel uncomfortable. Number one, because that's a misrep- misrepresentation, and number two, it would allow other institutions in the future to abuse our voice or abuse what they think that we want or what we think that we want. Um I also want to say that um that yeah, there are some students that feel uncomfortable uh with Officer Ware on campus, but I mean, it's for things that they shouldn't be doing anyway. And when he's on campus, they're not doing those things. So, you [applause] know, that's it.
042Thank you. >> [applause] >> Okay, I just I'm going to get some clarity on what's happening here. So, is one of you Ray? >> She's Ray. >> You're Ray. Okay, excellent. So, um next to stand up on the X is going to be we're going to move to the adult cuz this is the last of students. Um so, adult speaker number one, if you can come up and stand on the X. Great. Go ahead. >> Thank you. Hi. Um my name is Ray Harrellis, and this is my friend Essence. Um I'm a sophomore at Bothell High School. She is a freshman. Last week, I talked about our outstanding SRO officer Ware. And I'm here to talk about it again. Officer Ware keeps the Bothell campus safe, and removing him would cause a crater in Bothell's
043safety. Um we voted you all as school board members, and you are expected to vote for us as students and staff alike. Two weeks ago today, roughly 11 students positively spoke on behalf of Officer Ware. In total, 85 people have spoken since March 2022. Let me break it down. There were 30 plus Bothell students who have spoken, including myself. 25 plus Bothell staff members, 20 plus parents, and 10 plus community members. Yet still, you try and take our SRO program. You claim students are frightened by Officer Ware by having a gun on campus, but the vast majority of Bothell students and staff say the opposite. I am not saying that there is no nervous students, but Officer Ware is not a threat to the community of Bothell. He keeps knox in his office for hungry
044students. He lets students talk to him if they are struggling or just want to talk about their weekend. He wears friendship bracelets that students make for him. He is not uh he has pens that look like police officers and one of my teachers, Crystal Radisky, who I know you guys know, also has one in her classroom. Uh Officer Ware is not a threat to our school and if you vote against him, you are directly going against our choice, our decision, and not speaking for us like you are supposed to. Officer Ware is a kind man who we rely on and eliminating him is taking away one of our biggest comforts at a pivotal time in our lives. So please, I am not just asking for myself, but asking for the students who can't be here,
045asking for the staff who can't be here. I'm asking you all to make the right decision, our decision, and keeping and listening to our voices and keeping our SRO. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Okay, and if uh now it's going to get silly if I keep saying adult. So I'm just going to move the speaker number two. If you could come stand on the X, that would be great. >> All right. This is working night but bend over to repeat into the mic. Uh well done students. I just want to say wow, I can't I'm going to try to add to what they said, but it's going to be very challenging. Um Hello, good evening. My name is John Corrigan. Uh thank you for the opportunity to voice my support for the Bothell High School
046SRO. I'm a father of three Northshore NSD students. I've been a parent at Bothell High School since 2019 and will be until 2032. When my family started attending BHS in 2019, I recall being very impressed and grateful that previous generations of NSD board members cared so much about safety and security that they made the decision to place a highly trained SRO on site. My children expressed many times over the years how safe they feel on campus knowing the SRO is there. Rather than feeling anxiety about the threat of school violence, which they see constantly in the news feeds as we heard about today, they instead are able to focus on being successful students on campus. As a father, I feel respected and valued by NSD knowing that it is doing everything within its power to
047provide safety and security for my children. I understand a recently passed state law requires annual review of the SRO program to ensure that it is working. I'd like to state two simple, relevant data points for your consideration. Number one, the latest anonymous BHS community SRO survey results compiled compiling inputs from students, parents, and staff were overwhelmingly positive. Number two, there have been zero student complaints provided to the BHS administration about the SRO program this academic year. Zero student complaints. I hope you're hearing loud and clear that the SRO program at BHS is working. This is not a community asking for change. This is a community saying that the SRO program at BHS is a success story for NSD and should be celebrated and modeled at other high schools as well. In fact, it is important
048to remember that the NSD NSD task force recently completed a two-year study on safety and security and concluded that every high school in NSD should have an SRO. To NSD School Board President Sandy Hayes, I want to say thank you. Thank you for continuously supporting student safety and security at BHS and voting to keep our SRO over the past several years. To the newer members of the board, I want to say thank you for serving and thank you for listening to the voices of our community. You have a heavy burden of responsibility to make important decisions that affect the lives of the people you serve. You have been elected by this community to represent the collective interests of this community, regardless of your own personal beliefs or ideology. I stand before you in unity with
049a majority of the good people of this wonderful Bothell community. Show me that you care about the safety and security of my children. I urge you to cast your vote tonight to keep the SRO program at Bothell High School. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Hello, my name is Marie Engstrom. I'm going to go in a different direction here. Um, I have one student in elementary school and one in middle school, both part of the Highly Capable program. I'm here today because I'm concerned about the proposed changes to the Highly Capable service model at the middle school level. I've watched my middle schooler thrive under the current delivery model, and I want to ensure this level of education is in place for my younger child, as well as others in the community. My main concern is
050that, while integrated classrooms provide many benefits for various students, there's not yet enough evidence to show that this model will fully meet the needs of Highly Capable learners while also achieving the district's broader goals. As I tried to better understand these changes, I reviewed the NSD strategic plan and its building blocks, which are meant to guide NSD practices, programs, and processes. I did not see full alignment between those guiding principles and the proposed changes. Building block one states that the district is committed to engaging students in challenging work. The proposed model assumes integrated classrooms can maintain academic excellence, which to me includes challenging work, while also increasing belonging for all students. While this is certainly an admirable admirable goal, I worry that trying to meet too many different learning needs in one classroom may make
051it difficult to fully support any group of learners at the highest level. Even with strong teachers, new training tools, and new training tools, there are limits to how many different needs can realistically be met at once. Building block two emphasizes partnership with families to create schools where students thrive. Many engaged parents have come forward to express concern that their children may not thrive under this new model, and this these concerns deserve careful consideration. Building block four states that decisions should be based in facts. While the integrated model may have potential benefits, there is not data to show that it will provide highly capable students with the same opportunities for growth that they have now. The program at Skyview Middle School has not been in place long enough for the district to district or community to
052fully understand the long-term strengths or challenges. There has not been data shared from the program to build community confidence in expanding this model to the district's other middle schools. The strategic plan and building blocks are meant to guide the district's direction. We should continue to work towards these goals for all learners without taking a step backwards for others. I respectfully ask that you reconsider the proposed changes to the highly capable program for middle school students. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> And if speaker number four could come up and stand on the So, you guys are getting down into it. This is great. Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Laurie Ferriolo, and I'm here to speak on behalf of the SRO program at BHS. Not about officer wear, but the program itself.
053Um the program at its core believes that the best way to keep kids safe and out of jail is through community. >> [snorts] >> Um this this this belief is um throughout the culture of the police department, and it's not a talking point. It's what they actually believe. I have seen firsthand the policies and officer requirements that are instilled in the department to keep our community, including students, safe safe. I'm on the Bothell Police Community Advisory Board. The police department support the youth traffic court, which is a restorative justice option, requires the SRO to complete additional training above and beyond the state requirement, one of which is a year a year we wish, a week-long training that is that Officer Ware goes to every year that is above and beyond what is required and it
054goes into a lot more in-depth training in critical situations. Um >> [gasps] >> the department chooses officers that have these core values, which is why the students and faculties and parents have been saying many positive things about the program. Police keeps also police keep keep us safe at airports, sporting events, concerts, festivals. Why not at schools? It's important to remember and to note that the police the school board had an officer here in this room when things got heated in the past. Why is it Why is all of this okay, but is not okay to provide a a community's officer that the majority of students support on campus? It has the appearance that the board is more concerned about their own safety than that of our students. The program does more to keep kids out
055of jail. It keeps them alive, to feel heard and valued more than you'll ever understand. They also That was apparent when I was PTSA president at Bothell High School and the students asked for help on this exact same topic in 2024 and there were a lot of students that stood up then and we've got a whole new batch that are saying the same thing. So, this isn't necessarily about the one person, this is about the program. When you all ran for office, you were voted into this position because many in this community believed that you'll be a good choice for students. I am very [snorts] concerned that members of this school board are either out of touch with their constituents or are putting their own biases ahead of student student voices. Members of this board
056have been chosen have chosen not to be part of PTA, have not been seen volunteering in the classroom and these activities, which are activities that lead to better understanding of what Excuse me. Okay. Of what teachers deal with a daily as well as the community you serve. This is supposed to be a non-partisan position, yet one of the members of this board told parents they did not want a a police officer at the school of a family member. This board is supposed to be work for us, not put their own biases or family before the the needs of the community. Many of the voices are being discounted during discussions. Some are the same voices that voted members on this board for members to be on this board with the expectation that our community students will
057be heard and and taken into account. >> Okay. >> [applause] >> Okay. All right. Hi, my name is Jeremy Woo. I'm a father and the other father made me think about calculating [clears throat] mine and I will have a graduate from Bothell High in 2045, so I'll be here for a while. Um you know, I'm here to speak again about middle school high cap. Um and while we're a smaller voice tonight, to be honest, we're aligned. And I know um in one of the study sessions back in February, there was a comment made, you know, when the change comes, are you ready because the parents will come. And you're darn right, the parents are going to come. It we come to talk about this um in the same way that Bothell High parents come to
058talk about their issue because we all care about our parents. We don't come here for fun. I don't like to do this. But when we feel like um we need to look after our students' well-being in whatever form that takes, whether that's safety or academic rigor, we believe that it's important enough to to show up and be here. Um I have a couple topics that I want to cover. I know I'm going to run out of time, but that's okay cuz I'll be back again. So, [clears throat] a few things. One of all, first of all, the communication plan. I appreciate the increased communication that we've been seeing from the district on this topic and the willingness to reevaluate. Um I just want to explain the challenge with seeing it this late is that this
059is a change that's impacting in the fall and I will tell you that I have personally spoken with hundreds of parents on this topic and I can count on one hand the number of times that they told me, "Oh, I know about this change already." Um, I have been the first point of contact in many various forums, but nobody has known about this until I've talked about it with them. Um, that's not a good district-wide communication plan. I I'm not your district communication officer. Um, there's also a note, um, that this change is being made because of the effectiveness that's been happening in the elementary schools including there was a district's response with a table showing, um, some data that would indicate that it the integrated Highly Capable program is working at the elementary level.
060However, whatever that data is must not be aligned with the parent experience because in the survey that was sent out for Highly Capable parents uh, the number of parents that on average that have on annual average that have reported being un- no longer satisfied with the services being provided in the integrated model has increased by over 100% from 32% to 68% now of parents. So, there's got to be some alignment with the data showing and the actual lived experience and I feel like that is missing right now in the analysis. Um, along with that the Skyview pilot's been going on for 2 years, but we have yet to see any of the data from that pilot that would indicate why that pilot is being deemed a successful and should be extended to the rest of
061the district. Um, >> 40 seconds. >> on top of that, um, I just want to say I I just want to say the partnership going on. Um, you like to partner and I appreciate that, Superintendent Irish. Um, I hope that the partnership extends beyond the middle school Highly Capable task force. Um, I don't think that it really represents all of the parents out there and the families that are impacted by this. I hope that you will stretch what you consider partnership beyond just that one task force that was created in the past. So, I thank you so much for this time. >> Thank [applause] you. >> And if speaker number six come up and stand on the exit. >> Good afternoon. I'm writing this letter to ask that my voice be heard. I have been
062at Bothell High School for a long time. I am the mother of four children, two of whom have already graduated. The The third graduating in June and the fourth starting in September. I work and so does my husband. For us, the most important thing is that our children are safer in their second home, which is the school. Seeing them return home is an enormous relief and satisfaction for me. Under no circumstances will I want to think that one day we might receive a call or an email because some tragedy happened. We all know that in those situations, time is the most important thing. So, if a police officer is at the school and something happens, we're sure that they will act faster than if someone had to call the police. >> That is why I
063asked you to maintain the contract with the Bothell Police Department so that we can continue having a police officer at the school. You never asked us if we wanted the SRO removed. Having a police officer is a fundamental part of a student's development, not only because it provides security, but because their presence is helping shape young people to face life in the future by developing habits such as respect, kindness, honesty, discipline, and others. All my life I have believed that a child's education is 80% at home and 20% at school. You represent the school's part in that education and I thank you for it, but I want the police officer to remain at the school. As a final request, I would like that the police officer's contract be studied more closely so that better terms
064can be reached, since insecurity at a school is the number one factor leading to fights and conflict. adults for their future >> For me, having a police officer at school does not harm children's feelings. On the contrary, it strengthens them because it helps them become better adults for their future lives. You say that you want to remove the police officer because we, people of color, do not want him there. Well, that is not true. Here we are asking for the police officer to stay at school. So, please stop using us as an excuse because we don't want him there. In fact, we need even more police officers. Now that we have come forward to speak up and say what we want, we hope that our voices will be heard. Please consider my words. Sincerely, Natalie
065Jimenez Hernandez. >> [applause] [applause] >> So, board members, we only have two more board speakers that will need the interpreter. With your indulgence, I'm going to extend it to 5 minutes. Just that's what I observed needing to be done. Okay. >> [applause] >> All right. Go ahead. >> It's a tough act to follow. >> [clears throat] >> Um I'm Zoe Crow. I'm back here again this week to talk about middle school Hi-Cap programming. Um Has anyone ever seen the episode of The Simpsons where Bart gets identified as gifted? Uh it's a really funny episode, right? Um except like all good humor, it's funny because it's grounded in truth. Hi-Cap students have a really broad variety of needs that are different than the needs of other students. And when those needs aren't met, they often develop
066behavioral issues. I spoke about this at the last meeting and I wanted to come back and elaborate a bit. My Hi-Cap student spent a long time in Gen Ed classrooms. I really didn't want to give up the PACE program. His time in Gen Ed was a journey that ultimately led me to be committed to the perspective that designated Hi-Cap classrooms are critical to student well-being. It was a journey that frustrated me and my student and the teachers and the recess attendants and the principal at his elementary school until he landed in a self-contained IEP classroom. At which point, like a mini miracle happened, there were zero issues. I'm [clears throat] here to ask you to pause for further study. I didn't start out believing in self-contained Hi-Cap classrooms. I was actually really committed to the
067integrated classroom model. I did think it was possible. And maybe it is. But the distance between where NSD teachers are today and where they would need to be for integrated classrooms to be successful is really big. In my son's fourth grade classroom, there were 10 students qualified for Hi-Cap math. 10. The extent of their differentiated instruction, which they were supposed to be receiving in the PACE classroom, was to be sent to the back of the room to sit at a computer and watch I-genuity. There was zero minutes of in-person instruction for all 10 of those students. I was really shocked. If an elementary teacher can teach a 4/5 split, in theory, they can differentiate in a single classroom, right? But so far, we have not discovered how to do this well. I spoke to five
068teachers I happen to talk with regularly, and here are some of their remarks. Their broadly shared opinion was that the new elementary model doesn't work and is stripping HiCap access while claiming it's not. And now the same thing is planned for middle school. One commented, "We went on for years preaching that HiCap students shouldn't have more, but instead should have different. Now we're throwing them into the gen ed classroom saying teachers can or will be able to do that when in most cases we can't." Another asked, "In eighth grade social studies, it's all National History Day, which is entirely different than what's happening in general ed. How are teachers going to do that?" I myself volunteered recently in two classrooms to do a presentation for seventh grade Washington State history classes. One was a HiCap
069classroom, one was not. There's no way these two classes could have happened at once. >> Thank you, Susan. >> [applause] >> Okay. Okay, good afternoon. My name is Damari Najera. I'm a parent at Bothell school. One of the reason that you say that we don't want the officer in the school is because we didn't answer to a survey that it was sent to us. But that's not true. We want the police officer here. >> Yes, because I think that I know that many parents on my my community they don't answer, they don't uh see many of the um um many many emails that we have from the schools district and everything. But uh I tell you that we don't know. Maybe one person, okay, no is no no no no está este como se dice
070>> Puedes decirlo en español. >> Ajá. Ah no está este confiable con el oficial, pero la mayoría les yo les aseguro que sí. >> Probably one of the parents or students doesn't agree probably with having a police officer here, but I can assure you that most of the community, uh students and parents uh want the police officer here. >> Okay. >> That's all. That's all. >> Okay. Gracias a todos. >> [applause] >> Number eight, uh you are number eight. Yes, so number nine if you want to come stand on this square. Thank I'm next. >> Hi, my name is Evie Gold and I'm a parent in the North Shore School District with a child in elementary school. I'm going to throw a completely different subject at you guys. Today I want to talk about something
071that sounds small, but I actually think has a pretty meaningful impact on our elementary students. The growing use of TV and cartoons during lunchtime. Our school doesn't have a cafeteria, so students eat lunch inside their classrooms. Because of that, the classroom environment largely determines whether lunch becomes a true mental and social break for students or just another period of screen consumption. I'm here tonight because I believe elementary students need more protected screen-free time during the school day, and lunch is an important opportunity for that. In many classrooms, cartoons or television shows are regularly played during lunch. Anecdotally, some classes watch TV every day. In my own son's class, they watch cartoons three times a week. My son often comes home with a nearly full lunchbox because, in his words, he gets too focused on the
072cartoon to eat. Right now, this appears um to vary widely from classroom to classroom. Some classes rarely use screens during lunch, while others use them frequently. That inconsistency alone suggests this may be an area where clearer district guidance could help. Research has shown that children eat differently when screens are present during meals. They become less aware of hunger and fullness cues, more distracted from eating more distracted from eating altogether, and less engaged socially with the people around them. Pediatric experts have increasingly encouraged creating screen-free meal environments because mealtime support not just nutrition, but conversation, emotional regulation, and social development. But beyond eating, lunch matters because it's one of the few unstructured moments children have during the school day. It's a chance to talk to classmates, laugh, decompress, rest their attention, and simply exist. We talk
073often about student mental health, overstimulation, emotional regulation, and attention. Protecting small amounts of downtime during the day should be part of that conversation, too. Students today already spend enormous portions of their day consuming media, both at school and at home. School has an opportunity to model healthy balance by intentionally protecting some spaces as screen-free. I'm not here to criticize teachers. I understand that lunch supervision is difficult, and I know educators are balancing many needs throughout the day, but I do believe this is worth examining at a district level. Elementary students deserve at least a few protected screen-free moments during the school day. Lunch is one of the clearest opportunities have that provide that. Lunch can simply be lunch, a chance for students to eat, connect with classmates, and have a real break from screens and
074stimulation during the school day. Thanks for your time. >> [applause] [applause] >> And if number 10 can stand on the X. >> Hi, my name is Sam Chang. Uh my family has been in the Northshore School District uh for 9 years. My wife and I have a senior and a freshman currently enrolled at Bothell High School. We also have a daughter who graduated from Bothell High School 2 years ago. Our family has supported the SRO SRO program at at BHS for over the years. Our children consider Officer Ware to be a significant positive and appreciated president presence at BHS. My oldest daughter, now in college, spoke to you here 2 years ago on her own accord endorsing Officer Ware while she attended BHS. Needless to say, she was very disappointed to learn the board may
075consider ending the SRO program at BHS. To me, the issue of the SRO program goes beyond just providing safety in schools. In it involves building trust. Trust in the long time is social institutions we depend on for communal stability, health, and well-being. We all know how that trust has taken a hit over recent years. The reasons I read as to why school SRO programs end often come from a place that place of distrust and fear in law enforcement, perceived or not. But then I ask, how can we expect future generations to build trust in law enforcement if the message they get in school is to not trust them by denying them opportunities to meet and connect positively with law enforcement in person and on a daily basis. I get there's a visceral fear reaction that
076comes when seeing law enforcement in person, be it at a mall, on the sidewalk, or in my rearview mirror. I'm not sure that perception ever completely goes away. Still, I can train myself to not always expect the worst whenever I see law enforcement. At the same time, schools cannot eliminate all perceived fears on their campuses, like the fear that of what's implied by periodic lockdown drills. The irony is that is that should that should the unthinkable ever happen, the social institution we rely on to respond first, that school lockdowns prepare our children for, is law enforcement. I'm hoping the board does not vote on the basis of perceived distrust and fear in BHS's SRO program. Our family does not fear or distrust Officer Ware. In fact, just the opposite. That trust has been enhanced by
077his consistent presence, positive connections, and intentional relationship building, as we have heard. We would like to see this trust-building culture continue for incoming BHS students in the years to come. Teaching how to trust our social institutions is what our schools should be doing. I don't know why other NSD high schools ended their SRO program programs while BHS's program continues. The only thing I can think of is that the BHS community, students, staff, and parents have consistently advocated for their SRO program over the years, while the other schools did not. On that note, I and my family would like to add to the many voices that support Officer Ware and his presence at BHS. We would su- Oh, done. Okay. Right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> And if speaker number 11 could come
078up onto the X. >> Hello. >> [clears throat] >> Hello. Uh good evening. My name is Mikhail and uh I'm a father to a first grader in the Northshore School District uh who's also a part of the PACE program. And I appreciate our teachers and the parent volunteer model. I would like to raise a concern on the math lessons which are the classes where I personally volunteer every week throughout the school year. Many students are not doing mathematics in the way parents imagine. They are on iPads clicking through games and guessing until the app rewards them with sounds, animations, or points. Some switch grade levels or play with advanced graphic activities outside of the lesson. It may look like engagement but engagement is not the same thing as learning. The research says we should be
079cautious. OECD's PISA 2022 report found that about 30% of students reported being distracted by digital devices in most or every lesson and those students scored lower in mathematics even after accounting for socioeconomic differences. UNESCO's 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report reaches a similar conclusion. Technology can help in specific, well-designed situations but it should support but it should support human interaction, not replace it. UNESCO says digital tools should be used in school only when clearly support learning. 2025 JAMA Network open study of elementary students found that additional screen time was associated with lower odds of reaching higher achievement levels in grade 3 through 6 math. It does not prove that every iPad causes lower scores but it reinforces that more screen exposure is not harmless. Math is not learned by guessing until an app makes a sound.
080Math is learned by writing numbers, showing work, explaining, reasoning, noticing mistakes, using manipulatives, comparing strategies, and getting feedback from a teacher or an adult. I'm not asking the Northshore district to eliminate technology. Technology has a place for accessibility, assessment, occasional visualization, or a teacher-led demonstration. I am asking the district to make the next year's elementary math instruction primarily paper-and-pencil, teacher-led, and discussion-based. Northshore is a strong district. That is why we should refine what is not working. Our children need more number sense, more reasoning, more written practice, more conversation, more adults helping them through productive struggle. Please make next year's elementary math curriculum primarily pen and paper with technology used only as a deliberate tool, not the default environment. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Hello, good evening. My name is Marta Flores.
081I am a mother of three children in the school district, including a student at Bothell High School this year, which is graduating in 2026. I am here to express our strong support of the Hispanic community. Um please don't assume that because you don't see us in many of your meetings is because many different things um political and society that we're all going through now, everybody knows. Um we don't we tend to scare to come and actually say what we think, right? But we're here to keep officer wear at the Bothell High School. He is more of a necessity, right? He's not just like an employee there. Um it's for students, for the safety of students and staff. And it doesn't matter of color, race, or language. I think he has the ability to talk to
082everybody, like every student, or even the staff that don't actually speak a lot of English, but he figured it out how to talk to them. So, I think that in case of an emergency, his experience of how to manage and calling and making calls will make the very, very difference in the school. We appreciate your time, and please don't remove him. And we're here for support him. And our Hispanic community it's supporting him very much. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> And if number 13 wants to come up. >> Hello, I'm Alex Warren. For the past 10 years, I've been a special education teacher in the Aspire program, which is the social emotional behavior program at Bothell High School. I've also spoken to you guys a few times in regards to keeping the
083SRO program active at Bothell over these years. I'm asking you to please listen to the students. I have friends who teach in all levels of school in many different states across the country. All of them are honestly shocked this is even a discussion or a debate. When I told them the school board votes on this way to keep it every year, they just say, "Why wouldn't you want to keep the SRO program?" Even my father, who's on a school board in a charter school in Pennsylvania, called me last week asking, "Can you just explain this to me? I just don't get it. Why are they against this? Why do you not want to have an SRO? Are they against keeping people safe? I just don't get it." And honestly, I couldn't answer him because I
084just don't understand it myself. You've heard how much the students of Bothell High School feel comfortable with Officer Wear, but you've only heard a few stories about the drug problems and overdoses, mental health emergencies, sexual assault, fighting, and other crimes. You've only heard You've only heard a few because the SRO prevents these types of news from spreading across campus, and he reassures campus is always safe. Do students feel safe with the presence of SRO? Listen to the students. The SRO program has been around for the decades. National conventions, trainings, but I'm not here just to talk about Officer Ware. I'm here to talk about keeping the future of SRO program at Bothell High School. Whether it's Officer Ware or any officer that follows his tenure. I've heard stories about people inside and outside of the
085board study sessions mocking him for who he is, saying things like, "Oh, the great amazing Officer Ware." It's not his fault for being a perfect model of what a SRO looks like in the public education system. >> [applause] >> He is simply great and amazing because of who he is, with or without the badge. Listen to the students. One student said it best at the last board meeting on April 27th, "Don't take our voice away, please." As a teacher, community member, and parent of a future Northshore school school district student, I want to pull up to a school and see the police cruiser out front because that makes me as a parent and a teacher feel protected and safe. Even though my year and a half-old son can't speak yet, when he can, I want
086him to feel comfortable to speak his voice, feel validated, and feel heard. Please don't take the future of student voice away because that's one of the founding morals of this country, to have the freedom to speak your voice. Over the years, the board has asked to hear from students who meet specific demographics on this topic. They've spoken. Listen to the students. One last thing I want to say before stepping away. A few years ago when this process of voting to keep the SRO program at Bothell began, a board member said, and I'm paraphrasing, "I'm against the program and do not agree with it. But after hearing all your words and stories and reasons, I'm going to vote to support you." I'm asking to support us. I'm asking to listen to their stories, hear what hear
087their words, and hear their wishes, and hear what they've said that makes them feel safe and comfortable on to learn at Bothell High School. Please listen to the students. Thank you. >> [applause] >> And if number 14 can come up. >> Hello, good evening Director Sotak, Director Tran, Director Sanderson, Director Kelly, Director Hayes, and Dr. Irish. So nice to meet you all. My name is Rebecca Chan and I have two lovely children as part of the Northshore School District. Tonight, I will be speaking to you regarding the middle school Highly Capable program. When we talk about student success, we often focus on academics, testing, and outcomes. But underneath all of that is something even more fundamental, belonging. Loneliness is a real and growing problem in our schools. Students who feel different are the ones most
088vulnerable to isolation, ridicule, and disconnection. And when students feel like outsiders long enough, the emotional consequences can be devastating. Not just for them, but for the entire community. >> [snorts] >> One of the most beautiful aspects about the Highly Capable program is that it gives students who feel different a place where those differences are not hidden, but celebrated. These students find peers who understand them. They find a place where curiosity is encouraged, where unusual questions are welcomed, where enthusiasm is not something to suppress. They find community. And the response from families across the district speaks for itself. Parents want their children to be part of something where they can truly belong. That interest is not evidence of exclusion, it is evidence that the program is working. We all want students to feel connected. We all
089want schools where kids can be fully themselves. But we do not achieve that by dismantling communities that are already doing exactly that. We achieve it by recognizing that students have different needs, different minds, and different ways of connecting with the world. And by creating spaces where those differences can thrive together. A student should be able to ask the weird questions, to be excited about the obscure topics, to wonder out loud without fear of judgement. Those qualities are not problems to be solved. They are strengths to be nurtured. Tonight, we are not asking for something extravagant. We're asking you to preserve an important community. A place where students with spicy brains, deep curiosity, and unique perspectives can find belonging amongst peers who understand them. Because every student deserves a place where they feel seen. Every student
090deserves a place where they belong. And for many students, this program is that place. Thank you. >> [applause] >> And if speaker number 15 wants to come up. >> Good evening. My name is Naida, and I'm a parent of one of one of student in Bothell school. I would like to share with you my opinion and my family's opinion what we like to the police officer stay at Bothell school. >> In my case, to see a police officer, it provoked I was scared sometimes. I understand but for a lot of people here today it's normal to see a police officer, right? But for me, I've been trying to feel the same way as you do feeling normal just seeing a police officer. Now I feel happy that my students are protected by one of for
091a police officer from a police officer. So, the police officer has given us the trust just to be close to him and feel comfortable around him. And I hope that you make the best decisions for our students for students. Thank you so much. >> [applause] >> And if speaker number 15 could come up. >> Hello everyone. My name is Brenda. I have two students at NSD, eighth grader and fifth grader, both high cap. Um First of all, I want to add some personal observations that I have had as a volunteer in the elementary math club for fourth and fifth grade for the past couple of years. I'm not a teacher by profession, but this combined math club class had both high cap and gen ed kids. So, I want to insist on the importance of
092segregated classrooms for high cap in the middle school level. So, what I observed was we tried to provide instructions for both set of kids at the same time in this setting. And when we tried to advance the content to suit the high cap students, most of the kids in general education, they did not participate and they thought the content was too hard and they checked out of the classroom. Some of the students even dropped out of the club altogether. But in to address that issue, we tried to make the content a little more friendly. And in that case, the high cap students engaged in disruptive behavior, had behavioral issues. We were finding it extremely hard to cater to both groups in spite of having less than 15 kids total in the classroom. So, at the
093middle school level, as I understand from my older older son's classroom, there are almost at least 30 kids in every classroom. So, I can only imagine how hard it must be for the teachers to cater to all these kids with different needs. Secondly, I have observed that at the middle school level, there are so many different projects and assignments which involves groups working together to complete the assignments. In these cases, I'm wondering how this these group assignments will be catered, I mean, differently for high cap and gen ed students. If we are going to say that the high cap cohort will be students will be always cohorted together. That kind of creates a groupism within the same classroom and it might lead to psychological issues with kids feeling left out or in the same classroom
094setting, but separate classrooms avoid these kind of issues implicitly and provide the psychological safety for all students. Um, so the data from the school district that was released regarding Hi-Cap capable services integrated classrooms like the Hi-Cap kids performed the same that does not indicate if they act showed actual growth during that time. By not providing Hi-Cap kids the opportunity to challenge themselves at this critical stage of academic growth, the integrated model is depriving them of the opportunity to develop grit and discipline that they will need to succeed in high school and beyond. Thank you for listening. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Speaker number 15. Going once, going twice. Okay, speaker number 16. And if speaker number 17 wants to come up. >> Hello, my name is Ashley Watts and I've been at this podium
095a few times lately. Today I want to talk about a question that has been repeated to me over and over as a member of the Hi-Cap Parents Council both pertaining to the current changes in middle schools and the changes in elementary Hi-Cap that rolled out two and three years ago. Why? I attended one of the first public meetings about this change at the elementary level when our schools principal met with parents who had suddenly found out at the end of May that their child's Hi-Cap placement would be changing from the EAP model that our district had supported for years to an integrated cluster model. Our principal was asked this question that meeting over and over again. Now we are playing out a similar situation in middle schools. Again, the answers we are receiving do not
096make sense to many affected families. We are told that this change is necessary to simplify middle school scheduling. However, historically Northshore middle schools had have served similar percentages of students in their honors program than in self-select challenge and now AAP. We are told that this change will provide equitable access to accelerated learning by removing the barrier of needing a HiCap qualification. But the current AAP program was developed when the self-select challenge program was eliminated despite its popularity among families. We are told that this new structure more closely reflects the high school experience, yet NSD high schoolers are able to self-select into accelerated AP and IB courses in many disciplines, including science and social studies. I have an additional personal point of concern having followed both model changes. In each case, NSD has relied on the
097documented examples of other districts but eliminated a key step. In these cited examples, schools and districts have carefully balanced classes so that no one class includes the outliers at both ends of the academic scale. A given teacher would have either a profoundly gifted cohort cohort in their class or an academically struggling cohort with high with highest needs, but not both. This essentially narrows the range that anyone teacher must serve in a single classroom. I see no effort to copy this key point from those models at NSD, which means that each teacher could potentially have the entire range of student needs in one classroom. Meeting these all these needs simultaneously is a challenge for even a skilled educator. These are important changes being considered and continued questions from parents demonstrate that Northstar has not earned the
098support of the parents of the students that these changes would affect. Thank you to the administration for taking this this feedback seriously. I hope we can continue to make progress towards a model that will serve all students, including our highly capable learners. Thank you. >> [applause] >> And if speaker number 18 could come up. >> All right. Um my name's Eric. Um I have two kids in NSD. One is in the HiCap program. One is in the uh special ed program. And I think for both, you know, I really see the value of this sort of differentiated instruction and resourcing. And I also want to echo what other speakers have said about HiCap. Um you know, I think over this weekend I've had the chance to speak to a lot of parents who've made choices,
099I think where this is a really big factor, where they've either chosen to take their kids out of NSD and into other school districts or private schools because they feel that um NSD doesn't have the resourcing for things like Highly Capable and I think we can always see that in the enrollment numbers as well. So you know, I think there's you know, there's a lot of people that aren't enrolling in NSD every year and maybe it's they're not going to they're not enrolling at the kindergarten level because they're concerned about things that may be happening in middle school and high school as well. So yeah, just wanted to echo everyone's voice. You know, I think there's a lot of people that aren't coming here tonight. You know, maybe they can't make it because of work
100you know, or they don't feel comfortable coming here and speaking. So really want to you know, show that there are a lot of voices that care about this issue and really hope that the right decision can be made here. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> And if speaker number 19 could come on up. >> Good afternoon. My name is Kristiane Muhitnalu. It is great to see the sea of blue out here. I'm here to advocate for keeping the school resource officer at Bothell. This is really not just a security issue. It's also about relationships, trust, and prevention. Trust and prevention are really key here. A strong school resource officer becomes a part of our school community. Students get to know them in the hallways, at games, during lunch and in everyday conversations. That familiarity
101matters. It gives students another trusted adult that they can turn to when they are struggling. I know growing up, I couldn't always go to my parents. I was so fortunate to have a trusted adult outside of my family, and that's who a school resource officer can be for many kids. An SRO also serves as a bridge between students, family, staff, and law enforcement. When that relationship is built before a crisis happens, communication is better, responses are calmer, and students are more likely to seek help early. Schools today are expected to handle challenges that go far beyond academics. Mental health concerns, threats, bullying, social media conflicts, and emergency preparedness. Having a trained professional on campus who understands the both safety and youth engagement is an important part of supporting both students and the staff. I understand
102there are different opinions about the role of law enforcement in schools, and that's why it's so important to have the right person in that position. Someone who leads with mentorship, de-escalation, compassion, and community involvement. For many students, the school resource officer is not someone they fear, and I think we've heard that across all demographics tonight. That's really important. It is someone who knows their names, supports them, and helps create a sense of stability and safety. Removing this presence risks losing an important connection point within the school community. I encourage the board to continue supporting this model that emphasizes relationships, prevention, and student well-being by keeping the school resource officer. I thank you for your time, and really listen to the students and listen to the parents. This is what we want. You've not heard anybody
103speaking out against this program at these meetings. Thank you very much. >> [applause] >> And if speaker number 20 could come up. >> Hello. Um my name is uh Chase Bachmann. Um I am a uh class of 2025 uh Bothell alumni. Um I'm also a local filmmaker and an Eagle Scout. Um and I'm here today to talk about the school resource officer issue um that is affecting the Bothell community. Um and as you can see by the sea of blue uh behind me, uh I am here today to support um Officer Ware and the school resource officer program. Um I Officer Ware was part of my um journey at Bothell for all four years that I was there. Um and all of the interactions that I had with him um were incredibly positive. Um including
104one memorable one um when he signed my yearbook at the end of last uh year um before graduation and uh we talked about the new uh Mission Impossible movie. So, I remember that was kind of fun. Um as part of my love for film. So, anyway, um Chairwoman, board members, um over, you know, past months and years, I've heard from a very small amount of people um almost none um who think that maybe the SRO program is relevant or unnecessary. You know, why do we need officers? The SRO program, isn't it all rather quaint? Well, I suppose I see a different world than they do. And the truth is is that what I see frightens me. I'm frightened because our the threats that we face are no longer known to us. They don't exist on
105a map. They're not nations or groups, you know. They're individual people that are struggling. A school resource officer can see these problems and can help those kids and people that are struggling um get help. Um and look around, you know, what do you see, you know, when you see a face, a uniform, a flag? No, our world is not more transparent. It's more opaque. It's in the shadows. We need resource officers and people police to look for these problems and to see the kids that are struggling in the shadows. So before you declare the SRO program irrelevant, ask yourselves, how safe do you feel? Um just one more quick thing to say. I like to end with a little poetry or, you know, dialogue. Um and here today, I remember this, I think from Tennyson,
106"We are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven. That which we are, we are. One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." I hope that today that you will vote uh to renew the school resource officer contract this year and obviously for the foreseeable future. Um it's a very important [clears throat] program. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] You're 20. Yeah, perfect. And then if 21 wants to come up. >> Hello, I'm Amy Marcos, uh here on my more teachers, less tech campaign. I spoke to you a couple weeks ago. I'm supposed to be at home resting right now, uh but I'm here with my son doing our homework in the back
107because he came home yet again not having learned anything with the computer-based curriculum in elementary school. Thank you for blocking YouTube on devices issued to students while still allowing access for teachers. This is a huge step in the right direction fostering online safety and eliminating one source of distraction. There are a myriad of other websites that raise safety concerns that students can and do still access on their school-issued devices every day. I'm here today asking Northshore to consider whether one-to-one devices for elementary school students is worth the costs and distractions associated with their use. During COVID, we all understood putting devices in students' hands. It was probably the only way to offer some kind of consistent instruction during remote learning. But now that students are back in the classroom, the merits of elementary students having
108their own personal device as a default policy should be reevaluated. I will speak from experience. I recognize that I use the computer to research and type these remarks and that I'm reading off of one right now. I would be delighted if the promise of technology in schools was coming to fruition. It is not the computers have no place in elementary education. It is that we need to properly teach the basics of computer use before handing students devices and we need to continuously evaluate the tools that students are using for learning. I'm here with today requesting three actions. One, online safety. are entrusted with the responsibility of their own school-issued device, it is incumbent upon the district to understand and educate students about how to navigate the internet safely with age-appropriate content about the potential dangers.
109Dangers could be posed by others or by the students' own use of the tools and applications. Dangers include predators that target platforms frequented by children, chatbots that encourage self-harm, addiction to games or other entertainment-only offerings, unintentional sharing of sensitive or private information, and exposure to online bullying. We need to be as cautious about students' online exposure uh and safety as their physical safety when they're at school. As far as I know, none of my students have received a course about online safety and all of my students have a personally issued school device since kindergarten. Computer-based curriculum evaluations. I'm unimpressed with i-Ready World Atlas and other core applications used in the elementary curriculum. i-Ready involves extended video montages that are repetitive and inane. While they may be fun for students initially, by first or second grade,
110they are bored sitting through the same video over and over again. Curriculum Associates, the maker of I-Ready, is a private for-profit company about which very little information is publicly available. They're currently being sued by parents in a class action lawsuit. I request You said time? Thank you so much. I'll submit my written remarks. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] >> Uh speaker 21. Speaker 21. All right. Oh. >> Hi, my name's Mel Watkinson and I'm here because my daughter asked me to be here. I have three Bothell High students from 2015-ish to 2024. So, they've all graduated. Um she had heard that we were going through this again. However, the board was inclined to remove the SRO program. And I was pretty horrified. So, I'm just going to pass on what they told me. Um Officer
111Ware is a valuable mental health resource. That's from my class of 2021er and my class of 2023er had much more to say and I'll paraphrase it, but that he's a really good guy. He participates in the games and the clubs. That it would be unfair if a board with predetermined notions about defunding the police were to eliminate such an important position. That it's about relationships. That he made her feel safe. Um her particular class there were some school shootings and then threats at Bothell High, I think her senior year and it was a comfort to have him there. Um and then back to that he goes to the games and competes. So, I hope you will all listen to your students and the families. That's amazing all the support you have here. That's all. Thank
112you. >> Thank you. [applause] So that concludes public comment. Some of you brought up subjects that are not on the agenda. If you would like to go resume your life, it's a beautiful day out there. We certainly understand. But we are going to move continue on with our business agenda. And next up is the adoption of the consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Being moved and seconded, is there any discussion? Hearing none, I'm going to call for the vote. >> [snorts] >> And the consent agenda is adopted. Up next is the approval of the amendment to the interlocal agreement with the city of Bothell for school resource officer program for the 26-27 school year. Superintendent Irish. >> State law requires that the agreement for the SRO officers,
113school resource officers, to be reviewed annually. The approval of the interlocal agreement with the city of Bothell will allow for SRO services to be provided for the 26-27 school year at Bothell High School. And we recommend your approval. >> So Dr. Irish, just to reaffirm, this is something that is required by state law that we approve this vendor contract. >> That is correct. >> Okay. Thank you. So uh members have received a lot of information over the last um month or so, so um we're going to assume that there are no questions left, and at this point um we're going to take an opportunity for everybody to share their reasoning. Um and we're going to start with Director Sotak. >> Thank you. Um I'm going to start off my comments today saying that I'm sharing
114my appreciation for everyone who participated in this process as we follow state law and review our vendor contract tonight. I know that everyone who engaged with the board is doing so because they care deeply. Thank you to those who shared during public comment. It can feel really scary to come up and share something you are passionate about in front of a bunch of people behind a wall. Students, I appreciate your thoughtful words. Advocating for something you believe in is a skill that will serve you well as you grow into an adult. Thank you to everyone who emailed or reached out for in-person meetings with board members. We appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective with us. Thank you to the Bothell Police Department for meeting with us, sharing your thoughts about the contract,
115and reassuring us that with or without this contract that our community will continue to have a strong collaborative relationship with Bothell PD, and we will continue to come together to serve our communities and keep them safe. I want to acknowledge that there are people in this community who do not feel safe to share in this public setting. For that, I apologize that we have been unable to foster an environment where people feel empowered to freely and respectfully share. At Northshore, we strive to listen to all viewpoints and come together respectfully for the best outcomes of our students, staff, and community. As the board discussed in our study session, we have to consider the emotional piece of people's feelings, their direct experiences, and examples of why this is working or not working. We have to consider
116the data which is shared with us yearly, which shows the majority of participants have a favorable favorable view. We must also take a system-wide look at what our goals are for the district and what centers us. I cannot only make a decision based on one perspective or side to the issue, nor would I want to. It is important to hear all voices, even the quiet ones. What I continue to struggle with each and every time this comes up for a vote is how can I value one student's or group's experiences over another? If I vote to continue this contract, I'm continuing harm for one group who do not have the choice to opt out of the program. And the opposite is true if I vote to not renew the contract. People who care deeply about
117continuing to have this program will not have the opportunity to participate in it in the same way they are used to doing. Currently, I cannot support this program in its current iteration. My vote and comments are not a critique on any one person. This decision is about how the district is creating systems that support all students and keeps its focus centered on student learning. I look forward to coming together with Bothell PD, no matter the result, and finding ways to support all of members of our Northshore community in feeling and being safe. And I will continue to center social justice and student learning during my time on the board. >> And before I make a few points, I want to ground us in the fact that everyone in this room and everyone who has spoken
118up shares one common goal, and I shared this with the folks who requested to meet as well, that we all are here for the safety of every student and every staff member. And there's also this genuine sense of belonging for everyone that we want to instill in everybody that's on school grounds. I also want to acknowledge everybody who has been advocating for safety and belonging. Your labor does not go unseen. And for everyone who shared their perspective in public or in private, especially the students. Thank you for your bravery. Your lived experiences and your voices count and matter. Not everyone feels safe enough to send an email, let alone stand at a microphone. Law enforcement, school districts, and crowds can be intimidating spaces. And some have shared privately that they have felt pressured into silence
119and even bullied. It is the responsibility of the board to listen to all voices, even the ones who do not feel invited into these spaces. I also want to acknowledge the Bothell High School feedback directly, even though this is also a systems-level discussion. When I listen carefully, I hear something very specific. Trust in an individual and relationship building. And that's what I want to see continue. What we're voting on tonight is a contract and a program structure to align with the school district values, not a person, and that distinction is important. We need a district-wide program that equips every staff member and every student with shared language and common strategies when it comes to safety that also instills that sense of belonging for everyone. I'm not able to support the renewal of this contract because
120this district owes our community something more comprehensive, more equitable, and more empowering to all community members. >> Okay, I'm just going to remind the audience you've had your opportunity to speak. We ask that you be quiet. It's the board's opportunity at this time. >> I want to thank everyone who's come out to speak. Everyone who's reached out to communicate with us whether in this forum, in email, um in less public meetings. Um hearing all the voices and the viewpoints is important. Um You are correct in saying that you have elected all of us to represent you, but you also elect us to vote our conscience, and you don't all get all of the information. >> Please, please, you had your opportunity to speak. We're going to ask that you listen respectfully. >> And you don't
121all have the same informa- access to all of the information that we have. The story that keeps coming back to me today is my mom telling me about a time when she was young, and she and her family, a black family, went to visit relatives in Texas. Must have been in like the '50s. And she and her brothers were drinking from the whites-only water fountain because they didn't know the difference. They didn't know that there were rules that they had to follow somewhere outside of their home. It It concerns me that we are placing a police officer in a position as a confidant for students, encouraging them to tell him everything that concerns them or worries them when those things can be used against them legally. And or others. >> Okay. Please. I'm asking you.
122This is hard. You have had your opportunity to speak. Please allow the board members to speak. I understand that it is hard, but you have been listened to respectfully. Okay. Please allow board members to speak. >> I worry what that precedent sets for students when they leave this community. Because of these reasons, I do not support the renewal of the SRO program at this time. >> Okay. Did you get a chance to finish? Okay. Are you ready? >> Racial and educational justice should be at the core of what we do in public school system. I've approached my role as an elected school board director as systems work, and I take very seriously the responsibility to represent every member of our community as thoughtfully and as fully as I can. In reaching my decision tonight, board
123policy 7 and the district strategic plan established the governing framework for my decision. I then relied on multiple forms of listening and learning to assess whether the district's vendor contract with the Bothell Police Department aligns with this framework. Those provisions require that the district policy advance a learning environment that is welcoming, supportive, and inclusive of all students. And all aspects of our school system are aligned and moving together in an equitable, mission-focused manner. Quantitative data, including surveys, provided one form of important input from the Bothell High School community. We also heard thoughtful and courageous public testimony in support of renewing the district's contract with the Bothell Police Department. And I want to acknowledge the care for student safety that motivates those perspectives. Just as valuable is the qualitative data that comes to us through authentic
124conversations. Small groups and one-on-one conversations help give us more holistic view of the varying perspectives in our community. Together, these help us understand how different members of our community experience our schools. As part of my responsibility as an elected representative, it was my duty to make space to hear from individuals who did not feel comfortable communicating publicly. Describing varied experiences of how the presence of this contracted service is perceived within the school environment, some individuals shared feeling extremely fearful of raising concern in public settings. They also reported feeling that their experiences have not been fully reflected in the formal discourse we've had in these meetings. In evaluating this contract's renewal, the data data taken as a whole reflects that while some stakeholders view the program as supportive of student safety, other students, other staff, and
125other families describe experiences in which they do not perceive the program as consistent with fully inclusive and welcoming learning environment. I know that reasonable people can come to very different conclusions on this issue, and my responsibility was to do my best to listen carefully, weigh competing experiences thoughtfully, and make a decision that I think best serves each and every student and staff member, including those voices who may only be heard in the margins. When applying the governing framework I mentioned before, as well as the full range of information and experiences and reflection that informed my decision, I conclude that a renewal of our vendor contract with Bothell PD is not consistent with our district's stated mission and policy commitments. I know that's hard to hear, and I want you to know that my vote is
126not a rejection of the Bothell Police Department, nor of the relationships and support many in our community associate with this program. I recognize those relationships are so meaningful, and I respect the care behind them. Regardless of tonight's outcome, the police department remains an important community partner, and emergency response and law enforcement support will continue to be available to our schools at the same level of integrity enjoyed by the entire Bothell community. There are various models of safety and a myriad of ways we can personalize those models to each campus. My vision as an elected representative is for school safety to be rooted in further strengthening our pathways of prevention, our campus-wide relationship building, and share that responsibility of safety across staff. That includes investing in trusted adults who are district employees and fully embedded in
127the school community, allowing the district to oversee implementation, evaluate outcomes, and continuously improve supports based on evolving needs of students and families. Combined with thoughtful mental health supports, campus-wide restorative practices, as well as welcoming, identity-affirming environments, we can create a safe and deeply connected school culture for everyone. I remain committed to working alongside Bothell High School community, should the vote tonight transition us to the model we use at our other three comprehensive high schools, particularly those furthest from educational equity and social justice, to continue to enhance our school safety and security to ensure each and every student and staff member feels safe in the Bothell High School community. >> Good. Okay. Thank you. Um So, there's an Iroquois philosophy about seven generations, and the idea is that um we are part of a continuum. So,
128it's your great grandparents, your grand- parents, your parents, children, grandchildren, great children, grandchildren is all part of the seven seven generations. Um being one of the older people in the room, my great grandparents go back quite a bit farther than many of you. So, I want to just share a story that is part of my lived experience. Uh my both my parents grew up in Los Angeles during the '50s and '60s, which was definitely a time of civil unrest. Um and my maternal grandmother lived in South Central LA, which was also known as Watts. And she was there during the Watts riots. And what is rarely told as part of the story is that they put barriers up around the neighborhood and trapped people in. My paternal grandfather was a battalion fire chief for the
129Torrance Police Depart- or sorry, Torrance Fire Department. And at that time, the mayor of Los Angeles brought in all of the fire department chiefs and police chiefs in the area because they were struggling to get fi- uh firefighters and fire trucks into the barricaded the barrier through the barriers safely to put out the fires that were happening during the riots in the Watts community. And so my grandfather was brought in and one of the solutions that was proposed was to arm the firefighters. And my grandfather said, "Absolutely not. You're not arming firefighters because it changes our relationship. We need to be trusted to go into people's homes. We need to have that and if there is a gun, it changes the relationship." So, that's part of who I am. That's part of the very complicated
130tapestry that is my lived experience. Again, being an old person in the room, however, also part of my lived experience is watching discourse take place in the digital world where the more outrageous, the more discredious, the more extreme is rewarded. You get attention the ruder you are, basically. Having veiled barely veiled threats, snark is the type of discourse that is happening in our digital world and that's who's getting attention. And we in Northshore have believed that that's not how you get things done. And we have worked very hard particularly over the last decade to make discourse civil and to have voices be respected and valued. And I cannot make this decision about feelings of safety because I will be putting students against students and I can't do that. Families against families and I cannot do
131that. But I can make this decision on the type of discourse that has happened. I have to honor the students that have spoken to us over the last several weeks. They have modeled a positive civil discourse that we want to have at a national level. And so my decision will be to honor their voices and how they have communicated with us over the last couple weeks. >> Thank you. >> Okay, that's it. Um, I am going to call for the vote. We had a motion. Did we have a motion? >> No, we don't yet. >> Nope. Oh, it's been a long evening. Sorry. Okay. >> So moved. >> I'm sorry, no we don't. >> No, we don't have a motion. So we need >> Okay, so I'm calling for a motion for the approval of
132the amendment to the interlocal agreement with the city of Bothell. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Now we can call for the vote. >> So, the motion fails. >> Boo! Boo! >> This is a sham. This is a sham. >> You need to be recalled tomorrow. >> Okay. So, up next is the resolution 916, which is the reduced educational program for 2026. Dr. Irish. >> Thank you, President Hayes. Due to reorganization and declining student enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year, it is financially necessary to reduce the educational program for the 2026-2027 school year in order to align expenditures with available fiscal resources. We recommend your approval. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. Um, this sounds much more alarming than what I think it is. Could you give some numbers and um concept
133around? >> Yes, so at one at there is one position at the district office that we are reorganizing um and re- and therefore reducing in force. Um, it is an administrative position in order to help us fund in the teaching and learning department more TOSA positions and coordinator positions that directly impact the classroom. And then we have other positions that are due to declining enrollment just as a part of our declining enrollment process. Um, staffing fluctuates based on enrollment and so this is give you as the board are giving us authority if it necessary. No positions have been identified and no people have been identified, but it gives us the position you are giving us the authority that when the time comes or if the time comes that we need to reduce, we can do
134so. >> Okay, so just to clarify for my brain, we are removing administrative position and if we have enrollment decline particularly at an elementary school that we will basically right-size staffing. Is >> Correct. And let me give you a specific numbers. We are eliminating 1.0 FTE central office administrator position. This again is in support of classrooms to reduce the administrative level to support classroom direct classroom support. We are then you are giving up authority giving us authority to eliminate up to 0.5 elementary support secretary support if needed and eliminate up to 0.8 secondary CTE STEM teachers if necessary. And that is due to lack of enrollment in certain CTE courses. >> Okay. Do any members have any questions? Okay, seeing none, I will call for a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay, any
135further discussion? All right, now I'm calling for the vote. Okay, and the resolution passes. Up next is a project acceptance of over a million dollars. Dr. Irish. >> Thank you, President. Hey, six projects over 1 million were completed during this reporting period and they consist of a playground improvements at Hollywood Hill Elementary, classroom audio systems at district-wide locations, track and field improvements at Northshore Middle, modular building installation at North Creek High School, modular building site prep at Bothell High School, and modular building installation at Bothell High School, and we recommend your approval. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. Uh is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second it. >> Any discussion? Okay, seeing none, I will call for the vote. And the project acceptance passes. Up next is a request for approval of
136intervention materials for K-5 math, core materials for sixth grade social studies, alternative core materials for ninth through 12th grade Spanish, and alternative core for 11th grade HLIB history. >> Dr. Irish. >> Yes, these curricular materials presented are the recommendation for our from our curriculum materials adoption committee, and we recommend your approval. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. Is there a motion to approve? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Great, thank you. Any discussion or questions? >> Yes, I had a question about why the Wooden Elementary costs for the curriculum is no cost. I'm surprised by that. >> Well, I can ask Dr. Butler to please come up. >> That was my question as well. Like free. >> This is a Delta math, which is intervention at at Wooden Elementary. >> [snorts] >> Not I'm playing that we
137want to be charged. I'm just curious why it doesn't cost anything. >> Uh DeltaMath is um out of Ottawa, Canada, and it is all online materials that are free. And we are using them uh basically downloadable to uh assess our students at this point just to place them and then um we use our math curriculum to instruct. So, it is um it's just a supplemental intervention placement tool at this point in time. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. >> Okay, and just a reminder for board and audience because these are core instructional materials, that's why they're part of the action items is um sometimes we have supplemental materials that are in the consent agenda. Okay, any further discussion, questions? Seeing none, I will call for the vote. Okay, and that passes. Up next is the
138performance review. It is the monitoring report for the most exciting of the parameters, parameter 13, which is asset protection. Dr. Irish. >> Yes, presenting for your approval this evening is the monitoring report for Superintendent parameter 13, asset protection. I certify that the information contained in the report is true as of May 11th, 2026. I also do hereby certify that with the information evidence provided within this report that I comply within the requirements set forth within this parameter. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. Do board members have any questions? Discussion, thoughts? Again, it's the exciting one. >> [snorts] >> Well, I'll say that I appreciate that we are um maintaining proper insurance even though the insurance rates are going up um ridiculously high, ridiculously quickly. Um but yes, this is a much more cut and dry and
139less fun things to talk about on it as a general thing. I was trying to look through and like, what point would I want to mention? And like, um >> Thank you. Um I will point out and again, I know we're in the process of reworking them. I'm just going to draw attention to number four, the protect district assets including but not limited to um having [clears throat] been here during a ransomware attack, um this is way more important than it appears. So, this is definitely something we need to monitor and make sure that we are using um best practices and having a system that keeps us protected from ransomware attacks. >> I agree. I've also personally in our family have had a ransomware attack and so I can appreciate the um attention to detail
140that is taking place to make sure that our students and our district stay safe in that way. >> Okay, seeing I don't want to jump the gun. I know everybody's itching to talk about this, but seeing no further discussion, I'm going to call for a motion. Again, one of our three options for parameters are in compliance, making adequate progress towards compliance, or not in compliance. >> I move that we find the superintendent in compliance on parameter 13, asset protection. >> Seconded. >> Okay, being moved and seconded, I'm going to call for the vote. While board members take a moment to and write all their great thoughts. >> [snorts] >> Uh we need Director Trance vote, please. >> [snorts] >> This is for you. >> Okay, and that monitoring report finds Dr. Irish has reasonably interpreted
141the provisions of parameter 13. Up next is the review of superintendent parameter 13 asset protection. Again, we're actually going to get a report on Saturday um on the work that's being done to update our parameters, but is there anything board members would like to make sure um is reviewed. Okay, I'm seeing nothing, so I'm going to move ahead to information items. First up is the district budget status report for March of 2026. >> Thank you. Sorry, I was distracted. All right, attached for your review and information is the March 20 is the March 26th district budget status report. >> Board members have anything to share other than that super pretty black line on the um general fund total fallen fund balance where it's up above zero, yay. Sorry. Find joy wherever we can find it
142today. >> Yes, we appreciate that all of the efforts that have gone into making sure that we are um in the black instead of in the red um and hoping that it grows faster quickly so that we can, you know, restore more teachers into classrooms as we have for some of the more um lower end um transitional grades. >> Thank you. Um I actually had a question. Are we able to discuss now or do we need to Oh, it's information, so we can't discuss. Um I had a question on page 10. It used to be page nine. Um I assume that the district will see a lower expenditure in April since we settled um running start and insurance premiums in March. Is that true? >> Since Superintendent Berggy is not here and I don't have
143that level of detail, I can certainly email that information to you. I'm assuming you are correct, but I can verify that. >> All right, thank you. >> If you can collect that, Peggy. Thank you. >> Okay, seeing no further discussion, next up is the capital projects fund allocation report for March 2026. >> As attached for your review and information, this is the capital projects fund allocation report for March 26. >> I um like to see the 2018 bond things just slowly working their way off the list. Um so, it's thank you to our voters who approved the 2018 bond and the 2022 bond. Um it is very impactful to our students and a lot of the things that are um being done for the 2022 bond are to update our security at all of the
144campuses to um make [clears throat] sure that all our kids are staying safe in school. >> Is there supposed to be information on the 2022 tech levy on this or those larger scale projects? >> Um so the tech levy I believe is in the district budget. >> It's the last page of this. That's why I was just asking. >> Okay. Um yes, because they're um also projects. >> Okay. Thank you for voting for those as well. >> Thank you. Okay, next up is Director Sotak's favorite one, the capital project status report. Dr. Irish. >> Yes, a report is attached for your review reflecting the current status of the 22 growth projects at Leota Middle School and Inglemoor High School. >> Okay, it's so short now. It's it's like uh Cliff's Notes instead of a novel.
145Um >> Well, just wait. I know Dre is ready to go on the 26th. >> Great. So soon it will blossom. >> I have to say though it's very exciting to see inside parts at Inglemoor um in the new building even though it looks really I don't even know what the it looks like a very strange gymnastics situation in there. Um and Leota is looking very complete-ish-ish. Um which is very exciting as well. >> Okay, next are some project acceptance. This is an information item uh four projects that were under a million dollars. Dr. Irish. >> Five projects under 1 million were completed during this reporting period and they consist of security fencing at Wellington, demolition work at Timbercrest, kitchen modernization at Canyon Park, kitchen modernization at Sunrise, Timbercrest, and and Timbercrest. Portable moves uh
146portables move Sorenson to Eastridge Elementary. >> [snorts] >> The portables there's we're we're moving them to Eastridge cuz there's space there, right? Is that how that's working? Okay, that's right. I remember that. >> Okay, also, you know, love love some removals and demolishing of portables out at Timbercrest, so that's great, too. Okay, last on our information items is the signed construction agreements for 2022 bond projects, Leota Middle School phase one. Dr. Irish. >> The bill of sale for four easements uh yes, I have been signed for the Woodinville Water District during the reporting period related to water service to the new building for Leota Middle School phase one replacement project. The bill of sale for water, after completion and acceptance of the system, the ownership and maintenance responsibilities are transferred back to the water district.
147The agreements also provide that the water district be granted an easement along the route of the water system to permit inspection and maintenance. This report is for information purposes only. No action by the board is required. A developer extension agreement was submitted to the board on June 24th, 2024 for this project under the guidelines of administrative procedure 9246. Notice of construction easements and agreements for this project were submitted to the board on August 8th, 2023. The agreements are attached for your review along with the site diagram. >> Okay, seeing head nodding, got it. So, that concludes information items. Up next is board reports and communication. Do board members have any new business? >> Um yes, there's a couple items here for new business. There's an online town hall called beyond the session. It's being led
148by the Bellevue School District and the Northshore School District as well as other surrounding school districts have participated participated before. This is the same group that has done a town hall a couple years now. Um and so if folks are if the board is interested in attending, we should probably let Peggy know it even though it's online just for OPMA reasons, we should let her know if you're going to attend. It's Wednesday, May 27th, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. >> I unfortunately have a conflicting PTA meeting that night. >> Um I should give a little bit more context too. This is in preparation for the 2027 legislative um session. >> I have a conflict as well. >> We don't necessarily have to figure it out here on the dais, but uh if you're interested in in
149it, just let Peggy know. The second item is the state auditor exit conference. Um So that's Friday, May 22nd at 3:30 p.m. Same reason we need to let Peggy know if more than two of us are attending. >> I will not be attending that. >> Okay, I am currently signed up to attend. But I really encourage this is does not sound exciting, but it is an important event in our annual process. So if we could get two I will gracefully drop out if I I get two other board members to attend. >> I've done it previously and it is riveting. >> It [snorts] It's super short. >> It's not It's not long. Yeah. >> The other part is longer. >> Yeah. So, I'm not going to create a quorum, but I plan on attending. >>
150Okay. All right. So, Directors Anderson and Director Kelly, um if you realize that you will be attending, let Peggy know and then she will let me know that I will not need to be there. So, we won't end up with a quorum. It's a virtual event. >> What time was that at? >> Oh, it's at 3:30 p.m. >> And is it virtual or in >> It's virtual. >> Yeah. >> I think I will likely go if you just want to be safe about it. As long as my toddler doesn't have a meltdown. >> No, we have Director Tran and Director Kelly that have agreed to go and I will sadly not attend to keep us out of quorum. >> Okay. >> And then the last item is kind of far in the future, but um
151there is a lot to review to prepare for it. The WASDA General Assembly is in September. Um there are policies that There There's a couple things going on. So, there's agreeing as 275 districts on roughly what our ask is of our legislators, our state legislators, and then there's also a portion to discuss the policies that WASDA agrees on as an organization. So, um explore the WASDA website. I don't I guess I could I'll take that as an action item to send the links to the policies. >> Yeah, I don't think the handbook is ready. Usually it's not ready till end of June. >> Yes. >> And then um we'll share that. The general assembly is a free event, so everybody can attend. It's all online, so you sit in front of a computer for a
152day. Um and traditionally the ledge rep attends and then if anybody else as we get it in the uh third week of September. Um so we'll have that conversation as we get closer of who else would like to attend, but um as the handbook comes available giving guidance to Director Tran on how to vote cuz only one person can vote at a time. >> Yeah, and WASDA provided a spreadsheet that was um created by one of one of our uh local school board members in another school district that can actually um allow for school board members to asynchronously work on these votes, so I'll be looking at if there's any updates on that spreadsheet and send it out to the board members or send it to Peggy so she can send it to you. >>
153Great. Thank you. >> Quick quick quick question. So what is the best way to communicate our views of what should be voted so that we're not >> We will set space in one of our board meetings in uh because the handbook, like I said, won't even be ready till end of June, early July and um and then will be made public and then there'll be amendments and all sorts of fun stuff. So we'll probably set aside time. Director Tran will um figure out what's the best is, but usually it's one of our August meetings or early September meeting to have those conversations. >> Okay. >> Some of it doesn't involve a whole lot of conversation. [laughter] You know, fully fund basic ad is a proposal and right, so yeah. >> Yeah, the one that I'm
154looking at that's currently in there it was in there since I think 2022 the policy regarding AI and just seeing if we need to update it at all just because of what we're now learning about technology and AI. Okay. >> Thank you. So, seeing no further new business, that brings us to board member reports. And up first is Dr. Sanderson. Doctor, I just gave you a PhD, wasn't that lovely? Director Sanderson. >> I kind of like that cuz honestly I was looking around and like, oh, I'm the only one that's going to have a really boring robe. Um Uh it's very short this time. Um on the 30th, I attended the school board visit to Timbercrest Middle School. On the 6th, I got to go to the Northshore or to the the North Creek High
155School um concert. Um fabulous and the best part was like hearing the very end of the full symphony uh presentation of Wicked for their Pops concert and hearing like the audience just silent for like 5 seconds listening to the cymbals echoing in the background. It was amazing. Um and then on the 7th, I had a constituent meeting with um Director Kelly and uh one-by-one with Dr. Irish. >> Thank you, Director Sanderson. Director Tran. >> On Thursday, April 30th, alongside all of you, visited Timbercrest Middle School. Thank you, Principal Wallace and Assistant Principal Van Stralen for uh riveting presentation and very thorough presentation cuz the students said they put a lot of work into it to prepare. Saturday, May 2nd, I attended an elementary salmon release. So, these are elementary students who have been nurturing and
156taking care of salmon eggs. I apologize, the whole terminology was explained to me. Yes, fry and everything and now it's like in one ear, out the other. Um but they released I believe they were in their fry stage when they released it into the river um over at UDub Bothell campus. So, really really um well attended and a very fun event. On Monday, May 4th, I attended a PTSA legislative planning meeting. Appreciate the proactiveness of this team and hopefully we can get 2027 legislative planning kicked off. Um, Thursday, May 7th, uh attended a meeting with Superintendent Irish and Dr. Kelly, our regularly scheduled two-by-twos um where [snorts] we switch off, and also uh had multiple listening sessions with community members uh sprinkled in between the last school board session and now. Okay. >> Thank you,
157Director Tran. Up next is Director Sotak. >> I participated in a number of meetings with community members regarding programming in the district since the last um board meeting. On the 28th, I attended an elementary math adventure night where uh there was pizza, of course, and some time to play on play equipment, but then also uh all of the different stations were incorporating different math concepts into making art, which was really cool. So, um we got to do some quilting activities, some patterning activities. Um, anyway, it was a good time for all and we came home with lots of art. It was wonderful. Um, I also attended the Timber Crest school visit and uh met all those lovely students and teachers and got to see some really great classrooms in action. And I attended the coordination
158meeting on the 6th of May. >> Thank you, Director Sotelo. Up next is Director Kelly. >> I attended many engagements with the community including listening sessions on 428, 51, 57, and 58. Um and I met with Dr. Irish and Dr. Tran for our 2x2 on 57. >> Thank you, Director Kelly. Um and I will just wrap up that I also attended the school visit to Timbercrest and um again, thank you to Principal Matt Wallace and uh Assistant Principal James Finnströland. They are doing amazing work out there and my favorite conversation was with um our students around the cell phone ban. One that said, "I didn't know there was a cell phone ban." which made me so happy. Um and then just the they continually reinforced, "We learn better offline." So happy. Um okay, just to
159give board members a heads-up. We are currently in the process of looking at a different location for our conversations with the board next Monday. Um it is the same night as our Northshore PTSA Council meeting and so we're in coordination with them to have it at the same location so the events can be back-to-back cuz we think there's going to be a lot of crossover with attendees. So um stay tuned. You may receive notice of a new location and that's why. That concludes our business meeting. We will adjourn and go into executive session for the purposes