001I would like to call this meeting to order. If you're 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. >> Just gets quieter and quieter. Good afternoon. And on behalf of the board, I welcome all members of the audience to this evening'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 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. We have recording secretary Peggy King, superintendent
002Dr. Justin Irish board members Elizabeth Sautchek HR Carson Sanderson and I am Sandy Hayes. I currently serve as president of the board. Kimberly Kelly is ill and is excused from this afternoon's meeting. An agenda for the meeting is available online at bordoc.com and copies are located at the table at the back of the boardroom. There will be an opportunity for both virtual and in-person public comments to be shared during the association and public comment portion of the meeting. Community members who are interested 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 schoolboard, then board meeting materials and videos. If you are here
003to address the board on agenda items, please sign in using the sign-in sheet on the table at the back of the room. Don't sign in if you don't want to talk. uh and take a number which corresponds with the line where you signed it. So the first order of business is the land acknowledgement and that is director TR. We take this time to acknowledge that the Northshore School District occupies the unseated coish lands that have been here since time of memorial. 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 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 Tron.
004All right. Next up is the uh approval of the agenda. Does the board have any changes to the agenda as it has been published? Seeing none, is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? I will call for the vote. Okay, the agenda passes. Next up is the superintendence report. Dr. Irish. >> Thank you, President Hayes. Uh, first I want to say I'm honored to share that the Northshore School District has been selected as one of the inaugural recipients of the state superintendent award for educational excellence, recognizing the top districts in Washington state for academic achievement. As the new superintendent for Northshore, I know I stand on the shoulders of the leaders who came before me and the extraordinary educators and staff who serve our students every day, past
005and present. So, this recognition belongs to our principles, our district leaders, our teachers, our support staff, district teams, students, families, and school board whose commitment to excellence makes Northshore such a remarkable community. So, it's a great honor and um wonderful to receive that award last week. Um this uh since our last board meeting, I've attended many schools um as a part of my either formal school visits or our school action plan visits or board visits. So I was with all of you at Inglemore High School um for the school board visit. I had a SAP visit at Innovation Lab, North Creek High School, Woodenville High School, Inglemore High School, as well as Kenmore Elementary. and then a formal site visit for Leotaa Middle School um Canyon Park Middle School and Frank Love Elementary. And then
006I also attended um along with some of you the all all-in for kids lunch and fundraiser for the Northshore School Foundation who put on a great event um with our community and raised some great funds for our students and schools. And that concludes my update. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. Next up, we have um programs and special presentations. And we are going to receive our quarterly racial and educational justice update just good evening school board. Thank you for having me. So, I just want to provide um updates on two pieces of um work that we do in the department. So, the first is our racial and educational justice community panels. And the first one is scheduled for tomorrow evening um at 5:30 p.m. at both high school in the library. And this will be a
007moderated panel. And I just want to highlight the work that this subcommittee on the racial and educational justice committee has done and led and facilitated over the past several months um because this work could not happen just within our department but it's really about um channeling shared leadership um in the work that we do. So this subcommittee committee has been gathering input from groups across the school district and the outreach has included conversations with student groups such as the student justice collective students serving on the broader racial and educational justice committee and outreach to community members within the both high school feeder pattern. So previously we did these community panels just open to everybody which it still is. Um but this year we wanted to kind of shift into regional formats and structures so that
008we could kind of put a spotlight on the different regions within our school district um communities. So there was also a survey that was conducted with B the both high school student body to gather broader student perspectives about what they would like to see um as topics brought up on the panel so that we could amplify student voice and community voice um within these opportunities. Information about these panels was included in the Northshore Connections newsletter on February 24th and it's open to anybody in our school district community. The second part that I'd like to talk about is the student justice conference that's annual. That will be on Friday, March 27th at Cascadia College. And the theme this year is our voices, our stories. That was a theme that was decided on by the student justice
009collective because they believe in the power of storytelling and in change making through channeling the stories through their own voices. So we have 114 students registered so far. Um Cascadia and UDA both will both be tableabling to show that this is a joint effort and partnership. Cascadia is our primary sponsor and has continued to be over the past handful of years. So we're very grateful for their partnership. Our keynote this year is not one but two individuals. It's a father and a son. and they are both leaders and activists within the broader Seattle community and known nationally as well. So, we're very excited to have um the father talking about his experiences within fatherhood um as well as act um organizing and engaging in activism as well as um his son's um activism efforts and
010all that he's learned um from his dad through storytelling. And we do have eight workshops. Four of them are facilitated and led by our students. So that's half of them that are studentled and the other half comes from um either employees or community members within our school district. So this is very much um about channeling the local resources that we have and the people and knowledge and voices within our current community. So thank you for allowing me to share this update with you. Thank you, Dr. Thomas. All right, up next is association and public comments. The Northshore School District Board of Directors sets aside a period of up to 60 minutes to receive updates and comments from district association leaders and community members. As referenced in multiple policies adopted by the board, we expect all
011parties 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 follow the same standards of civility during schoolboard 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 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 are included in the published agenda will be taken into consideration by the board when the topic is addressed during the agenda. Any topics during public comment that are not included
012on the published agenda cannot be by law discussed at this meeting. So will not be addressed or receive a response during the meeting. And I see a number of new people. So just take a moment and look at the agenda. If you're here to talk about something that's not on the agenda, please don't be offended. We are not allowed to talk about it by law. In either case, depending on the nature of your topic or questions, a district employee or a 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 or disagreement with the speaker's remarks. And please note that comments should not make reference to any employee or representative of the district by
013name 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, remember 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 defamation. If you are unsure of the legal effect of your remarks, you should seek independent legal advice. In any case, that we ask that you help us model for our students what a respectful and inclusive community looks and sounds like. Okay, so first up is associations. And I don't think I see any associations. Usually I recognize them, but I don't see anybody today.
014Um, so next we're going to go to virtual comment. and we don't have our virtual commenter. So, uh, give me a hands up if they show up. So, now we're gonna go in person. So, if, uh, we're we have a practice here in Northshore that we like to start with our students. So, we are going to have it's actually number one. So, that makes my life easier. Um, so number one, if you will come up and bring bring your support person with you, we encourage that. Um, so just so everybody knows, come on up. You have to make sure the microphone is on. >> Test. >> There we go. Okay. And then if you guys want to look up at the screen, >> test. >> There you go. Perfect. >> Um, look up at the
015screen. There's going to be a timer that's going to show up and it's going to be for 3 minutes and it will countd down starting at 3 minutes and it will go. >> We're going to do kind of a Q&A thing because this is kind of a lot for >> and that's fine. I'm just letting you know that there you have three minutes. So, when it gets down to 30 seconds, it's going to go yellow. >> And when the time is up, it will go red. And then, because they have to make this complicated, it's going to disappear. >> So, if you look up at the screen and it's gone, that means your time is up. Because I'm not very good at interrupting. I don't like interrupting students. So, just kind of monitor that and
016if it's good, just do a concluding statement and then we'll let the next person talk. Does that sound good? You ready? >> Fast. Go fast. >> We all have kids. We get it. You're very brave. Okay, go ahead. Oh, and say tell us who you are. >> My name is Millie Woo and I >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> And I am a student at Frankloff. >> And I'm Jeremy Woo. I'm her father. Millie is uh going into Kenmore Middle School next year. And so we came here to talk about the proposed changes to AAP to the HCAP program at Kenmore Middle School. um the the integration of the high cap science and social studies programs. Um this is the same cohort that went from dedicated EE to integrated in elementary school. And so we thought
017it would be good for you to hear the actual experience of what that last three years in integrated has been from an actual student. Um we we have this there's a perception I I believe that the integrated model in elementary school is successful and is successfully providing highcap students with the differentiated learning that they were expecting when we went to the new model. Um, and I was just telling Millie about um, a state law that we we know about that I think you guys are going to hear quite a bit about over the next couple months, which is RCW 28A185020 that the legislature finds that for highly capable students, access to accelerated learning and enhanced instruction is access to a basic education. So, the point of what we're going to talk about here is her
018experience as to whether she's getting that differentiated education. So, um, we're going to focus on writing and reading because math by definition, walk to math is a dedicated high tap experience. So, writing first. So, Millie, can you tell me about the last three years? What is your um and have you ever had any separated instruction and writing in your three classes? >> No. Like, what has the writing instruction been like in those three classes? >> I'm just doing what everyone else is doing. >> Yeah. And um have they ever grouped you in like a cohort or anything like that for writing? >> No. >> Have they ever like given you any different assignments for writing or like adjusted an assignment to make it more difficult? >> No, not at all. >> Okay. All right. And
019like how does that make you feel when you compare it to what you experienced in dedicated dedicated e class in second grade? >> I feel bad because I feel like I could have been a better writer. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um let's talk about reading. Okay. So, like it's we're going to go grade by grade because it was like a little different for you for each of the classes, right? So, in third grade, um what was the reading experience like? Did you have any differentiated um reading instruction? >> No. What material did you go over in third grade? >> Same thing I learned in second grade >> like this the same stories and everything. Did you tell the teacher about that? >> Yeah. And when I told my third grade teacher, she said, "Well, you're just
020going to be an expert." >> Okay. Did you ever go into fourth grade material when you were in third grade? When you were in reading? >> No. >> Okay. But in fourth grade, did you have different reading experience? >> Um, in fourth grade we did this thing called win. >> So, this went this went fast. >> So, we'll we'll continue this conversation because we run out of time. But I think that what you can see is that there isn't hasn't been a differentiated experience. And the concern is that without a different plan for middle school, her only um what she's been waiting for through these elementary schools to get to a high cap experience in middle school might not be there when she gets there. So the question is why the rush to do this?
021Can we come up with a more like a clear plan that can be communicated to parents and to the students and then do it when it's ready? >> Okay. Thank you. And just a secret tip, 150 words per minute. >> So if you script it out ahead of time, it's 150 words per minute. Okay. Uh next up is number two because three minutes goes really fast. >> Should I start? >> Yes, please. >> And tell us who you are. >> Sure. Hello, and thank you for allowing me the time to speak. I've met many of you already. For those I haven't, my name is Ashley Watts. I'm a mom of five NSD highcap kids, including some that are 2e and one graduate. I'm a former fourth grade teacher and a frequent PTA mom. And today
022I address you in my capacity as the president of the Highcap Parents Council. We are an organization that advocates for the needs of highly capable students, collaborates with families and our district partners, and educates families and the community about the needs of highcap students. We want to see all NSD highcap students reach their full potential through programs that distinguish NSD as an exemplary district for highly capable education. Many on the council and in the community at large are concerned about the district's decision to end the clustering of middle school students in science and social studies through the AAP program. School administrations are telling parents that elementary student schools have successfully used integrated classrooms with differentiation for years. Parent feedback on this integration, however, is mixed. We partner with the district to run a spring survey
023of parents of highcap students on their satisfaction with their child's high education. We have run this survey for five of the last six years with well over 1,000 respondents each year. Parent satisfaction with the ELA program has declined in the years that this program has been integrated. Over the last four years of parent surveys, we've gone from mid60s and 70s% of parents of students in the EAP program saying their student is receiving appropriately challenging instruction in ELA to only 29 and 39% of parents of students in the integrated model in the last two years saying the same. The number of parents with students in EAP classrooms who say they are overall satisfied with their child's ELA education has ranged between 61 and 75% in the last four years. The percent of parents of students in
024the integrated model who say the same has been 29 and 36% in the last two years. I have provided a handout that has all these numbers on it for you if you want to refer to them later. Um the integrated model in elementary schools was originally presented to the council as a way to innovate and deliver the same acceleration in a different setting. There is however a higher bar required to claim that the program is a success that should be replicated across more grades and subjects. Having students complete challenge or extension assignments on the grade level curriculum does not meet the test of accelerated learning. Requiring students to meet a higher set of standards or measuring them against more rigorous rubrics alone does not meet the standard of enhanced instruction. Northshore's own strategic goal number
025three affirms growth for every student as a core value for this district and maintains that all kids should see one year of academic growth in their classroom. I am by and large so impressed with all of our teachers and admin and want them to be able to consider all sides when they make their decisions. The question isn't whether Northshore will have a highly capable program. That question has been answered by the Washington state legislature and we know these students need accelerated learning and enhanced instruction. The question is whether we are going to have a program that exists on paper or one that consistently delivers the needed acceleration in the classroom that students deserve because it has the structural supports necessary for success built in. I believe this program needs more support of some kind built
026in. Thank you. >> Thank you. And and I apologize if the data you referenced is sitting in my stack of papers. I haven't found it yet. If not, you're handed it already to Peggy King. You are way ahead of me. Love it. Great. Thank you. Okay. Next up is number three. >> Good evening, Dr. Irish, President Hayes, Director Sanderson, Director Tram, and Director Sotak. Um, my name is Marie Okan, and I'm a member of the Highcap Council, and I'm a parent in the district to both a highcap student and a student that's not in HCAP. I'm here tonight regarding changes to middle school social studies and science, specifically removing AAP social studies and science as an option for incoming sixth graders. On a course catalog, you could think there's not much difference between AAP and
027challenge. But AAP, it's part of program of advanced services for identified students that need these services. To give an example, in science, the main difference is the cohort of students that need to move at a faster accelerated pace and go in depth to the content. This is constant accelerated instruction and enhancement, not just a once- off block of time. My concern is not just removal of AAP social studies and science, but a reduction of advanced services as a whole without a clear explanation. There are several versions that we don't fully understand or a communicated clear defined replacement model for middle school social studies and science. Some say the integrated model has been so successful in elementary. So let's apply that to middle school. I'm going to share my perspectives of the elementary integrated model. Many
028I've shared at council before. There are parts of the service model that are positive. I've seen at my son's school and I'm grateful that he stays at an inclusive home school uh where there is attention to social and emotional needs and opportunities like walk to math. To quote my 10-year-old, I like the way my math teacher teaches things once and we move on. This is a clear example of what accelerated instruction looks like. No, he's not getting perfect scores and that's not what this is about. This is about getting what he needs. Um to be clear, I don't think Hikap is a trophy to celebrate. I think it's a program to fit the needs of the student. Um ELA or English literature and arts some describe is a bit more ambiguous. Unlike math, students are
029assessed at their current grade level. Math is one grade level above. With that, I think differentiation is left to the capacity of the teacher and the amount of staff in the classroom. But do keep in mind the requirement is to assess a grade level only. Some schools are trying to juggle and do the right thing and use win groups for reading. It's typical to see different tables inside and outside that classroom. To even achieve that cluster structure, it requires a lot of staff support and it remains so. I'm going to run out of time. So, I'm going to just get to what I'm asking. Um, here we are now at middle school. an important transition one that can influence the pathways to high school. If we don't believe that the integrated model has been fully
030in successful in all areas, we need to hear more about the stories of those where it has not worked and look at the survey data to back it up. Thank you in time tonight for understanding and considering students with all diverse learning needs. >> Thank you so much. Appreciate you all keeping an eye on the timer really helps. Um that is it. It did our virtual. Nope. No virtual. Okay. So that concludes public comment. Um again many of you are new to this event. So I will let you all know that it gets super exciting as we move into the consent agenda. But we understand that you have busy lives and if at this point you choose to go back to your busy lives, we are not offended. So that brings us to the adoption
031of the consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. >> Great. Thank you. Being moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Okay. Hearing none, I'm going to call for the vote. Okay. And the consent agenda passes. Up next are actions items. And if you thought the consent agenda was exciting, wait till you see what we've got in our action items. So, first up is resolution 915, which is authorize district agents. I'm going to have Dr. Iris explain. >> Thanks, President. Hey is the office of the superintendent public instruction requires a list of district personnel who are authorized to sign documents that are required by the state for projects approved for state financial assistance. Attached is the Northshore School District administrative procedure 9426P for your review and the recommended resolution for your approval.
032Due to our recent change in board leadership, a new resolution is required. We recommend your approval. >> Okay. I heard it's my fault. That's how I filtered that. Okay. Um, any any discussion before I call for a motion? >> It seems pretty straightforward. Yes, I think that makes sense. We don't need to run every single line item through the school board. So, >> okay. >> Thank you for making good trouble. Ah, >> happy to do it. >> Okay. I will accept a motion. I move that we um accept the resolution as written. >> Second. >> Great. Um being moved and seconded, I'm just going to call for the vote. Okay. And the resolution passes. Up next, our favorite easements. We have an authorization to sign an easement at Frank Love Elementary. Dr. Iris. >> Yes.
033Authorization is requested to sign the attached distribution easement in conjunction with the city of both sidewalk improvements project. As part of this project, Snomishomish County PUB is required to relocate or reframe the power poles along 22 22 24th Street Southwest. The easement and a diagram of the ement area are attached for your review. We recommend your approval. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> Great. Any discussion? I love good sidewalks that are safe for people to walk on and good lighting especially when we have those early nights and late mornings when we it's just dark >> and and I will add anytime we can move power poles off of sidewalks to make them more accessible it warms my heart. So, thank you to the um
034Franklin community and for dealing with this cuz it's going to be a thing cuz I see where that will be taking place and it's going to have some impacts. So, everyone will be very flexible when this is happening because it's going to be great in the long run. Okay, hearing no further discussion, I'm going to call for the vote. Okay. The authorization to sign the easement has been approved. Up next is a project acceptance of over a million dollars. Dr. Irish, >> the following project is being presented for your approval this afternoon. Energy services contract for the Cottage Lake Elementary. Work included. The work included unanticipated water damage in multiple areas of the roof and the walls which required moisture testing. This necessitated a partial roof wall and framing replacement. >> Great. Thank you, Dr.
035Irish. Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? living through a current remodel. I know that there are always surprises and so we just have to do our best to roll with the surprises when they come. >> Yes. More buildings, more opportunities for surprises. Okay, hearing no further discussion, I'll call for the vote. Okay. And that is uh that has passed the project acceptance. Up next is the 2022 expansion project. A request for increase and guaranteed maximum price at Fernwood Elementary School. Dr. Irish. >> Yes. Administration is requesting approval for an increase in the GMP for Fernwood Elementary School. Attached as the agenda item is information for the request to change orders. We recommend your approval. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. Do I hear a motion to
036approve? >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> Being moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Uh, it looks like there were some surprises, which sounds like all of the ground on which all of our buildings are placed. Um, and is it that it from what I saw it they're expecting it to be finished over the summer. So, yeah, >> the hope aspirational as you know I know there's always there's always >> surprises right right >> okay >> and yeah I mean it's a really really big project so it's not surprising that there were some surprises >> well and I think part of it too is that there were delays in getting permitting which caused them to have to wait until the rainy season which caused it to cost more to actually do the stuff that they
037had to do that would have been less expensive if it was dry which makes sense um but I also saw in there that we are able to give them the turf field that we had wanted because of the passing of the bond. And so I thank all of our voters for passing the bond so that um they can have a space to play and having listened to the Crystal Springs students recently talking about the inches of sand that they poured out of their shoes every day after recess and knowing that there are many many schools with inches of sand that come out of shoes. It's great to see that our voters are supporting students and having turf pellets instead of sand. >> Thank you. Okay, seeing no further discussion, I'm going to call for the
038vote. Okay. And the increase uh for the GMP at the expansion project at Fernwood has passed. Next up is everybody's favorite item on our agenda tonight. It's the authorization to surplus a portable building at Timberrest High School. Dr. Irish. >> Yes. Board policy number 7251 authorizes the board of directors to declare equipment including relocatable facilities as surplus property when they determine aggregate value of the property is greater than 20,000. This represents the first step in disposing of property that has no further use in the field or to the district. The district currently has one portable atross middle school that is no longer used and should be declared surplus demolished based on age and condition. This portable has multiple leaks and extensive water damage. Declaring this portable surplus and scheduling its demol demolation will prevent further
039decay and eliminate a possible health and safety risk. We recommend your approval. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? I was um Yes. I appreciate the uh surplus portable building and and handling of it. I'm curious, is there usually documentation tied to it? because I didn't see anything. Not that I'm asking for more things to read, but >> I don't think we typically add more documentation than what we provide, but >> I mean, the information is there. It's it's in the meeting notes, so that's fine. >> Seems like it could be a class project, but >> maybe maybe there's some maybe there's some materials they shouldn't class project. >> There could be some risk involved there. >> Okay, >> don't get us into
040trouble. A little spicy tonight. Okay. Uh seeing no more fruitful discussion happening up here. I am going to call for the vote. Okay. The authorization to surplus the portable building at Timberrest has passed. Next up is a lovely donation from Foundry 10 to Frank Love Elementary School. Dr. Irish >> attached for your approval is a donation to Frank Love Elementary from Foundry 10 in the amount of $11,200 from Foundry 10 to Frank Love Elementary for adaptive equipment, tools, and sensory regulation materials. We recommend your approval. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. >> Any discussion? >> Thank you for the donation. Foundry 10. it. Um, the description, the project description is great because there's lots of things that are going to help kids access play and access learning
041and be able to participate in different um, activities more easily than if they did not have access to those things. Um, so that's really great that we're helping all of our kids be participants easily. You know, getting rid of those barriers to learning and to um participation are always wonderful. So, thank you, Foundry 10. Yeah, I agree that the fact that um the play elements are there helps them develop their social and emotional skills um which are just as important in life as the education that they're getting. And so um thank you. >> Okay, seeing no further discussion, I will call for the vote. Okay, the donation has been approved. That concludes our action items. Up next is a performance review for the moni monitoring report for superintendent parameter 10 around technology. Dr. Irish. Yes.
042Presenting for your approval this evening is the monitoring report for superintendent parameter 10 technology. I certify that the information contained in the report is true as of March 9th, 2026. I also here do hereby certify that with the information evidence provided within this report that I comply with the requirements set forth within this parameter. I also want to clarify that we are still in the process of revising our parameter language and this is one that the board had requested we look deeper at um and are um we so you are seeing the old language because or the language as it exists in policy um and so therefore we're maintaining that because those that language has not changed. However, we have recommendations from our team in regards to um making this a little bit more relevant
043to the work that we're doing that will be presented in our work group and then later to the board. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. And just a reminder, this has a little bit different flow to it. First, we have our discussion and then we'll have a motion. So, um with that, who would like to start? >> I always start because we go this way. >> Okay. I'm fine. Um, as per usual, I think that um I appreciate actually I really appreciate the layout. It's changed a little bit of the report and I really like the layout change. >> Well, that is good to hear since you're on the workg group and we did an experiment to see what you would say and we're trying to move forward with maybe some shifts in format. So, that
044is good to hear. >> Nice work, Forest. beautiful work for us. Um, it it made it a lot easier for me to read. I I love a bullet. I love a section. Um, anyway, thank you for that making bolded titles for the um, pieces. Um, and I appreciate links embedded into the report. Um, so beyond just how it looks and how it was more accessible for me, um, you know, this district continues to provide as per the parameter expectations. Um, you know, we are continuing to evolve our approach around technology and how kids are getting access to it and the different ways that we are making sure that our data is secured, our kids devices are secured, we're taking care of them, and we're refreshing them. So, I appreciate that. >> Yeah, I second the
045formatting on this. And I also appreciate that it's um got some bold text where it draws my attention to some key phrases um and the dividers like the the horizontal dividers. the the this has always been an interesting topic, technology, because we talk about how it it intersects with so many things. And so it being in its own category does make sense, but sometimes it crosses into other other policies where um we have to start considering when director vice president SOAC and I start looking at it and how how we weave technology into it all because it's not going away anytime soon. It's kind of like um equitable access and racial and educational justice being weaved into everything. Uh, I'm not going to bring up some of the contentious topics that happen with um the
046Chromebooks and access to it, but it's it's uh something that we've been receiving emails about. So, I'm sure we'll continue to figure out how to address um access age appropriately. Um, and then yeah, digital citizen digital citizenship curriculum is very crucial ever since the '9s. It's getting ever more crucial with the advent and access to to generative AI and LLM and all the acronyms. Um, so I'm looking forward to seeing how we we protect students, keep them safe in terms of what they're accessing on the internet and through generative AI as well as how we um provide guidance to the students in in the use of technology in general. I appreciate the report. Thank you. So, um, one of the pictures that popped up today for me was a picture of one of my children
047in a bathrobe in an IKEA chair with their laptop in classroom to cloud version one. And um, I had four kids in school at the time and we managed to find a device for each of them, but then one would break and then it was, well, what do we do with that kid now so that they can all access? And so it was so nice to not have to worry about trying to figure out how we fix it quickly, especially when nobody's allowed to go out that we could just contact the district. They gave us a Chromebook and it was they were all there. They were ready to go. Um and so I have really appreciated the forethought that we've had on this topic um and moving in and using things as they come available.
048Um it is always a balancing act to keep students safe but also to allow some of our older students in health classes to study the topics um that they are assigned. Um I I know one of my kids has talked about they are trying to do projects on um drugs and so how they access material that supports their learning is a challenge while also keeping them safe from things that are not supporting their health. Um, and it's just something we're always going to have to struggle with and work with. Um, I also appreciate the digital citizenship um that the district has um taught both as an employee um making me a safer participant in work with the district so that I am not the loose um link in the chain. Um but also watching uh
049as I volunteer in library uh the lessons that the librarians deliver to the students and how every year they're getting um more and more reminders and building on what they've learned and that's really a important part for their lives and so I appreciate what we're doing in that. >> Thank thank you so much. Um just kind of a yes and um to all that has already been said. Um just a little context when this was written um technology is such a broad word that we we just threw anything that had a one and a zero in it. It went into this policy. And so it covers everything. And so I really appreciate and look forward to the work that um director Tron and Director Sotek are working on to to make this relevant to the
050needs of our students and our district today because again there there's a lot. Um the other part just to um help guide understanding at the time that we were writing this we were understood that about 20% of our students particularly at secondary did not have access to a device to do their homework on. So kids were trying to write papers on phones with cracked screens, uh, limited access to the internet, and so that was a huge focus was this equitable access to devices. Now that there just happened to be a worldwide pandemic that started just as we had finished uh providing devices to everybody that needed them, that, you know, it worked. Um uh and then and then the other part of it is that all of our state testing is on devices now and
051we were running into issues, a lot of issues with schools where all the devices were then sucked up during testing time and there was nothing for other classes to use for resources. So that that's just a little backstory of why we moved to onetoone um when we did. Um and so but again, you know, times keep evolving. Um so I just want to say I appreciate this. I um all of you know my passion for the digital citizenship curriculum and I love that we are leaders in that work um and continue to evolve. I love that it sits with our librarians and that that is um work so that all students are having access to this curriculum. It's so so important. Um uh also was here during the great cyber attack. So I am very
052thrilled that we continue to uh evolve and work on making sure that our data is safe and our systems are safe because that was a really unpleasant time period. Um, and then finally, and again, because it's got a one and zero in it, and I don't know where else it would sit, but I felt like, uh, an acknowledgement of the work that we did around our cell phone policies in our schools that this would have been good place to put it and how that's working and and it is working that that would it was just another piece of data that I think would have been a good I don't again, I don't know where else it goes, but um, multiple places. So anyway, for me that's also a key data point that we again got
053ahead of the curve and created a cell phone policy in conversation with our community that we didn't do it alone and created levels and and it is it is working. Not everybody loves it, but it is working. And we had the conversation with the students at um Ingamore that they get it. They have lots of ideas of how to improve it, but they get it. So, uh, that's it for me. I will entertain a motion. And again, just a reminder, we can find the superintendent is in compliance with this parameter uh, making adequate progress towards compliance or not in compliance. >> Yeah. So I move that we find the superintendent in compliance with parameter 10 technology and making pro adequ ad adequate progress. >> Second >> in in compliance. Yes. Sorry. >> Second. >> Okay.
054Great. Thank you. Any further discussion? Okay. I'm going to call for the vote and then you get to watch us write for a few minutes. If you thought easements were exciting, this is really going to curl your toes. Okay. So, the board has found that the superintendent is in compliance with parameter 10 around technology. Up next is the policy review of that parameter. And I'll just remind you all there is much reviewing going on. But if anybody has some thoughts for that work now would be a good time to share that. And if you don't that's totally fine. It was not expected. So didn't mean to do a pop quiz there. Okay. Up next is information items. Uh we have the district budget status report for January 2026. Dr. Irish. >> Yes. attached for your
055review is the uh information in the January 2026 district budget status report. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> I know for me every every year it's a changes to which page I zero in on. And for me it's now number six total fund balance comparison. It's looking pretty right now, >> right? That was kind of going to be my comment is that um it it is it is looking different than it has, which is great. And um are we we're we are hopeful that everything is going to just continue on that trend. There won't be any big surprises. >> That's the plan. that that it's going to we may not need to do any additional borrowing. >> That's the hope. >> That is amazing. Knock on laminated wood. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Fantastic. Okay. Any
056further discussion on the budget status report for January? Seeing none, um we'll move to the capital projects fund allocation report for January 2026. Dr. Irish. Yep. Attach for your information is the capital projects fund allocation report. >> Any questions? >> Okay, I'm seeing shaking of head and then >> no questions. Yep. Just a comment on the It's good to see that there's seismic assessment going on because that was what was part of I hope I'm on the right document. Um that was part of the uh bond um assessment as well. So, thank you to the community for approving the bond. >> Yep. And and just a reminder, the 2026 bond, we don't start getting money for that until next year. So that but we are we are we we constantly work to keep our schools
057safe and >> yes that was the 2022 bond. >> Yep. >> Okay. Uh next is the capital project status report. Dr. Irish. >> Yes. A report is attached for your review and information reflecting the current status of the 2022 growth projects at Leotaa Middle School and Inglemore High School. >> Okay. This is my favorite report and it's so short now. We don't have like 10 large projects or I don't know the full it was like eight but whatever. We have way less projects now which is exciting. That means we finished things which is very exciting and um it was very fun. And if I was at Inglemore, we went on our um visit to Inglemore. And if I was at Inglemore, I would just be sitting out on the bleachers of the field all day
058watching the giant machinery move around. Um it is like if your kids love construction, hopefully they're going to Englemore because they're going to get a lot of it. It was nice to see the construction in person going on the school visit at Englemore. Um I didn't look at our schedule to see if we had an upcoming school visit at Leota Middle School, but also looking forward to that. Um or just wandering around looking at the construction. Uh but yeah, Inglemore, lots of action happening construction wise. We're in phase one and um it looks like we're because of the 2026 bond, we'll be able to move on to phase two when we're ready for that. So again, thank you to the community for approving the bond. >> Great. Yeah, we typically do two middle schools a
059year and we've done Sky View and we've got Timberrest coming up and I feel like we were just at Leota, but that probably just means we were there in the last 10 years. So, >> uh, any any further discussion? Okay, next >> with the ribbon cutings. There's a lot fewer of them on this now. >> Yes. >> Looking forward to it expanding again. >> Oh, yep. There I I hear that there's some twitching going on in our capital projects department. They are ready to roll. So, um, okay. Up next is our draft meeting schedule. And all of you are still going to be here. So, here you go. Oh, here's your calendar for next year. Just an opportunity to look at it. We do vote on our meeting schedule because this does get posted to
060our website. Um, so just take a look. We have worked with our racial and educational justice department to make sure that we're not overlapping too much with holidays. There's a lot of them. That was my only question. Just making sure we're not We don't need to have too many Tuesday. Are there Are there Tuesday meetings in here? I >> There are a couple. Yes, >> I can't do the math. >> Yeah, >> just by looking. >> No, there are not any Tuesdays. We >> didn't >> We managed to avoid Wow. All right. >> We checked in with who we needed to check in with and >> Excellent. >> Well, look at that. And yeah, fantastic. Yeah, just so board knows uh and the community, we check in with our local religious leaders and make sure
061that we are okay with when we have our meetings. So, okay. Well, fill your calendar up. Can't buy plane tickets for those times. Okay, that concludes our information items. Up next is board reports and communications. First is new business. Do board members have any new business? >> Um, the only thing I noticed was when I was reading through the communication um and there was the article listed about buses. Um, when I read it further, it said that there is currently a open public comment um on the EPA web page about um their current policies on buses and such. And it's open for about 25 more days, I think. So, it's for school leaders and such to comment about how they're not wanting to fund um electric buses may affect us. >> Yes. >> Okay. >>
062Isn't that nice? >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. Any other new business? I think there was one related to legislation, but I think you were gonna bring it up because you had the history behind it. >> I was, but I don't remember what it was. >> Okay. Well, >> what am I talking about? >> Oh, I know what it is. All right. Yes. Very good. Thank you. Good job. I triggered. Okay. Um All right. So, uh, the organization WASDA, we govern ourselves and so part of the governing is that we we the membership write the bylaws for the organization, which is an interesting concept, but there we go. And bylaws are due by the 23rd of this month. And there is a proposal and we have been asked to sign on to it how to do this.
063So when I first came into WASDA um it's it was one district one vote. So you would come you would go to um we vote on our our bylaws, we vote on our positions, we vote on our legislative priorities. Um, and it was basically one district, one vote. And you would be at these events and then if there was a a vote that was close or uh some there was an opportunity for what's called a weighted vote. So districts that uh it was kind of House of Representatives version. So you got more votes if you had more students. And it was it was very So Northshore I think we had like 18 or 19 votes for our one person to vote with. Um a school board member who had less than 2,000 students, they got
064one vote. Um and then Seattle got a lot anyway. Uh it was perceived as being inequitable. Um small dis school districts didn't feel like it was fair. Kind of got conflated with politics. Anyway, at the 23 General Assembly, there was a bylaw proposal to remove the weighted vote as an option. Now, it was never the initial vote. It was always like the second tier of voting. Um, and it was uh approved. It was a truly unpleasant event. People were yelling and screaming at each other. There were tears and nashing of teeth and it's been it was quite awful. Um, so there's a bylaw proposal to bring it back. It's a much more leveled. So it's a one, two, three. We would receive three votes. Midsize districts two and small districts one. So uh, Director Tron
065and I were had someone reach out to us. Um, the narrative was that it was large districts in King County that were bulldozing over the rest of the state using the weighted vote to get what we want. data didn't actually reflect that, but that was the narrative. There's still a lot of anger and hurt. So, we wanted to let you know that we have been approached, asked to sign on. It's something we would need to vote on as a board at our next meeting on the 23rd. it. So to f thank you for summarizing the history and the context around this and for the next Friday briefing, we will include language and information on that bylaw for you to review. So when we get to the next board meeting, we'll be prepared hopefully to have
066an opinion about it and vote. Okay. All right. So, we'll we'll have it on the agenda at our next board meeting. Okay. Um All right. Uh any other new business that I forgot that I was bringing? Nope, that's it. Okay. All right. That brings us to board reports. And Director Tron, you're up first. >> All right. Thursday, February 26, I was I participated in the board retreat. We had a nice lengthy discussion. Um appreciate everyone's professionalism and also sharing of their their um candid opinions. Uh, Friday, February 27th, I had the privilege and opportunity to present Lunar New Year to a fourth grade classroom. Um, did a unofficial polling of the class about if they wanted to have the lion dance brought to their school and there was a resounding yes. >> Um, so we'll
067be seeing how we can figure that out with the principal. Monday, uh, March 2nd, attended the Crystal Springs ribbon cutting and just the just miles of difference. Um, like director Sanderson had mentioned, the students talked about pouring sand out of their shoes after recess or just getting just between classes and it and getting to their class and um, it just looks so much better. It's a school and environment that students can actually be proud of. Um, and I brought this up during the during the ribbon cutting is that there was a guest speaker that came to Northshore a couple times, Dr. Chris Emdom, and I I bring this up all the time. He said that one of the ways that we can show students that we care about them is through the environment. if they
068feel like the environment um whether it be physical structure or other is not conducive to their learning, it's not reflective of uh affirming their identities and uh safe, right? Um they can't focus, they can't study, and it certainly doesn't feel like people care about them if that's not the case. And with the bond approvals and the the levies being um renewed, I'm so grateful that we live in the community that we do and we have the support that we do from the community to pass those things to provide an environment to the students that they can be proud of and they can be safe in. So really grateful for that. Thursday, March 5th, um had a 2 by two with Superintendent Irish and Director Kelly. >> Thank you, Director Tron. Up next is Director Sotek.
069>> All righty. Um I also attended the visit to Inglemore on the 24th. Um on the 25th, I um had lunch with our labor partners. On the 26th, Director Tram was there, too. Um on the 26th I also was at the board retreat where we had really good hard discussions. Um and then was it part of the coordination meeting last week this week? Last week man >> it's March is March is turning into January for me. >> Thank you director so up next is Director Sanderson. So on February 24th, along with the others, I attended um the Englemore visit. Um really appreciated getting to talk to students. Um one moment was I was I asked a group of students in the algebra 1 class if I could watch what they were doing and they were
070a little stuck and they looked at me like, "Do you do math?" And then it became like a back and forth trying to like coach them to like figure it out without telling them how to do it back. And they're like, "It's time to go." And I'm like, "Sorry, good luck." But it was great to that they were not at all unnerved. They were just like, "Help us. Bring bring it bring people in." Um, and the sharing from the students who uh talked about how the unified approach that they are working hard to develop there um was really important to him and how he interacts with school. And that was, you know, I I so appreciated that he had um ma had a way to share that with me. Um let's see. Um so then
071the next day, the 25th, I listened in on the North Urban Human Services board meeting, associations boarding meeting. Um and then that evening I attended the Cascadia College Pay It Forward and got to listen to some really great stories about how um our partner Cascadia College um helps students um flourish in that in between space between um high school and university because it's not always a straight path from one to the other. Um sometimes we need more in high school, sometimes we need more before we would go to a college or what we can get at a community college is actually just right. And so it's wonderful to see that that is there for them. Um on the 26th I attended the Northshore Schools Foundation lunch. Um and then that evening at the board retreat.
072Um on March 2nd I was at the Crystal Springs ribbon cutting. On um March 4th um along with um Director Tran met with um some people interested in a robotics club at one of our high schools. Um, on the 5th I had a one-on-one with Dr. Irish and uh, last night in honor of my dad who had worked for the EPA, I decided to make a public comment myself on uh, what they are doing. Great. Sure. That turned it around. Thank you. Thank you, Director Sanderson. Um, very much the same as what you've already heard. I attended the Inglemore SIP visit. Thank you to principal Desatelis and assistant principles um Washington rainwater and MISM for a great visit and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the construction site as well as the work being done in the classroom
073and the very frank conversations we had with Inglemore students. Not the least bit surprising. Um I also attended the Cascadia Pay It Forward um uh fundraising event. Thank you to Dr. Murray for his support. It's a great partnership that we have with them and love having a community college right in our community. Um attended the Northshore Schools Foundation lunchon and appreciate all of the partnership they do with our students and staff. Um it was a well attended event. We're still waiting for final numbers, but it looks like it got pretty close to their goal. So um attended the board retreat. Thank you to former director Amy Cass for coming and facilitating. We appreciate her work and great to see her again. Um attended the Crystal Springs ribbon cutting. Again, thank you to our community for
074your support of the 2022 bond. Crystal Springs was one of our schools that has needed some love for a long time and we are so thrilled that they were able to do that. It was we had put as many portals as would fit on the property. Um, so they are enjoying having their playground back and back in permanent buildings and um, and then the traffic mitigation is huge for that school. So, thank you to everyone that has made that happen. Um, I got to attend a meet with our state auditor to have the risk management meeting. Uh and then uh director Kelly and I did some goal two planning along with uh Obedia Denham and Craig Foster. So that is wraps up the last couple weeks. So we are going to adjourn this meeting and
075we will start our study session at six o'clock.