[1. Call to Order]
[00:00:06]
>> THIS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2021, REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OR THE BATTLE GROUND SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ORDER.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STAFF THAT'S COME TO PRESENT INFORMATION TO THE BOARD TONIGHT.
CITIZENS IN ATTENDANCE, BOTH IN PERSON AND BY VIDEO, AND CERTAINLY OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES.
WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[2. Pledge of Allegiance]
>> 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.
[3. Roll Call]
>> PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT 4, MARK WATRIN.
>> VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT 5, JACKIE MADDUX.
>> DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT 1, MARY SNITILY AND SHE DOES HAVE A PREARRANGED ABSENCE THIS EVENING.
DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT 2, ROB HENRIKSON.
>> DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT 3, TROY MCCOY.
>> STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, SYDNEY CORDON.
>> STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, RICARDO MARTIN DEL CAMPO.
>> MISTER PRESIDENT, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
[INAUDIBLE] BUT WE USUALLY [INAUDIBLE].
>> MISTER PRESIDENT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO EXCUSE DIRECTOR SNITILY FROM TODAY'S MEETING.
>> [INAUDIBLE] APPROVE THE PREARRANGED ABSENCE OF DIRECTOR SNITILY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. MOTION PASSES. DIRECTOR SNITILY'S ABSENCE IS APPROVED.
NEXT UP FOR APPROVAL IS OUR AGENDA.
[4. Agenda Approval]
ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, WE HAVE OUR COMMUNICATIONS REPORT FROM THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT AND STUFF UPDATES, CITIZENS' COMMENTS.WE'VE GOT FOUR PEOPLE SIGNED UP.
OUR CONSENT AGENDA AS ITEMS A THROUGH I. I'LL READ THOSE WHEN THAT TIME COMES.
WE HAVE OLD BUSINESS AND NEW BUSINESS, BUT NO ITEMS UNDERNEATH THEM.
THEN WE WILL COVER SOME FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS BEFORE WE'RE DONE.
ANY QUESTIONS [INAUDIBLE] ON THE AGENDA.
IF NOT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT IT AS IT IS.
I MOVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS IT IS PRESENTED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
NEXT UP IS OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND WE'VE GOT ASP REPORTS.
[5. Communications]
WE ASKED EARLIER, IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE THEY HAD ANY.RICARDO, YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD.
[OVERLAPPING] SO YOU'VE MADE CONTACT WITH [OVERLAPPING] COUPLE OF THE GROUPS? YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT RICARDO.
>> I AM GOING TO CONTACT BOTH PRAIRIES AND BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL'S ASPS, AND LET THEM KNOW TO COME TO OUR NEXT MEETING.
I APPRECIATE THE HELP. NEXT UP IS OUR COMMITTEE REPORTS.
OUR COMMITTEES ARE THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, BATTLE GROUND EDUCATION FOUNDATION, WIA, THE WASHINGTON STATE SCHOOL DIRECTORS' ASSOCIATIONS AND TOURS WHICH ARE ABOUT GETTING READY TO START.
DIRECTOR HENRIKSON AND I SHARE LEGISLATIVE DUTIES. DIRECTOR HENRIKSON?
>> NOTHING TO REPORT RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY. GREAT. LAST MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE GOING TO ATTEND THE BELLEVUE CONFERENCE IN PERSON, REMOTELY OR NOT AT ALL.
WE HAVE THAT SAME DECISION TO MAKE FOR THE DISTRICT AREA 6 MEETING WHICH I'M THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR ALONG WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ROB PERKINS FROM EVERGREEN.
THEY'VE ALSO MADE THAT SAME DEAL FOR THAT.
IT WAS GOING TO BE AN IN-PERSON ONLY MEETING.
THEY NOW SAY YOU CAN EITHER DO THAT IN PERSON OR REMOTELY.
SOMETIME ALONG PRETTY SOON WE NEED TO GIVE THEM AN ANSWER TO THAT SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
[00:05:02]
IT'S WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 27TH, AND I NOTICED I DIDN'T SEE THAT ON OUR CALENDAR.IT MIGHT NOT GOT IT IN THERE, SO IT MIGHT BE NICE TO ADD THAT TO THE CALENDAR.
IF SANDY SENT THAT OUT AS A CALENDAR INVITE, IS THAT HOW YOU WANT TO RESPOND? I CAN GIVE YOU SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> HEY MARK, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE TIME SLOT IS FOR THAT?
>> I WANT TO SAY IT'S LIKE 6-8.
>> YEAH. LAST ONE WE WENT TO I THINK SHELLY AND I CARPOOL THE WHITE SALMON OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEN LAST YEAR IT WAS REMOTE.
MAYBE EXPECT THE CALENDAR INVITE FROM SANDY TO CHECK YOUR OWN CALENDARS AND YOUR SCHEDULES.
STUDENTS, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO JOIN.
IN FACT, I'LL DO SOME LEG WORK AND SEE IF I FIND OUT IF WE HAVE ANY OTHER STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES THAT MIGHT BE PART OF IT?
>> YEAH. NOT AS FAR AS WHITE SALMON. THAT'S GOOD.
>> THERE IS STILL AN EMERGENCY.
>> OKAY. AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T DO FEEDBACK COMING.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN FOLLOWING OUR SOUND CHALLENGES, I GUESS THEY CONTINUE BUT AT A LESSER PASSION SO FAR.
WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS EVERY WEEK.
ANYWAY. REPRESENTATIVE VICKI KRAFT CAME INTO A COUPLE OF OUR SCHOOLS, ONE OF OUR OLDEST.
WELL WAS IT ONE OF OUR NEWER ONES? I GUESS SO.
>> IT IS OUR SECOND TO NEWEST ONE.
>> TO SEE THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THOSE TWO.
JUST LIKE THE COMPLIMENT, I SEE IT WAS [INAUDIBLE] I BELIEVE FROM OLYMPIA WHO HELPED ARRANGE IT, AND VICKI THEN CAME IN AND SHE'S INVOLVED IN COMMITTEES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE]. OKAY. I'LL TRY TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> IT'S STILL CUTTING OUT. USE THE OTHER ONE.
>> THANKS FOR THAT PERMISSION.
OKAY. ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ADD? [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CERTAINLY THAT I APPRECIATE REPRESENTATIVE KRAFT.
SHE HAS SOME REALLY GREAT QUESTIONS.
SHE WAS SUPPORTIVE OF OUR EFFORTS.
SHE UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH.
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH SHE REALIZES THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WOULD BE BETTER SERVED IF THEY LOOKED AT UPDATING THEIR CURRENT PROCESSES.
I JUST APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO LOOK INTO IT AND HELP US WITH THAT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD MEETING AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES ARE AND WHAT SOME OF OUR NEEDS ARE.
>> OKAY. GREAT. THANKS. THAT'S IT FOR MY LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
I'LL BRING ONE ITEM UP WHEN WE DO OUR LAWS DISSECTION.
NEXT UP. AUDIT COMMITTEE. DOCTOR MADDUX.
>> NOTHING TO REPORT REALLY. WE HAVE AN UPCOMING MEETING ON OCTOBER 5TH.
>> GREAT. THEN BACK TO YOU FOR THE BATTLE GROUND EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
>> LAST WEEK THEY PARTICIPATED AND GAVE MORE 24.
THEY WERE ABLE TO RAISE ABOUT $4,500 WHICH IS GREAT, BECAUSE THAT WILL TURN AROUND AND COME RIGHT BACK TO HELP STUDENTS AND STAFF.
THEY HAVE THEIR AUCTION COMING UP THIS WEEK, IT STARTS SEPTEMBER 29TH, AND RUNS THROUGH THE WEEKEND THROUGH THE 3RD.
IT IS FREE TO REGISTER, SO PLEASE GO OUT AND SIGN UP.
I KNOW THEY WOULD LOVE THE SUPPORT.
THEIR NEXT MEETING IS NOVEMBER 18TH, AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO GROW THEIR BOARDS, SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, PLEASE JOIN.
>> OKAY. GREAT. I KNOW I'M SIGNED UP FOR THE AUCTION, BUT I HAVEN'T PERUSED ANY OF THE ITEMS TODAY.
>> MISTER PRESIDENT, IF I COULD INTERRUPT, I'M GETTING SOME COMMENTS AND SO IT SEEMS TO BE HAVING A NETWORK ERROR?
>> I DON'T KNOW. [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I JUST TRIED TO GET ON, I GET THE SAME ISSUE, SO I'M WONDERING.
>> IF WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE REALLY BROADCASTING OR NOT?
[00:10:04]
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING. YES. LAST WE HAD NO SOUND AT ALL, OR THE ONE TIME WE HAD NO SOUND AT ALL.
THEY SUGGESTED TAKING A BREAK. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DO HAVE AN APP WHERE I'M WATCHING YOU GUYS TALK.
IT MAYBE SOMEBODY'S NETWORK ISSUE.
>> I JUST TRY TO DO [INAUDIBLE].
>> MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE YOU SIGNED ON EARLY ENOUGH, LISA, WHERE YOU BEAT THE NETWORK ERROR.
>> I DO A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK AND I KNOW LAST TIME I SUGGESTED A [OVERLAPPING] DOING A RESTART.
>> BUT YES YOU DO. IF YOU WANT TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HE COMES UP WITH.
I THINK WE COULD CHECK RIGHT NOW.
>> IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT WE DO A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SWAGIT RECORDING AND BROADCAST SYSTEM IS GOING.
>> WE'LL DO A POINT OF PRIVILEGE, DO A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK TILL 6:16.
THEN WE'LL GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
>> I JUST WANT TO TEXTING THESE THINGS AS THEY ARE ALL IN HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS OUR NEW DATA, WORKS ALL THE TIME.
IT'S NICE TO KNOW WE'VE GOT SOMEBODY ELSE ON THAT. THAT'S GOOD.
SO PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING, CAN SAY THAT WE'RE GOING AHEAD.
>> I'LL WAIT FOR A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE CHECK GROUP.
>> WELL, IT'S WORKING BACK THERE.
THEY PUT A SIGN UP THAT SAID, WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE WAITING FOR A PARTICULAR BREAK.
>> ASSUMING THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT.
>> WE HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED ON THE MEETING GOING ON [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> YES. SAYS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE TAKING A SHORT RECESS [INAUDIBLE].
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS IF ANYBODY ELSE SIGNING ON IS RECEIVING US, EXCEPT FOR TEXT MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY ON.
>> THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE SAYING THEY'RE ON.
>> YES. THERE'S PEOPLE AT HOME SAYING THAT THEY'RE ON.
>>THAT'S IF I ASK YOU SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT. IF I TELL SWAGIT THAT WE'RE GOING TO START UP AGAIN EVEN EARLIER THAN MY FIVE-MINUTE BREAK, THEY SHOULD HEAR US; RIGHT?
>> YES. THEY'LL COME BACK IF YOU COME BACK.
>> WE'VE DETERMINED THAT THE OUTAGE IS ONLY SELECTIVE TO PEOPLE LIKE DIRECTOR MCCOY [LAUGHTER].
CURRENTLY, THERE'S A SCREENING PROCESS THAT GOES ON THERE.
MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY ON ARE TELLING US THAT WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
WE WILL RESUME THE MEETING WHERE WE LEFT OFF WAS WITH WIAA, ANYTHING MR. MCCOY? NOTHING FROM THE WIAA.
WAS THIS UP NEXT, I MENTIONED THAT I'LL DO ONE MORE ITEM IN THERE, LET'S SEE IF I CAN REMEMBER. OH, YES.
COMING UP FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, MARY AGREED TO BE A VOTER BECAUSE ROB AND I, WHEN THEY MOVE THE MEETING, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT.
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE WE HAVE TO OR SHOULD PROVIDE OUR PRIORITIES, OR THE POSITIONS.
WE USUALLY DO OUR TOP 15 AND I ATTENDED THE LEDGE REP LEARNS SESSION LAST TUESDAY.
THANKFULLY, A GREAT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, TAMAR WASHINGTON INVENTED THIS WHOLE SYSTEM AND DID MOST OF THE LEGWORK ON HOW TO MAKE A SPREADSHEET WITH ALL THE POSITIONS SO THAT BOARD MEMBERS CAN QUICKLY JUST PUT IN YES, I WANT TO RANK THIS ONE OR WHATEVER.
WITH YOUR, I GUESS, ACCEPTANCE, I'LL PASS THAT ON OVER THE NEXT WEEK SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
IF YOU DECIDE THAT YOU WANT TO USE THAT SYSTEM, IT LOOKS A LOT BETTER THAN [LAUGHTER] HAVING TO GO
[00:15:01]
THROUGH ALL 90 TO A 100 AND SOMETHING PAGES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HANDBOOK.WE COULD INCLUDE OUR PRIORITIES FROM LAST YEAR.
I'LL PUT IN THE NEW POSITIONS AND THEN YOU CAN SEND BACK YOUR RANKING ON AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET TYPE OF A PAGE.
MAYBE WE CAN GET SANDY'S HELP AND PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.
HOPEFULLY ALSO BY THAT TIME MAYBE [INAUDIBLE], WILL HAVE THEIR LIST OF PRIORITIES, SO WE'LL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
I THINK THAT'S IT FOR COMMITTEE REPORTS.
WE DO HAVE OUR FIRST TOURS COME UP AND IT LOOKS LIKE MOST PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED THEIR TOUR SCHEDULE.
I THINK WHAT ABOUT OCTOBER 12TH OR SOMETHING?
>> OCTOBER 12TH IS THE FIRST ONE?
>> SO THEN, THAT'LL BE A REGULAR PART OF OUR REPORTS BACK ON THOSE TOURS.
IF WE HAVE ANY REPORTS FROM INDIVIDUAL DIRECTORS.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SHARE AN IDEA THAT I WANTED TO RUN BY THE REST OF THE BOARD AND THEN [OVERLAPPING]-
>> YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GET UP TO YOUR MIC.
>> OH, AND THEN ASK THE ADMINISTRATION AS WELL.
WITH SCHOOL TOURS COMING UP, I THOUGHT IT'S GOING TO BE FANTASTIC.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ON ONE BEFORE, SO I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IT.
BUT WHAT I REALIZED IS THAT THERE'S SO MANY SCHOOLS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
I FELT LIKE WE COULD REALLY USE SOME GOOD NEWS.
WHAT WOULD BE THE HARM IN ASKING ONE SCHOOL TO REPRESENT EVERY MEETING, TO COME TO A BOARD MEETING AND POTENTIALLY JUST SHARE SOMETHING.
TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD, SHARE ABOUT HOW A STUDENT SUCCEEDED, SHARE HOW THEY'VE GOT A PROGRAM COMING UP, SHARE WHAT'S GOING ON.
I JUST THOUGHT WHAT A GREAT WAY MAYBE TO JUST GET MORE EXPOSURE TO NOT SO MANY NEGATIVE THINGS ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THERE ARE AMAZING THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS AND I WOULD JUST LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THEM MORE OFTEN.
IF THE BOARD IS OPEN TO IT AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION COULD FACILITATE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF THIS COULD BE AN IDEA. WE COULD ALL,.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
>> YEAH, I THINK IT GOES IN LINE WITH, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUT THAT STUDENT VOICE FIRST AND WE COULD PUT THE INCLUDING THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM AT THE SCHOOLS, WOULD BE GREAT.
>> YEAH, IT KIND OF DOVETAILS INTO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT TOURS WE'RE STILL OKAY WITH NOT OVERLOADING ANY OF THE SCHOOLS.
I KNOW THE CONTACT TRACING HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING, IT'S PROBABLY AN UNDERSTATEMENT AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT PUTTING ANY EXTRA WORK ON THOSE SCHOOLS.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO GET INTO THOSE TOURS AND THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD SUBSTITUTION AT THE VERY LEAST, IF NOT SOMETHING THE BOARD LOOKS AT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT SENTIMENT, TROY.
AS YOU KNOW IN THE PAST BOARD, WE'VE ALWAYS LOOKED FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO HIGHLIGHT STAFF, THE GOOD WORK THAT OUR STAFF DOES, AND SOME OF THE GOOD, THE FUN, EXCITING, INTERESTING, INNOVATIVE IDEAS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS.
I PROMISE YOU THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING STAFF IN FRONT OF YOU.
I MEAN, IT'S NOTHING NEW BUT I DO WORRY ABOUT WHAT IS ALL ON THE PLATES OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND TYPICALLY THEY'RE THE ONES THAT END UP COMING TO THESE.
SO WE WILL PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER TO TRY TO FACILITATE MORE OF THAT SHARING OF GOOD NEWS.
BECAUSE I AGREE WITH JACKIE, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE THIS.
THE MORE GOOD NEWS WE CAN HAVE, THE BETTER OFF WE ARE.
SOMETIMES IT'S CHALLENGING WITH SOME OF THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ON TAP.
BUT WE'LL TALK AS A GROUP AND WE'LL WORK ON THAT, I PROMISE.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T WANT TO TELL FOUL ON THE ADMIN EITHER.
I MEAN, IT COULD BE A COACH, IT COULD BE THE DRAMA PROGRAM, IT COULD BE [OVERLAPPING] A HISTORY TEACHER.
I MEAN, JUST ANYTHING THEY ALL HAVE GREAT STORIES TO TELL.
I DON'T WANT IT TO FALL ON ONE GROUP OR ONE SCHOOL.
I JUST THINK WE COULD DO SOME GREAT BRAINSTORMING.
AGAIN, I THINK WE DID A LOT OF THAT PRE-COVID.
[00:20:01]
IT'S JUST BEEN DIFFICULT WITH COVID AND ALL THE MANDATES THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE GO THROUGH.CERTAINLY, AS WE BEGIN TO MOVE OUT OF THIS AND THE RESTRICTIONS ARE LESSENED, WE COULD EASILY DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> OKAY. ANY OTHERS? WELL, I'LL SEE IF I CAN PITCH IN AS A WAY OF THANK YOU TO THE MOUNT ST. HELENS INSTITUTE, WHICH HOSTED THE QC CLASS FOR THE 11TH YEAR DOING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH UP ON THE MOUNTAIN.
SO THAT GROUP, I WAS JUST A DRIVER AND HELP GET THEM UP THERE.
BUT THAT NON-PROFIT THAT ENCOURAGES EVERYBODY BUT SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR, THEY USED THE MOUNT ST. HELENS AREA AS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.
THEY'VE ADOPTED ASSIGNED STUDY AND NOW IN ONE PART AND THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 11 YEARS AND THEY ACTUALLY SHARE THAT WITH FIVE OTHER SCHOOLS LATER.
SO AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD THINGS GOING ON.
LAST YEAR I WORKED TO ATTEND AS MANY OF THE PTO, PTA MEETINGS AS I COULD FIND OUT ABOUT AND SO I'VE RESTARTED THAT LIST BECAUSE IT DOES SOMETIMES CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND I MADE CONTACT WITH SOME OF THEM AND SAME THING.
SOMETIME I'D LOVE TO GET SOME OF THE PTO, PTA MEMBERS THAT DO LOTS OF SMALL BUT GREAT THINGS AT OUR SCHOOLS HERE TO TELL THE BOARD EXACTLY WHAT THEY DO.
I THINK DIRECTOR WATERS, THAT'S IT FOR DIRECTOR REPORTS.
WE'RE READY FOR SUPERINTENDENT STAFF UPDATES.
[6. Superintendent and Staff Updates]
>> YEAH. THANK YOU, BOARD. TODAY WE'RE GOING TO START OUR SUPERINTENDENT REPORT WITH A GUEST SPEAKER.
WE ARE PROUD OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VANCOUVER HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THEY HAVE HELPED US MANY TIMES, ESPECIALLY, HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH LYDIA SANDERS, WHO IS OUR HOMELESS LIAISON.
LYDIA WORKS WITH THEM TO TRY TO FIND HOUSING FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES THAT COME FROM THE DISTRICT.
IN ORDER TO HELP THEM, IT'S RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT.
SO WE ARE HELPING THEM OUT TODAY.
THEY HAVE A NEW PROJECT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
IT'S CALLED THE WEAVER CRETE COMMONS PROJECT AND IT'LL BE LOCATED ON 306 SOUTHEAST CLARK AVENUE IN BATTLE GROUND.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE VANCOUVER HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS TO DO, IS THEY HAVE TO MAKE SOME PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS.
SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THEM TO COME HERE TODAY AND FULFILL THAT OBLIGATION BY PRESENTING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING REMOTELY.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE ONE OF THEIR DIRECTORS, MR. VICTOR CAESAR, WITH THE VANCOUVER HOUSING AUTHORITY AND HE'S GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WEAVER CRETE COMMONS. WELCOME, VICTOR.
WILL GIVE YOU THIS ONE. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> HOW ABOUT GOOD NOW [OVERLAPPING] I TALK REALLY LOVED THERE, SO THAT'S AN ISSUE.
[LAUGHTER] WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
YOU SAID MY NAME IS VICTOR CAESAR AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AT THE VANCOUVER HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WHENEVER WE BUILD NEW PROJECTS THAT COULD ADD STUDENTS TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE ARE TASKED WITH GOING TO GO BEFORE THE SCHOOL JUST TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE PROJECT.
THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST NEW FAMILY DEVELOPMENT VHA HAS DONE IN QUITE A FEW YEARS.
WE'VE REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON SINGLE HOUSEHOLDS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS UPCOMING PROJECT AND THAT IT'S IN BATTLE GROUND.
BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE A PROJECT AND BATTLE GROUND FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS THOUGH.
CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
DESPITE THE NAME, VANCOUVER HOUSING AUTHORITY IS ACTUALLY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR ALL CLARK COUNTY AND SO AS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WE ADMINISTER THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM.
WE ALSO THE LEADING DEVELOPER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CLARK COUNTY, WE HAVE OVER 3,000 UNITS IN OUR PORTFOLIO, 108 OF THOSE ARE IN BATTLE GROUND AND WE'RE HOPING TO ADD 80 MORE UNITS FOR THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AS THE SUPERINTENDENT MENTIONED, IT'S LOCATED OFF THE CLARK STREETS SUCH AS SOUTH OF MAIN STREET AND NORTHWEST OF BATTLE GROUND VILLAGE.
WITH THIS PROJECT WE CONSIDER THIS WORKFORCE HOUSING.
THIS IS HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE EARNING AT OR BELOW 60 PERCENT OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
SO TO PUT THAT IN THE CONTEXT, THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME FOR OUR REGION IS $97,000 WHICH IS VERY HIGH.
FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, IF YOU MAKE LESS THAN $58,000 A YEAR,
[00:25:01]
YOU WOULD QUALIFY TO LIVE AT THIS DEVELOPMENT.WE ARE ALSO DEDICATING 20 PERCENT OF THE UNITS TO HOUSEHOLDS EXIT HOMELESSNESS.
I'M HOPING THAT WORKING WITH THE BATTLE GROUND EDUCATION FOUNDATION WE CAN STEER FAMILIES AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FILL THOSE 20 PERCENT HOMELESS UNITS THAT WE HAVE.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO DEVELOP A SERVICE PLAN SO THAT ONCE WE GET FOLKS INTO THE UNITS, WE CAN GIVE THEM SERVICES SO THEY CAN STAY IN THOSE UNITS.
THIS IS JUST A LAYOUT OF THE SITE.
JUST AN L SHAPE, VERY EFFICIENT.
WE ARE BUILDING OUT CLARK STREET, WHICH DOESN'T CURRENTLY EXIST RIGHT NOW.
THE CITY A BATTLE GROUND, RECEIVED THE GRANT THROUGH CLARK COUNTY TO ACTUALLY DO THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CLARK STREET AND 4TH STREETS.
SO IT'LL CONNECT THE GRID AND THAT PORTION OF THE CITY.
PART OF THE PROJECT WILL HAVE COMMUNITY GARDENS, COMMUNITY ROOM, LOTS OF STORAGE AND OPEN SPACE.
ACTUALLY REALLY WANT IT TO FEEL VERY HOMEY.
RIGHT NOW WHERE WE ARE IN THIS PROCESS, WE JUST SUBMITTED OUR VERY FIRST FUNDING APPLICATION OUT.
WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE CITY OF BATTLE GROUND OPTED IN TO A NEW STATE SALES TAX PROGRAMS. SALES TAX FROM THE STATE AND IT'S NOT AN EXTRA TAX, IT'S JUST EXISTING REVENUE.
THE CITY OF BATTLE GROUND IS ONE OF THE FEW CITIES IN CLARK COUNTY THAT OPTED INTO THE PROGRAM.
CLARK COUNTY HAS GIVEN US SOME FUNDING TO DO A DESIGN WORK FOR THE PROJECT AND WE JUST SUBMITTED OUR FIRST LARGE GRANT TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
AS WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR BACK ON THAT GRANT HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THIS YEAR AND THAT'LL REALLY SET THE STAGE FOR THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD.
SO WE WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT BATTLE GROUND EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND THE SCHOOL DOES TO GROW THIS LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THAT APPLICATION.
CROSSING OUR FINGERS THAT WE GET AWARDED.
BUT AS SOON AS THIS PROJECT WOULD BREAK RAIL WOULD BE DECEMBER OF 2023.
IT'S JUST A LONG TIME TO GET THROUGH THE WHOLE PERMITTING PROCESS WITH EVERYTHING AT SO WE'RE HOPING TO BRING THIS PROJECT ONLINE FOR SPRING OF 2024 SO TO GET KIDS AND SCHOOL FOR THE FALL 2024 SEMESTER.
NEXT SLIDE. IT'S A VERY SHORT, VERY BRIEF.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY.
>> I HAD TO GET UP AND GO IN PERSON.
HAVE YOU DONE PREVIOUS SURVEYS OF YOUR FACILITIES ABOUT THIS SIZE, LIKE HOW MANY STUDENT AGE KIDS WOULD BE IN A FACILITY LIKE THIS?
WE ACTUALLY CHANGED AND PIVOTED THIS PROJECTS, SO ORIGINALLY WERE PROPOSING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE 2 AND 3 BEDROOM UNITS.
CITY OF BATTLE GROUND RECENTLY DID A HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND DETERMINE THERE'S ACTUALLY NEED FOR STUDIOS AND ONE BEDROOMS IN THE CITY.
I THINK THE DATA SHOWED THAT A MAJORITY OF THE HOUSING OPTIONS IN BATTLE GROUND ARE 3 AND 4 BEDROOM UNITS.
BUT A MAJORITY OF HOUSEHOLDS IN BATTLE GROUND ARE ACTUALLY TWO OR LESS PEOPLE.
SO WE WENT FROM, I THINK MAYBE 20-30 OF THE UNITS BEING THREE BEDROOMS AND NOW WE GOT RID OF THE THREE BEDROOMS. WE'RE ONLY DOING 13 TWO BEDROOMS. SO WE'RE HOPING TO FILL AT LEAST THOSE 13 TWO BEDROOMS WITH FAMILIES FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW PEOPLE WILL FIND OUT AS FAR AS APPLICATIONS AND SUCH AS ON YOUR WEBSITE, THAT'S THE PLACE TO GO OR IS THERE SOME COMMUNITY OUTREACH?
>> WE'LL DO A PRETTY EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
WE'LL WORK WITH HOPEFULLY BATTLE GROUND EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO DO THAT VARIOUS LINK JUST TO GET THOSE FAMILIES IN TWO UNITS FIRST.
THEN WE USUALLY JUST WORK WITH LOCAL CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS JUST TO GET THE WORD OUT.
SO IT'S REALLY BATTLE GROUND FOCUSED AND WIDE BLAST ALL OF CLARK COUNTY.
>> VICTOR. THANK YOU, AND THANK THE VANCOUVER HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU.
>> NO PROBLEM. WE DO, TOO. THANK YOU.
>> I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE BOARD AN UPDATE ON OUR COVID CASES.
THESE NUMBERS THAT I'M READING YOU ARE FROM THE LAST TIME THAT WE MET, SO THE LAST TWO WEEKS FROM 9:14-9:26.
DURING THAT TIME, WE HAD 107 CONFIRMED AND LIKELY CASES OF COVID IN OUR SCHOOLS.
OF THOSE 11 CASES CAME FROM STAFF.
NINE CONFIRMED AND TWO LIKELY, AND STUDENTS 95 CASES, 76 CONFIRMED, 19 LIKELY.
PART OF WHAT GOES INTO THOSE CONFIRMED CASES, WHETHER THEY'RE STAFF OR STUDENTS, IS THE NUMBER OF CLOSE CONTACTS, WHICH STILL IS INSIGNIFICANT.
TOTAL CLOSE CONTACTS IDENTIFIED, AND THAT'S FROM THE CLASSROOM, FROM THE BUS, FROM SPORTS,
[00:30:01]
FROM EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WERE 460, 11 STAFF OR COACHES, 449 STUDENTS, AND THEN THE CLOSE CONTACTS QUARANTINED, AND THIS NUMBER IS DIFFERENT.REMEMBER IT DOESN'T MATCH BECAUSE IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, THERE'S DIFFERENT RULES THAT APPLY.
THE NUMBER OF QUARANTINED STAFF AND COACHES TOTAL SEVEN AND STUDENTS 415.
I WILL SAY THAT WITH ALL OF THESE CASES, YOU'LL SEE THE NUMBERS ARE SIGNIFICANT, PRETTY HIGH FOR A TWO-WEEK PERIOD, HAVING 107 CASES.
ALL OF THOSE CASES REQUIRE AN INTENSE LEVEL OF WORK FROM STAFF IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING CLOSE CONTACTS, CONTACTING FAMILIES, FROM TEACHERS BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE WORK FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE QUARANTINED FROM THE PARENTS AND THE FAMILIES WHO THEN HAVE TO DEAL WITH TESTING REQUIREMENTS TO GET STUDENTS BACK IN SCHOOL.
IT IS A VERY WORK-INTENSIVE PROCESS.
NUMBER 1, I APPRECIATE THE PARENTS UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH.
WE ARE NOT A PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY, AND YET WE HAVE TO ASSUME THIS RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MEET THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES.
THEN SECONDLY, THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAD ON OUR STAFF HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT AND THE WORKLOAD HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT, JUST THAT UNDERSTANDING, WE ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE TO THESE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS, LAST WEEK OR A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, WE WERE AVERAGING 25-30 CASES A DAY OVER THE LAST FOUR DAYS THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING STATISTICS.
LAST WEEK GOING INTO WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND THEN TODAY, MONDAY, OUR NUMBERS HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN.
I THINK ON FRIDAY WE HAD ONLY THREE CASES AND TODAY, I BELIEVE WE HAD SIX OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I'M HOPING MAYBE WE'VE SEEN THE CREST, AND PERHAPS WE CAN LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CASES, WHICH THEN LIMITS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE OUT BUT IT HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE REFOCUSED OUR MITIGATION EFFORTS.
WE ORIGINALLY BROUGHT BACK OUR LUNCHROOMS TO THEIR REGULAR CONFIGURATIONS AND PUT UP SOME SHIELDING IN ALL OF OUR CAFETERIAS, HOPING THAT WE WOULD GET CREDIT FOR THE SHIELDING BUT WE DIDN'T GET ANY CREDIT FOR THE SHIELDING, SO WE HAD TO RESET UP OUR CAFETERIAS TO SIX-FOOT DISTANCING, WHICH MEANT THAT IN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS WE HAD TO TAKE AWAY GYM SPACE.
I WANT TO APOLOGIZE, FIRST OF ALL TO OUR HEALTH AND PE TEACHERS WHO LOST SOME OF THEIR SPACE.
I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FOR LOSING OUT ON AN ACTIVITY THAT IS VERY POPULAR.
SOMETIMES WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR TEACHERS TO DO MORE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, TO SHARE SPACING, BUT IT'S STILL A STRAIN ON ALL OF OUR FAMILIES.
BUT IN THE END, IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, I BELIEVE, BECAUSE WE NEED TO TRY TO KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL, AND IF WE CAN ASSURE THAT OUR PHYSICAL DISTANCING IS IN PLACE, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO IDENTIFY ANYBODY AS CLOSE CONTACT, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE DID THAT.
WE'VE ALSO DONE THE SAME IN OUR CLASSROOMS. WE'VE GONE BACK INTO OUR CLASSROOMS AND RE-LOOKED AT DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS WITH KIM AND KEVIN AND JOSH, AND I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT A MAJORITY OF OUR CLASSROOMS NOW THAT ARE IN THE THREE-FOOT SPACING.
OUR HOPE IS THAT WHEN A STUDENT COMES TO SCHOOL, IF WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT WITHIN THREE FEET IN THE CLASSROOM AND NOT WITHIN SIX FEET ELSEWHERE, WE CAN ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR CLOSE CONTACTING, CONTACT TRACING.
THE ONLY AREA THAT CONTINUES TO BE A REAL STRUGGLE FOR US IS OUR BUSES.
OUR BUSES, IT'S STILL SIX FEET, BUT OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE TO TRANSPORT, WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT SIX-FOOT SPACING.
SOMETIMES WHEN A STUDENT IS SITTING ON A BUS, IF WE HAVE A POSITIVE CASE, IT'S TWO SEATS IN FRONT, TWO SEATS IN BACK, AND SEATS TO THE SIDE OF THE STUDENT, ESPECIALLY IF A STUDENT IS SITTING IN THE AISLE.
SOME OF OUR BUSES, IF WE HAVE A POSITIVE CASE ON A BUS AND THEY'VE BEEN ON THE BUS FOR OVER 15 MINUTES, CAN RESULT IN 8-10-12 STUDENTS WHO ARE DESIGNATED AS CLOSE CONTACTS, WHICH AGAIN, CREATES QUITE THE WORKLOAD AND THEN QUITE THE AMOUNT OF FRUSTRATION FOR SOME OF OUR FAMILIES AND FOR SOME OF OUR STAFF.
[00:35:02]
AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN.WE'RE FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING UNDER.
I DID MEET ON A POSITIVE NOTE, BOTH SHELLEY AND I MET WITH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFICIALS, AND THEY'VE COME UP WITH SOME GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS IN TERMS OF LESSENING THE WORKLOAD ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH CONTACT TRACING THAT WE ARE VERY HOPEFUL ABOUT.
THAT'S OUR LATEST UPDATE ON COVID.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO LET THE BOARD KNOW THAT OUR FIRST LEVY PRESENTATION, COMMUNITY LEVY FORM IS TOMORROW NIGHT AND THAT'S AT PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL, THAT'S FROM 6:00-8:00 P.M. WE'RE HOPING FOR A GOOD TURNOUT.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE ANYBODY WHO'S LISTENING OR HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT, THERE IS SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT WILL BE PRESENTED.
ALSO, I'D LIKE THE BOARD TO REALIZE, AND I WANT OUR STUDENT REPS TO LET THEM KNOW AS WELL THAT WE HAVE ARRANGED TO MEET WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAMS OF BOTH BATTLE GROUND AND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
I THINK WE'RE MEETING WITH THE BATTLE GROUND ASB ON FRIDAY AND THEN WE'RE MEETING WITH THE PRAIRIE ASB SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SET UP, BUT WE'VE OFFERED TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY FOR OUR POSSIBLE MEETING DATES WITH THE PRAIRIE TEAM.
THAT'LL BE OUR FIRST STEPS IN TERMS OF GATHERING STUDENT INPUT AND STUDENT VOICE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DISTRICT.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO OUR STUDENT LEADERS AND TO HEAR WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR THEM MOVING FORWARD, SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
>> CAN I ASSUME THAT THAT'S DURING THE REGULAR TIME THAT THEY MEET AT SCHOOL?
>> YES, IT IS. IT'S DURING THE SIXTH PERIOD WHEN [OVERLAPPING] THE ASB TEAMS MEET SO WE'RE NOT TAKING ANYBODY OUT OF CLASSES AND WE'RE JUST HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS.
YEAH, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THOSE.
I THINK THAT IS WHERE I WILL STOP.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID OR ANYTHING THAT I'VE MENTIONED OR BROUGHT UP?
CAN I COME SINCE I'M NOT ATTENDING PRAIRIE, I'M AT CLARK SO I DON'T GO TO SCHOOL.
I DO ONLINE. CAN I ATTEND THE BATTLE GROUND WHEN WE MEET WITH THEIR ASB'S?
>> WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE SEND YOU AN INVITE.
>> OKAY. THEN CAN I ALSO GET AN INVITE FOR THE PRAIRIE?
>> NO. YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE.
>> YES. I WILL SEND YOU AN INVITE TO BOTH OF THEM, AND RICARDO, I'LL DO THE SAME, AND IF YOU GUYS CAN MAKE IT, GREAT.
>> IF YOU CAN'T, NO PRESSURE. BUT YEAH.
>> I COULD DO THIS AT THE END OF EVENTS.
DOES ANY OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THINK THEY MIGHT ATTEND THE PRAIRIE PRESENTATION TOMORROW? YOU'RE PLANNING NOT? I WOULDN'T MIND GOING, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE THREE THERE, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT.
[BACKGROUND] THAT'S TRUE. [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU STAND ON SEPARATE SIDES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> GREAT. SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE TROY AND I WILL MAKE IT THERE.
>> WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, MICHELLE REINHARDT FOR A HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT.
>> HOW'S THAT? WELL, GOOD EVENING, BOARD.
WE'VE BEEN PRETTY BUSY IN HUMAN RESOURCES THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, MAINLY WORKING THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION ON THE DIRECTION THAT ALL K-12 EMPLOYEES NEED TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION STATUS.
WE'VE MET WITH A LOT OF EMPLOYEES REQUESTING RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL ACCOMMODATION, SO WORKING THROUGH THAT INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE.
WE'RE WORKING NOW THROUGH MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ALL STAFF WHO PERHAPS HAVE NOT SHARED THEIR VACCINATION STATUS.
WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE PIECES.
IN ADDITION, WE'VE ALMOST COMPLETED AN MOU WITH PSC FOR THIS COVID YEAR.
JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF MINOR THINGS TO WORK OUT AND THEN WE HOPE TO BE DONE WITH THAT.
WE ARE CONTINUING WITH PSC IN SOME CONVERSATIONS AROUND SCHEDULE AIM AND TALKING THROUGH THOSE PIECES.
LAST WEEK OUR PTA GROUP MET WITH DISTRICT OFFICE AND STARTED WORKING THROUGH THE EXTRA CURRICULAR CONTRACT.
THAT'S A CONTRACT THAT GOES UP EVERY THREE TO FOUR.
[00:40:03]
>> IT EXPIRED IN AUGUST, SO WE NEEDED TO BEGIN WORKING THROUGH THAT, THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE.
WE JUST BEGAN THAT AND WE HOPE TO GO THROUGH THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. THANK YOU.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR HR? I WILL SAY, AND I WANT TO PUT THIS OUT THERE FOR THE BOARD AND FOR ANYBODY LISTENING IN.
WE DO HAVE CONCERNS OVER THE VACCINE MANDATE AND WHAT THAT WILL MEAN FOR US IN TERMS OF THE POTENTIAL TO LOSE EMPLOYEES.
AGAIN, I WOULD POINT TO THE BOARD, I THINK I MAY HAVE MENTIONED THIS IN PUBLIC MEETINGS BEFORE.
BUT THE IDEA THAT EVEN IF WE LOSE 10 PERCENT, IF 90 PERCENT OF OUR EMPLOYEES MEET THE VACCINE MANDATE, EITHER BY GETTING THE VACCINE OR GETTING A MEDICAL OR A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION, WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT 150 EMPLOYEES THAT WE WOULD POTENTIALLY LOSE IN THE DISTRICT.
THAT WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR US AND OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND MEET THE DEMANDS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER.
I WANT MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT A BATTLEGROUND PUBLIC SCHOOL ISSUE ONLY.
IT'S AN ISSUE AS I HAVE CONVERSATIONS ACROSS THE REGION AND ACROSS THE STATE.
IT'S AN ISSUE AFFECTING EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT IS EXACERBATED BY THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALREADY HAVING DIFFICULTY HIRING EMPLOYEES.
IF YOU WERE TO GO TO OUR WEBSITE, YOU WOULD SEE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND I'M TAKING OUT COACHING POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE OPENING, BUT WE CURRENTLY HAVE 60 CLASSIFIED POSITIONS THAT ARE OPEN.
WE'RE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING CROSSING GUARDS, FINDING SECRETARIES, FINDING CUSTODIANS, FINDING ACAS, FINDING BEAS.
ON OUR CERTIFICATED SIDE, WE CURRENTLY HAVE, I BELIEVE THE LAST I COUNTED WAS 12 CURRENT OPENINGS IN OUR TEACHING STAFF.
WE'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, MATH TEACHERS, SCIENCE TEACHERS.
THAT IS ONLY GOING TO BE TOUGHER.
THAT IS NOT TO MENTION, OUR CONTRACTED SERVICES, TRYING TO FIND BUS DRIVERS IS DIFFICULT AND OUR BUS COMPANY IS UNDER THE SAME OBLIGATION AS WE ARE IN TERMS OF ENSURING THAT THEIR WORKERS ARE VACCINATED.
OUR SUBSTITUTES WHO ARE GOING TO COME INTO THE BUILDING AND WORK FOR US ALSO HAVE TO MEET THOSE GUIDELINES.
WE ARE ALREADY SHORT ON SUBSTITUTES.
THAT'S PUTTING A HUGE STRAIN ON OUR BUILDINGS.
WE'RE HAVING TEACHERS THAT ARE HAVING TO COVER CLASSROOMS DURING THEIR PREP PERIODS.
THEY'RE WORKING REALLY HARD AND I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE EFFORTS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
WE'RE HAVING TO COMBINE CLASSES SOMETIMES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE SUBS.
IT'S ALL AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT SITUATION THAT I FEAR.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE A FEAR MONGER BECAUSE WE TRY TO LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, BUT I DO FEAR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS ON THE 18TH WHEN THIS ALL COMES TO FRUITION.
I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR THE BOARD.
AGAIN, FOR ANYBODY LISTENING THAT WE ARE WORKING HARD TO OVERCOME THAT.
BUT NOWADAYS, IT SEEMS FOR US THAT WE SPEND THE MAJORITY OF OUR TIME DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE, THE VACCINE MANDATE, OR DEALING WITH COVID AND CONTACT TRACING, LET ALONE DO OUR JOBS AS EDUCATORS AND MAKE SURE THAT KIDS AND OUR FAMILIES ARE RECEIVING THE HIGHEST QUALITY EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.
>> MR. WATERS, DO YOU HAVE A PLAN? IS THEIR PLAN MOVING FORWARD, ANTICIPATING A 10 PERCENT DROP IN STAFFING? WHAT WAS THE IMPACT THERE?
>> I'LL SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR HR STAFF, MICHELLE, STEPHANIE, THEY'RE WORKING OVERTIME TRYING TO MEET WITH EVERYONE AND GET ALL OF THIS INFORMATION OUT.
THEY'VE SENT NUMEROUS COMMUNICATIONS WITH STAFF AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL.
THEY'LL BE SENDING OUT LETTERS TO THOSE THAT WE DON'T HAVE INFORMATION FROM AGAIN THIS WEEK TO LET THEM KNOW THAT AS OF THE 18TH, ESSENTIALLY, OUR ONLY OPTION IS TO PUT THEM ON A REEMPLOYMENT LIST AND THEY'LL NO LONGER BE WORKING FOR US DURING THIS TIME, AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.
[00:45:03]
ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WORKING FOR US ARE IMPORTANT TO US.WE'VE INVESTED IN THEM AND MANY OF THEM HAVE INVESTED YEARS IN US.
THE BEST WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS JUST THAT ONGOING COMMUNICATION THAT WE NEED FROM STAFF TO LET US KNOW WHERE THEY STAND.
THAT IS OUR PLEA SO THAT WE CAN HELP THEM THROUGH THIS.
WE ARE ALL REQUIRED AT THIS POINT TO MEET THESE MANDATES.
WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE IN HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE JUST NEED THE COMMUNICATION FROM OUR STAFF AND THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO HELP WORK THROUGH WHATEVER THEIR CHOICES MAYBE.
AGAIN, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING HARD AND THE REST OF THE HR STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING EQUALLY AS HARD AS MICHELLE AND STEPHANIE IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE MET THIS AFTERNOON WITH OUR ATTORNEYS AND THE NUMBER IN OUR DISTRICT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER OF THE INFORMATION AS COMPARED TO OTHER DISTRICTS OF STAFF WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION YET FROM.
I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE FACT THAT AS A DISTRICT, WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB GETTING THAT INFORMATION, GATHERING IT TOGETHER.
BUT THERE IS A REALISM TO ALL OF THIS SO THAT DENNY IS SPEAKING TO IN THAT, IF WE'RE SHORT 15 TEACHING POSITIONS, WE STRUGGLE ON A DAILY BASIS WITH HAVING SUBS.
OUR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN AROUND OUR CLASSIFIED AND CERTIFICATED STAFF.
WE HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS OF ALL OF OUR SUBS AND MANY OF THEM WE HAVE NO INFORMATION FROM THEM NOR COMMUNICATION FROM THEM.
AS AT-WILL EMPLOYEES, WE DON'T HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM, BUT WE CAN'T USE THEM IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION FROM THEM.
WE ONLY HAVE 215 CERTIFICATED SUBS AND 120 CLASSIFIED SUBS.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE A HUGE POOL RIGHT NOW.
WE NEED ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR US, WHETHER THEY BE PERMANENT EMPLOYEES OR SUBSTITUTES TO HELP US WITH THE COMMUNICATION.
AT THIS POINT, WE JUST NEED HELP WITH THE COMMUNICATION MORE THAN ANYTHING BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE TREATING IT AS A ONE-WAY ROADWAY AND IT'S ONLY COMING OUT FROM HUMAN RESOURCES.
WELL, WITH 1,500 EMPLOYEES AND ANOTHER OVER 300 SUBSTITUTES, WE NEED HELP.
JUST LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE, THEIR JOBS HAVE BECOME 24/7, TRYING TO GET THIS INFORMATION PULLED TOGETHER AND TRYING TO MAKE A PLAN FOR IT.
THE BEST PLAN WE HAVE IS BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH OUR STAFF.
>> ROB, I THINK I KNOW WHERE YOU WERE GOING WITH YOUR QUESTION.
THE OBVIOUS ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION WOULD BE, WELL, WE'LL JUST HIRE MORE PEOPLE.
[LAUGHTER] I JUST DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.
I'VE HEARD WORDS USED LIKE CHAOS ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE WITH THIS MANDATE.
WE'LL KNOW A LITTLE MORE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE STILL HAVE THREE WEEKS BEFORE THAT DEADLINE.
NEXT WEEK WE'LL KNOW A LITTLE MORE.
WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS WEEK JUST SENDING OUT THE EMAILS THAT WE SENT OUT, WE'RE ABLE TO GET A BUNCH OF PEOPLE CLEARED OFF OF THAT LIST.
OUR NUMBERS HAVE SHRUNK EVEN A LITTLE MORE.
ONCE WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN WHO'S NOT GOING TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT AND THAT'S WHY SHELLY TALKS ABOUT THAT TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PINPOINT WHERE EXACTLY WE'RE GOING TO BE MISSING PEOPLE.
THEN I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO TRY TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
WE ALL HAVE READ THE NEWS STORIES OF PORTLAND PUBLIC ELIMINATING THEIR TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET ENOUGH BUS DRIVERS.
I AM FEARFUL FOR WHAT THIS MIGHT BRING, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THAT WE WILL DO OUR BEST AND I GUARANTEE YOU THAT WE WILL HAVE A PLAN.
RIGHT NOW THE INFORMATION IS COMING IN SO SPORADICALLY.
WHILE WE HAVE A BETTER PICTURE THAN WE DID A WEEK AGO, WE STILL DON'T HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT ACTUALLY WE ARE GOING TO BE FACING.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
I KNOW YOU'RE IN A TOUGH SPOT AND I KNOW YOU'RE DOING ALL YOU CAN.
I JUST WANTED SOME CLARIFICATION AROUND. THANK YOU.
IT'S ONE THAT STAFF HAVE HEARD ME REFER TO MY 315S.
MY 315S IS WHAT I WAKE UP EVERY NIGHT THINKING ABOUT IT AT 3:15.
[LAUGHTER] MY 315S AS OF LATE ARE HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ALL THE NEEDED SERVICES TO THE STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT AFTER THE 18TH OF OCTOBER.
[00:50:03]
>> SUPERINTENDENT, HAS THERE BEEN ANY COMMUNICATION FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WHO DID THIS MANDATE AND THEN ALSO HAS THE POLICY THAT THEY WANT ALL KIDS IN CLASS? HAVE THEY RECONCILED THAT AT ALL AS FAR AS HOW THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE?
>> WITH THAT MARK, GOOD NEWS I'M GOING TO [LAUGHTER] INTRODUCE FOR OUR FINANCE REPORT, OUR CFO, MICHELLE SCOTT.
[BACKGROUND] I'M SORRY. TEACHING AND LEARNING.
I ALWAYS SKIP OVER TEACHING AND LEARNING.
SHELLY, YOU'RE ON TEACHING AND LEARNING [LAUGHTER].
>> BOARD THIS EVENING, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU AGAIN, ANGELA ALLEN, OUR DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP.
SHE'S GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT ABOUT OUR WAIVER PROCESS, OUR GRADUATION REQUIREMENT, EMERGENCY WAIVER PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN UPDATED AND STREAM LINED.
WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THE CHANGES.
>> YOU HAD ASKED WHEN WE HAD GONE THROUGH THE WAIVER PROCESS LAST SPRING AND GETTING KIDS ACROSS THE STAGE FOR GRADUATION.
WHAT ARE WAIVER INFORMATION LOOK LIKE AND HOW MANY STUDENTS WERE GIVEN WAIVERS? WE DID A COMPILATION OF SOME OF THAT DATA AND HAD A TOTAL OF A 166 STUDENTS THAT RECEIVED A CORE CREDIT TO WAVER.
IF YOU RECALL THERE, THEY WERE ABLE TO WAVE TWO CORE CREDITS AS WELL AS TWO UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, ELECTIVE CREDITS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO WAIVE THE PATHWAY, WHICH IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, THE GRADUATION PATHWAYS ARE TIED TO THE STUDENT SBA SCORES, AND WITHOUT THE SBA TESTING THAT WE DID NOT HAVE AVAILABLE, WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL PATHWAYS THAT THEY CAN TAKE THROUGH THE TWO-YEAR SEQUENCE OF CTE COURSES, SAT, ACT, COLLEGE AND THE HIGH SCHOOL, AS WELL AS TAKING 100 LEVEL OR MORE CLASSES, LEVEL CLASSES IN ENGLISH OR MATH AT THE COLLEGE.
WE WERE ABLE TO WAIVE 37 OF THOSE STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO MEET A PATHWAY.
WE HAD TO DO A CROSS REFERENCE WITH OUR DEMOGRAPHIC DATA FOR THE DISTRICT WITH OUR DISTRICT DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AS A WHOLE AND COMPARE THAT TO OUR WAIVERS AND WHO IS RECEIVING THE WAIVERS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPREADSHEET, WE WERE PRETTY MUCH ON PAR WITH ALL OF OUR PERCENTAGES AS FAR AS THE STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS MEETING THE SIMILAR AMOUNTS OF STUDENTS PERCENTAGE WISE IN THOSE DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS.
ONE OUTLIER THAT'S SPECIFICALLY STOOD OUT TO ME WAS OUR EL STUDENTS.
IN OUR DISTRICT CURRENTLY, WE HAVE SEVEN PERCENT EL POPULATION AND WE HAD IN THE GRADUATION PATHWAY WAIVER, 21 PERCENT OF EL STUDENTS RECEIVED A WAIVER.
THAT'S WAY ABOVE OUR NORMAL DISTRICT PERCENTAGE.
SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE CAN ATTRIBUTE THAT TO IS BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE EL, ARE RECEIVING SUPPORTS IN LITERACY AND MOST OF OUR TEST AND PATHWAY REQUIREMENTS ARE ALL LITERACY BASED.
BECAUSE WE'RE PULLING STUDENTS OUT FOR EL TO RECEIVE SERVICES, THEY'RE MISSING OUT ON THOSE VITAL ELECTIVE COURSES, WHICH COULD ALSO GIVE THEM A CTE PATHWAY.
BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING THOSE ELECTIVES INSTEAD OF CTE PATHWAY COURSES, THAT ALSO FURTHER HINDERS THEIR ABILITY TO MEET THAT PATHWAY.
I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SOME GOOD WORK AHEAD OF US IN LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER OPTIONS WE CAN BE MORE INCLUSIVE WITH OUR EL STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THOSE CTE PATHWAY COURSES AND TRADE SKILLS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP THEM IN THEIR FUTURE, WHICH IS WHAT THE GRADUATE PATHWAY IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTING.
THAT WAS JUST A QUICK RUNDOWN OF WHO YOU ARE GETTING WAIVERS TO AND HOW WE LINED UP WITH OUR DATA.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THAT? I CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR THIS YEAR.
THE STATE THIS SUMMER DID APPROVE US FOR THE SAME PATHWAY REQUIREMENTS WAIVER AND THE TWO CORE CREDITS FOR THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2022.
THERE ARE A COUPLE MORE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THAT.
YOU GUYS APPROVED THE RESOLUTION FOR THIS LAST YEAR AND WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THAT SAME RESOLUTION, SO IT DOES NOT NEED TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND THE FORMS WITH THE COUNSELS.
THEY ARE REVIEWING THOSE UPDATES AND THEN WE'LL FINALIZE THE PROCESS AND GET THAT OUT TO BUILDINGS TO START LOOKING AT AND PLANNING FOR STUDENTS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY NEED A WAIVER AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND REVIEW WHERE THEIR CREDITS ARE AT RIGHT NOW AND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET THEM ACROSS THE STAGE WITH THE 24 CREDIT VERSUS A 22 OR 20 CREDIT TO FOLLOW.
[00:55:01]
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT BACK TO THE BOARD.
>> WHAT IS THE FR ABBREVIATION?
>> I THINK THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP.
I MENTIONED TO THE BOARD EARLIER WE HAVE TO RANK OUR POSITIONS FOR TAKING TO THE LEGISLATURE.
AS A GENERAL RULE, WHAT YOU'RE HEARING OUT OF THE CAREER PATHWAYS WORK THAT'S BEING DONE BY THE STATE BOARD AND BEING ENCOURAGED.
IS THAT GENERALLY HELPING OUR STUDENTS? SHOULD WE BE RANKING THAT AS A HIGH LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY? I GUESS IS WHAT I'M ASKING.
>> IT IS BECOME VERY VALUABLE.
I JUST RECEIVED A LIST TODAY OF STUDENTS THAT CAN MEET THEIR PATHWAY AND CTE IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH ONE OF THOSE WAYS THAT THEY'RE GETTING MET FASTER THAN OTHERS.
ONE THING THAT WE DON'T HAVE AVAILABLE TO US RIGHT NOW IN OUR THREE ALE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS, THEY DO NOT HAVE CTE COURSES, AND SO THE PATHWAY IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT.
WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT MORE STUDENTS WHO ARE NEEDING THE TESTING OPTION OR MORE OF OUR STUDENTS AT OUR TWO OF OUR ALE BUILDINGS GO TO RUNNING START AND SO THEY'RE MEETING THAT DIRECTION.
IT'S SOME OF YOU THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO MEET THAT PATHWAY.
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR SANDY ARNOLD'S BUT GIVING ANOTHER PATHWAY IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES MATH.
TRYING TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS THE MATH PATHWAYS ON TOP OF A CTE PATHWAY AT THE SAME TIME, AND BUILDING THAT PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE.
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS, I WILL SAY AND ANGELA MENTIONED IS THAT THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD, HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE WAIVER FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS A CHANGE BECAUSE THE LAST TWO YEARS WE'VE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL APRIL, MAY, AND THEN SCRAMBLE TO GET A PROCESS IN PLACE.
NOW THAT WE KNOW IT'S COMING, WE CAN WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS ALREADY.
COUNSELORS HAVE TIME TO PLAN AND TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR KIDS.
WE HOPE IT WON'T BE AS HECTIC AS THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I DO THINK THE NUMBERS, I MEAN, IT IS GRATIFYING TO KNOW THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET A 166 PLUS 37 SO ALMOST OVER 200 STUDENTS GRADUATED BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS.
I KNOW THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT US OVERUSING IT AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS OVERUSED BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE WAY THAT WE USE IT.
WITH THAT NOW, OUR FINANCE REPORT BY OUR CFO, MICHELLE SCOTT.
>> ACTUALLY I HAVE ONE ITEM FOR YOU TONIGHT.
I WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEM H THE SECOND READING, ADOPTION OF POLICIES 6225, THE USE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE.
WE DID REACH OUT TO WAS ON THAT POLICY, THE MODEL POLICY WE RECEIVED.
THEY WERE VERY THANKFUL THAT DIRECTOR MCCLOY HAD NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SOME SENTENCE IN THERE THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THERE ABOUT THE CHANGING OF THE POLICY BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THAT WAS AN ERROR ON THE WAS TO MODEL POLICY AND THEY HAVE CORRECTED THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN BACK TO US.
>> TROY, I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD REQUESTS FROM OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS A STIPEND TO HELP [LAUGHTER].
>> YOU ARE DOING THE WORK OF MANY SCHOOL BOARDS ACROSS THE STATE [LAUGHTER].GOOD CATCH ON YOUR PART.
>> MICHELLE I START IT FOR YOU.
>> GREAT. LASTLY, BUT NEVER LEAST [LAUGHTER] COMMUNICATIONS REPORT, READ THE SANDERS.
>> HAVE MICROPHONE WILL TRAVEL.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING BOARD.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO UPDATE YOU ON.
THE FIRST ONE IS THAT WE STARTED OUR COMMUNITY-WIDE THOUGHT EXCHANGE LAST WEEK AND SO WE ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT ARE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FACING THE DISTRICT? SO FAR WE HAVE HAD 1,131 PARTICIPANTS
[01:00:04]
SHARE 1,302 THOUGHTS AND GIVE THOSE THOUGHTS. [OVERLAPPING]>> [LAUGHTER] FORTY TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN RATINGS, AND THAT CLOSES OCTOBER 2ND.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE RESULTS OF THAT THOUGHT EXCHANGE IS.
[NOISE] THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SHARE IS, IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW WE HAVE A LEVY COMING UP ON THE BALLOT ON NOVEMBER 2ND.
HOPEFULLY YOU ARE AWARE WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, IT'S ABOUT FIVE WEEKS AWAY TO NOVEMBER 2ND.
WE HAVE CREATED A LOT OF RESOURCES AND INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE, AND I WANT TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE WITH YOU.
WE HAVE A FLYER AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS EMAILED TO YOU TODAY POSSIBLY, WE ALSO HAVE OUR WEBSITE WITH OUR LEVY WEBPAGE ON IT THAT HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION, IT ALSO HAS THE FLYER ON IT.
WE HAVE CREATED A MAILER THAT IS GOING TO GO TO ALL, NEARLY 40,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE DISTRICT, AND THAT IS COMING OUT TOWARDS THE END OF THIS WEEK.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR PRESENTATIONS AS SUPERINTENDENT WATERS MENTIONED, THE FIRST ONE IS TOMORROW AT PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN WE HAVE ONE VIRTUAL ONE THE FOLLOWING WEEK VIA ZOOM AND THE LINK IS ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE, YOU ONLY HAVE TO GO TO THE HOMEPAGE AND A POP-UP OPENS UP AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRESENTATIONS THERE, AND THEN THE THIRD ONE THE FOLLOWING WEEK IS IN YACOLT.
SO THERE'S THREE TO CHOOSE FROM, TWO IN PERSON AND ONE VIRTUAL.
THEN ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'VE DONE, ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO GET INFORMATION OUT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO DIGEST THEIR INFORMATION IN A VISUAL FORMAT, IN A VIDEO.
SO IN YEARS PAST, WE'VE PRODUCED AN ANIMATED VIDEO THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH A VENDOR TO PUT TOGETHER THROUGH ESD 112, AND THIS YEAR THOUGH WE HAVE NEW STAFF MEMBERS, AS YOU KNOW I INVITED CHRIS BROWN TO COME TONIGHT.
HEY, CHRIS. HE HAS GREAT VIDEOS SKILLS AND AUDIO SKILLS, I WANT TO PUT THE EMPHASIS ON THE AUDIO THERE, AND SO WE DECIDED TO MAKE OUR OWN VIDEO, IN-HOUSE THIS TIME AND SO CHRIS WORKED WITH A GRAPHIC PERSON TO HELP WITH SOME GRAPHICS AND THEY PRODUCED THIS VIDEO AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR HIS VOICE ON THIS VIDEO.
I WANTED YOU TO SEE CHRIS AND HEAR HIS VOICE, SO WE'RE GOING TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU NOW, I THINK IT'S READY.
I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN WHILE THE VIDEO'S RUNNING, DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS MOMENT? ALL RIGHT, SO ENJOY THE VIDEO.
>> [MUSIC] ON NOVEMBER 2ND THE BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMMUNITY WILL BE ASKED TO CONSIDER A LOCAL LEVY TO REPLACE THE ONE THAT WILL EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
LEVY DOLLARS REMAIN A KEY PART OF PROVIDING CRITICAL PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT BATTLE GROUND SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> OUR LOCAL LEVY SUPPORTS 260 ADDITIONAL STAFFING POSITIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT THE STATE JUST DOESN'T FULLY FUND OR DOESN'T FUND THAT ALL.
THOSE PROGRAMS ARE JUST CRITICAL FOR STUDENTS SUCCESS, PATHWAYS TO CAREERS IN THE FUTURE, AS WELL AS ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES.
>> STATE FUNDING THAT COMES TO US, COMES FROM THE PRIMARY NUMBERS OF STUDENTS WE HAVE AND THEN HOW WE ALLOCATE THOSE IS DETERMINED BASED ON NEED.
WE'VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE THE ARTS ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO OUR KIDS TO BE WELL-ROUNDED, AND SO THOSE CERTAINLY ARE THINGS THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED.
THERE ARE LOTS OF KIDS THAT ARE HOOKED INTO OUR SCHOOLS FOR MUSIC PROGRAMS, OR ART PROGRAMS, OR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THAT COULD IMPACT OUR SUCCESS WITH SOME OF THOSE KIDS THAT ACADEMICS IS NOT THEIR PRIMARY REASON FOR BEING THERE.
>> EVEN AFTER WASHINGTON STATE CHANGED HOW IT FUNDS K12 BASIC EDUCATION, SCHOOL DISTRICTS STILL NEED LOCAL LEVIES TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR STUDENTS SUCCESS.
>> THE FUNDING FORMULA THAT THE STATE USES IS VERY ANTIQUATED AND IT DOESN'T MEET THE REALITY OF WHAT WE NEED TO STAFF OUR BUILDINGS AND TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT STAFF NECESSARY FOR STUDENTS.
THAT IS WHY WE RELY ON LOCAL LEVIES TO
[01:05:04]
HELP SUPPORT THOSE PROGRAMS AND THOSE STUDENTS, SO IT'S CRITICAL.>> WE CAN'T OPERATE ON A BARE-BONES HOPE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE ENOUGH FOR OUR KIDS, WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE MEET THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE CHILD.
KIDS COME FROM ALL TYPES OF BACKGROUNDS AND HAVE ALL TYPES OF NEEDS.
ALL OF OUR KIDS NEEDS ARE IMPORTANT AND SO WHEN WE START TO LOSE PROGRAMS THAT MEET THE NEEDS FOR THOSE DIVERSE LEARNERS OR THOSE THAT HAVE DIVERSE NEED, WE'RE IMPACTING OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
>> BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALREADY HAS THE LOWEST TAX RATE OF ANY DISTRICT IN CLARK COUNTY, AND THE REPLACEMENT LEVY WOULD ACTUALLY REDUCE IT EVEN FURTHER.
THE OWNER OF A HOME WITH AN ASSESSED VALUE OF 450,000, WILL SEE THEIR SCHOOL TAX BILL DROPPED BY MORE THAN $120 NEXT YEAR UNDER THE NEW LEVY, AND THAT SAME HOMEOWNER WOULD PAY LESS DURING EACH OF THE FOUR YEARS WHEN COMPARED TO 2021.
>> WITH 76 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET TIED TO STAFFING, THE DIRECT RESULT WOULD BE A REDUCTION IN STAFFING, AND PROGRAMS, AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FOR OUR FACILITIES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE JUST DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO, I MEAN EVENTUALLY YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT UP AT SOME POINT.
>>I KNOW FOR MYSELF I'VE BEEN A COMMUNITY MEMBER MY WHOLE LIFE.
IN THE EARLY 80S, TWO MAJOR THINGS HAPPENED DURING A DOUBLE LEVY FAILURE AND THAT'S; WE LOST MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS AND WE LOST ALL OF OUR TRANSPORTATION, WE ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE ALL OF OUR BUS SYSTEM SHIFT OVER TO CONTRACTS.
WE HAD TO SELL OFF OUR BUSES TO JUST KEEP THE BUDGET AFLOAT AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WHEN YOU LOSE THEM, THEY JUST DON'T COME BACK.
>> IF THE LEVY FAILS TO PASS ON NOVEMBER 2ND, THE DISTRICT WOULD GET $0 IN LOCAL FUNDING.
THIS ANNUAL LOSS OF $28 MILLION WOULD REQUIRE THE DISTRICT TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CUTS, TO SERVICES AND ELIMINATE STUDENT PROGRAMS.
>> BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS WORKS HARD TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY'S INVESTMENT IN IT'S STUDENTS IS USED WISELY.
WHILE OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE MULTIPLE LEVIES, BATTLE GROUND HAS JUST ONE THAT PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FROM TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS AND A RIGOROUS ACADEMY TO AN AT-HOME LEARNING PROGRAM.
BATTLE GROUND HAS AN OPTION TO FIT THE NEEDS OF EVERY STUDENT.
>> LEVY DOLLARS ARE THE DIFFERENCE THAT CONNECTS EVERY STUDENT TO A POSITIVE FUTURE.
IN BATTLE GROUND, WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT LEVY, VISIT BATTLEGROUNDPS.ORG/LEVY AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2ND.
>> THANK YOU, CHRIS. OUTSTANDING.
>> YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DON'T REMEMBER THE ANIMATED ONE, BUT IT'S NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE'S FACES AND VOICES AND SEE THAT THEY'RE THE CENTER OF THIS.
>> THAT'S IT FOR SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE.
>> OKAY. CITIZENS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENTS.
[7. Citizens' Comments]
AS ALWAYS, WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE ON OUR CITIZENS' COMMENTS TONIGHT, ONE REMOTE AND THREE IN PERSON.SYDNEY IS GOING TO BE OUR TIMER FOR THREE MINUTES, ONCE WE GET OUR REMOTE PERSON ON THERE, ACTUALLY FIRST, THAT'S JUST A CALL.
NEXT UP IS TERRY DOTSON, AFTER THAT, WENDY RUSH, AND THEN EUNICE [INAUDIBLE] AND TO CLOSE IT OUT.
WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO COME UP HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO HAND YOU THE HANDHELD MIC PROBABLY.
>> MINE SEEMS TO BE WORKING WELL. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH THIS WITHOUT SEVERE FEEDBACK ANYWAY.
>> WE'RE GETTING BETTER, WE'RE TACKLING ONE ISSUE AT A TIME.
>> JESSICA, CAN YOU HEAR US? CAN YOU TALK AGAIN?
>> I CAN HEAR YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY ELSE CAN LISTEN TO THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD AND TALK.
[01:10:03]
>> NOT GOOD. [LAUGHTER] TALK NOW.
>> I CAN HEAR BUT THE AUDIENCE CAN'T.
>> I WILL BE HAPPY WHEN REMOTE AND LIVE.
>>CAN YOU HEAR ME TALK AGAIN? [MUSIC].
>> JESSICA, I'M ASSUMING MAYBE YOU CAN HEAR ME.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE OTHER SPEAKERS, SEE IF WE CAN WORK ON THE SOUND.
IT'S JUST THE UNIQUE CHALLENGE OF TRYING TO DO THE REMOTE TESTIMONY.
TERRY DOTSON, WHY DON'T YOU COME ON UP.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD. HOW ARE YOU THIS EVENING? CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME?
>> THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[LAUGHTER] EVERYTHING WE JUST ALREADY SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT.
I JUST WANT TO BRING THE BOARD UP TO DATE WITH WHERE WE'RE AT.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE FOR BETTER SCHOOLS FOR BATTLE GROUND.
WE HAVE 19 HIGHLY QUALIFIED CO-CHAIRS ON VARIOUS COMMITTEES THAT ARE WORKING VERY HARD.
WE'RE MEETING EVERY WEEK NOW AND THEY'RE HAVING SUB-COMMITTEE MEETINGS ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE OVER 400 YARD SIGNS OUT IN THE DISTRICT.
THANK YOU MIKE AND MARK FOR HELPING GET THOSE DISTRIBUTED.
WALK AND KNOCK FLIERS ARE AT THE PRINTER NOW.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE READY TO GO WITHIN THE WEEK.
WE'VE SET DATES FOR OUR WALK AND KNOCK TEAMS TO BE OUT ON THE STREETS AND INTO THE SPECIFIC AREAS AROUND THE DISTRICT.
POSTCARDS ARE GOING TO BE OUT AND PREPARED READY TO GO ABOUT MID-OCTOBER.
CAR SIGNS ARE BEING DELIVERED TO ALL THE SCHOOLS.
NOW, I'M PERSONALLY GOING OUT TO ALL THE SCHOOLS AND GETTING THOSE GIVEN TO THE PRINCIPLES NOW.
WINDOW SIGNS HAD BEEN APPROVED AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE PLACED OUT ON THE WEBSITE SO YOU CAN PRINT THOSE AT HOME AND PUT WINDOW SIGNS IN ALL YOUR NEIGHBORS WINDOWS.
THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, WE'RE RECEIVING REQUESTS FOR YARD SIGNS, WHICH IS GOOD.
WE'RE FOLLOWING UP WITH THOSE, GETTING ALL THOSE TAKEN OUT.
LARGER SIGNS SUCH AS FIVE-BY-FIVE SIGNS AND SIX FOOT BY THREE FOOT SIGNS ARE GOING UP.
I JUST PUT ONE UP TONIGHT OUT IN BOULEVARD AND I KNOW ONE WENT UP AT THE CORNER OF CABLES ROAD IN 503.
MAILINGS ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE, LIKE I SAY, MID-OCTOBER.
SIGN WAVING IS GOING TO BE COMMENCING TWO WEEKENDS DURING OCTOBER CLOSE TO WHEN WE'RE HANDING OUT THE BALLOTS.
MEET IN THE MIDDLE IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 20TH WHERE THE STUDENTS FROM BATTLE GROUND, THE STUDENTS FROM PIERRE ARE GOING TO BASICALLY MEET IN THE MIDDLE ON 503.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOTH SCHOOLS TRYING TO GET MORE STUDENTS INVOLVEMENT THERE.
ONE OF THE KEYS IS TO GET THE STUDENTS REGISTERED THAT ARE 17 YEARS OLD AND GET PEOPLE THAT ARE 18 READY TO VOTE FOR US AND GETTING THE ALUMNI GOING ON THAT SAME THING.
WE HAVE LETTER SUGGESTIONS AND INFORMATION AS TO WHERE TO SEND LETTERS TO THE DIFFERENT NEWSPAPERS IN THE AREA.
PLEASE GO OUT THERE. YOU'RE ALLOWED TO SEND ONE A MONTH.
ONE IN SEPTEMBER, ONE IN OCTOBER.
WE CAN MAKE SOME THINGS HAPPEN.
WE'VE RAISED SOME MONEY, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY USE MORE.
IF YOU CAN SEE YOUR WAY ANYWHERE, 25, 50 BUCKS,
[01:15:01]
ALL THOSE THINGS START TO MOUNT UP PRETTY QUICK.HAVE A YES LEVY ON NOVEMBER 2ND.
WAKE UP NOVEMBER 3RD TO A PARTY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU TERRY. I FINALLY GOT TO SEE THE NEW SIGNS YOU PRINTED THERE. THEY LOOK EXCELLENT.
>> WE ARE GOING BACK TO JESSICA, WHO WAS ORIGINALLY FIRST ON OUR LIST.
HOPEFULLY WE HAVE SOUND. HERE WE GO.
HELLO BOARD. MY NAME IS JESSICA.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW SOME FOLKS CAN'T GET INTO SWAG IT TONIGHT.
I LIKE THE NAME SWAG IT BECAUSE WHEN IT'S GOING WELL, WE COULD BE LIKE, SWAG IT.
THEN WHEN IT'S GOING BADLY, WE COULD GO, SWAG IT.
[LAUGHTER] JUST A SUGGESTION YOU COULD BOUNCE OFF OF MAYBE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN LINK THE SWAG IT VIDEO LINK.
THAT WAY IF THERE'S PROBLEMS, WE COULD COMMENT ON IT OR YOU COULD COMMENT ON IT AND SAY THERE'S PROBLEMS TONIGHT OR WE'RE WORKING ON IT.
ALSO FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE, OVER MY SHOULDER IS GEORGE MICHAEL TONIGHT.
I REALLY NEED TO MEET UP WITH TERRY AND ALL THOSE GROUPS TO HELP WITH SIGN WAVY AND ALL THAT STUFF.
I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THE LEVY PASSES AS THE VIDEO I HEARD IT.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WORK ON OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO REALLY SUFFER, IF IT DOESN'T PASS.
I REALLY HOPE IT DOES FOR OUR CHILDRENS SAKE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS AND ALSO TO SYDNEY AND RICARDO, OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR US.
I KNOW YOU ALL PUT IN A LOT OF TIME ON TOP OF YOUR LIFE OR YOUR SCHOOLWORK OR YOUR JOB OR WHATEVER THINGS YOU HAVE GOING ON.
I JUST APPRECIATE THE EXTRA TIME YOU TAKE OUT TO HELP OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE OUR STUDENT REPS THAT ARE REACHING OUT TO STUDENTS TO GET THEM MORE INVOLVED WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS WITH REPORTS OR RECRUITING PEOPLE TO BE SENIOR REPS NEXT YEAR.
I KNOW YOU ALL DO A LOT AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I KNOW EVERY YEAR IS DIFFERENT AND THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT LIKE ALL THE REST AND IT'S SUPER CHALLENGING.
THERE'S ALWAYS SURPRISES FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM COMING TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.
I JUST THINK THAT YOU ALL FOLLOW THE LAWS AND REQUIREMENTS PUT IN FRONT OF YOU, THAT WAY OUR DISTRICT IS IN COMPLIANCE AND THAT WAY YOUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE ALSO IN COMPLIANCE.
I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ZOOM FOR US STILL TO ATTEND, TO MEETINGS OR THE ONES WE'RE DOING FOR THE LEVY AND WHATEVER ELSE.
ONE THING I NOTICED ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] BUT I DIDN'T SHOW UP IN THE LITTLE THING, THE NUMBER OF BUBBLES.
I'M OUT OF TIME SO I WILL STOP TALKING.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
[INAUDIBLE] I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JESSICA, FOR BEARING WITH OUR AUDIO THERE.
>> WENDY RUSH IS OUR THIRD SPEAKER UP AND EUNICE WILL BE AFTER THAT. WELCOME BACK, WENDY.
>> HELLO. GOOD EVENING BOARD. I'M WENDY RUSH.
I THINK THE LAST COUPLE TIMES I HAVE COME UP, I HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED MYSELF.
I'M WENDY RUSH. I AM A PARENT OF TWO KIDS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
ONE I JUST PULLED, THE OTHER ONE STILL IS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I PULLED HER BECAUSE THE MASKS WAS GIVING HER SO MUCH ANXIETY AND BECAUSE PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE IN CAM AT ANY POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE WITH ME.
THEY'RE NOT ACCEPTING RELIGIOUS MANDATES OR MEDICAL MANDATES.
THAT'S JUST TOO HARD IN A SCHOOL LIKE CAM, WHERE YOU REALLY NEED THE PARENT INVOLVEMENT.
THAT BRINGS ME TO WHY I'M HERE.
I'M WITH INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS COMMITTEE AND I AM ASKING THAT THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER TALKING TO THE DIRECTORS OF CURRICULUM TO HAVE THEM APPLY THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK TO THE HEALTH SMART WHICH IS SET TO BE PUT BEFORE THE BOARD IN PROBABLY THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.
>> WENDY, EXCUSE ME. YOU SAID HEALTH SMART. DID YOU MEAN CHECK THE FACTS?
[01:20:01]
>> CHECK THE FACTS DID NOT GET APPROVED.
>> [LAUGHTER] HEALTH SMART THAT'S BEING PUT, I BELIEVE UNLESS SOMETHING IS HAPPENING BETWEEN WHEN THE COMMITTEE MET IN MY INFORMATION.
THE REASON WHY THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, I THINK IS BECAUSE ONE OF THE BOXES ON OUR CHECKLIST THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT WAS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
[OVERLAPPING] COMMUNITY FEEDBACK IS ONE OF THE BOXES THAT WE NEED TO SEE IF IT'S MET FOR THE CRITERIA IN ORDER FOR THAT TO BE PUT BEFORE THE BOARD.
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK WAS NOT ABLE TO BE LOOKED AT BY AN INSTRUCTIONAL COMMITTEE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AT THAT POINT.
SINCE THEN, THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL EMAILS, THERE HAVE BEEN CURRICULUM REVIEWS DONE, AND THERE IS A COMMUNITY SURVEY THAT WAS PUT OUT REGARDING THE SEX ED CURRICULUM AS A WHOLE.
HALF OF THOSE PARENTS WERE NOT HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THEY WERE OTHER MAINSTREAM STUDENTS, INCLUDING ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I DO BELIEVE IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT THAT 2019 COMMUNITY SEXUAL HEALTH SURVEY BE LOOKED AT AND APPLIED.
THE BEST PLACE FOR THAT TO PROBABLY BE APPLIED AT THIS POINT, SO IT DOESN'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME WOULD BE THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS COMMITTEE SINCE THAT'S OUR JOB IS OVERSIGHT.
I THINK ESPECIALLY IN LIEU, IF YOU'RE ON THE COMMUNITY PAGES AND SEEING THE HEAT THAT'S GENERATED WITH THE LEVY, WITH PEOPLE PULLING THEIR KIDS OUT, IT IS A VERY HOT TOPIC.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS A MYSTERY THAT I'M SAYING THIS.
IT HAS GENERATED ENOUGH FEVER THAT I THINK IT IS WELL WORTH THE BOARD TO CONSIDER AT THIS POINT, LETTING THE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE LOOK AT THAT AGAIN AND MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE FACT THAT ALL THE PROCESSES HAVE BEEN MET IN ORDER TO PUT THE BEST CURRICULUM FORWARD.
WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE OTHER ONE AT ALL THAT CHECK THE FACTS.
IT'S A LITTLE HARD FOR ME TO ANSWER PERHAPS THAT IS GOING TO BE COMING BACK.
MY TERM IS ENDING PRETTY SOON, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN EFFORT AT ALL TO MAYBE MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NEW PEOPLE ON BOARD.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A MISTAKE BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE KEPT EVERYBODY BACK UP TO ALL THE LAWS AND THE POLICIES.
WHEREAS WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS AND WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH THE SEX ED POLICIES.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR THE CURRENT COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, SEX ED CURRICULUMS AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> WENDY, I APOLOGIZE. I MISUNDERSTOOD.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASKING FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WHEN WE PUT THE CURRICULUM IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY OFFERS FEEDBACK, SO I APOLOGIZE.
>> OKAY. I ASSUME WE'LL GET CLARITY ON THAT EVENTUALLY.
THE COMMITTEE IS NEXT WEEK, RIGHT?
>>YEAH. [OVERLAPPING] JUST SO EVERYBODY IS UNDERSTANDING, IT IS NOT OUR INTENT TO PUT THE SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM ON THE AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT MEETING.
WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE WORK STUDY, WHICH WILL THEN ALLOW THE BOARD TO PROVIDE INPUT INTO NEXT STEPS.
WE'LL DO THE WORK STUDY NEXT WEEK, WHICH WILL DETERMINE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE.
>> IS THAT WORK STUDY WITH THE COMMITTEE?
>> YES, THAT WORK STUDY THE COMMITTEE WILL GO OVER THE ENTIRE PROCESS, FILL YOU IN, CHECK THE FACTS, WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THAT WAS.
>> THEN THE BOARD WILL BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN TO HELP GUIDE US INTO WHERE WE GO FROM THERE.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, AND EUNICE THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT. YOU ARE UP.
>>GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS EUNICE [INAUDIBLE] MY PRONOUNS ARE G.R, I'M A MOTHER AND A GRANDMOTHER LIVING IN BATTLE GROUND SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT NUMBERS.
APPLYING THE 2018 HEALTHY YOUTH SURVEY STATISTICS TO THE SEPTEMBER ENROLLMENT UP 3,740 IN BATTLE GROUND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
I ESTIMATE THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 820 LGBTQ PLUS STUDENTS, THAT'S 22 PERCENT, INCLUDING ABOUT 200 GENDER EXPANSIVE YOUTH.
COMBINING THESE NUMBERS WITH TREVOR PROJECT'S LGBTQ MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY DATA FOR 2021, I ESTIMATE THAT OUT OF THE 670 LGB YOUTH, 86 OF THEM THOUGHT ABOUT SUICIDE, AND 39 ATTEMPTED IT.
[01:25:03]
ADD UP 200 TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY YOUTH, 99 THOUGHT ABOUT SUICIDE, AND 53 ATTEMPTED IT.ADDING THEM UP AND ACCOUNTING FOR THE OVERLAP, I ESTIMATE 175 OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, LGBTQ YOUTH, THOUGHT ABOUT SUICIDE, AND 87 OF THEM ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES THIS PAST YEAR.
THESE NUMBERS ARE TRULY ALARMING, AND WE SHOULD TAKE THEM AS A WAKE UP CALL FOR MAKING OUR SCHOOLS TRULY INCLUSIVE, TO MAKE A SAFE AND OPTIMAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
LET'S GO BEYOND PREVENTING DEATHS BY SUICIDE AND BEYOND THE COMPLYING WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION MANDATE.
LET US TAKE PROACTIVE STEPS TO, MAKE OUR SCHOOLS A PLACE WHERE ALL STUDENTS CAN THRIVE IN.
OSPI'S RECENT EMAIL ON SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION NEWS AND RESOURCES INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING ONLINE TRAINING EVENTS.
WHICH I HOPE MANY OF YOU WILL PARTICIPATE IN, I'M STANDING UP FOR SOME.
OCTOBER 6, CREATING GENDER INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS.
OCTOBER 14, LGBTQ PLUS INCLUSIVE AND AFFIRMING FACILITATION.
OCTOBER 19, EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION.
OCTOBER 23, PREVENTING BIAS BASED BULLYING.
DECEMBER 11, SUPPORTING TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY STUDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK MY NUMBERS AND MY HEART TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU EUNICE, AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR CITIZENS COMMENTS.
NEXT UP IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[8. Consent Agenda]
OUR CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES ITEM A, APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.ITEM B, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2021 REGULAR MEETING.
ITEM C, CONTRACTS RATIFICATION.
ITEM E, OUR FINANCIAL REPORTS.
ITEM F, OUR MINIMUM BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT COMPLIANCE.
ITEM G, THE APPROVAL OF STATE GRANT APPLICATIONS.
ITEM H, THE SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF POLICY 6225 USE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES, AND ITEM I RESOLUTION O DASH 21, CANCELLATION OF OUTSTANDING WARRANTS.
THAT'S THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
IF ANY BOARD MEMBERS WISHES TO SINGLE OUT ANY ONE OF THOSE ITEMS SEPARATELY, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO SAY, IF NOT, WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> MR. PRESIDENT I LIKE TO PULL THEM MINUTES OFF FOR A CHANGE.
>> OKAY. IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED WE PULL MINUTES OFF FOR A CHANGE.
YOU ARE SO GOOD AT FINDING THAT SENTENCE LAST TIME.
[LAUGHTER] OKAY, SO THAT WOULD PUT THAT AT THE END UNDER.
>> GIVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN BRING THAT UP.
>> OKAY, SO IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT WE PULL MINUTES OFF FOR A CHANGE.
WE COULD APPROVE THE REST OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN DO THAT.
I'L MOVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS B.
[INAUDIBLE] MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT ITEM B, IN THE MINUTES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES FOUR TO ZERO.
OKAY. WE HAVE ITEM B FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[B. Approval of Minutes - September 13, 2021 Regular Meeting]
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT UNDER DIRECTOR'S REPORT THAT THE FIRST SENTENCE ABOUT THE MASK MANDATE WAS CLARIFIED BECAUSE AS IT'S WRITTEN, SOUNDS LIKE I ASKED THE BOARD TO NOT FOLLOW THE MANDATE.
>> RIGHT. I GUESS YOU SHOULD SAY, INSTEAD OF AND ASK WHICH ASK.
>> OR AND THEY ASKED, BUT SOMEHOW WHOEVER'S BETTER AT WORDSMITHING THEN.
>> I'LL READ THE SENTENCE AS IT READS, TROY MCCOY REPORTED THAT HE HAS RECEIVED COMMUNICATION FROM CITIZENS ABOUT THE MASK MANDATE AND ASKED THAT THE BOARD NOT FOLLOW THE MANDATE.
>>YES, THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID. [OVERLAPPING].
>>DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU SAID, SO WHAT IF WE DID SAY TROY MCCOY REPORTED THAT HE HAD
[01:30:01]
RECEIVED COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT THE MASK MANDATE, WHICH ASKS THE BOARD NOT TO FOLLOW THE MANDATE.WHICH IS WHICH WERE HAVE ANY ENGLISH TEACHERS.
OR THEY ASK THAT THE BOARD NOT FOLLOW THE MANDATE, AND THOSE COMMUNICATIONS.
>> REQUESTED THAT THE BOARD NOT RIGHT.
SANDY, CAN YOU MAKE THAT CHANGE?
>> THE ANSWER IS JUST TO CLARIFY THAT IT'S THE CITIZENS ASK HIM TO DO THAT.
>> NOT MYSELF. RIGHT, AND THEN THE REST OF THE SENTENCE, WE READ OUT LOUD AS LETTER FROM 0SPI REGARDING THE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES IS ALL FINE JUST WANTED THAT CLARIFIED.
>> OKAY, SO WE'VE HEARD A SUGGESTION FOR [INAUDIBLE] THE MINUTES TO MAKE A MORE ACCURATE, TO REFLECT WHAT WAS SAID THERE.
WE COULD APPROVE THOSE MINUTES NOW, I BELIEVE.
I'LL MOVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2021 REGULAR MEETING.
>> WITH THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES.
>> WITH THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES.
>> WITH THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES. OKAY.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, EVERYBODY CLEAR ON THE CHANGES? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE EDITED MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 13, 21 REGULAR MEETING SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES FOUR TO 0. THANK YOU.
OLD BUSINESS IS EMPTY AS USUAL, BUT ALONG WITH IT, NEW BUSINESSES IS EMPTY, SO WE'VE GOT TO THE END OF OUR MOTION MAKING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
[11. Future Agenda Items and Board Events]
WE DO HAVE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. WE ALREADY TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TOURS COMING UP.ANYTHING ELSE, SUPERINTENDENT WATERS.
>> NO NOTHING THAT I CAN THINK OF JUST A REMINDER THAT WE DO HAVE THE SEXUAL HEALTH WORK SESSION.
>> LET ME KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
OKAY. YOU'RE PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK, WE'LL HAVE A WORK SESSION AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
I DO WANT TO MENTION, THE STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO THE TOURS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT WE RECOGNIZE INTERRUPTING YOUR SCHEDULE NEEDS TO BE A PERSONAL CHOICE FOR YOU AS WELL.
IF YOU'VE GOT CLASSES, YOU CAN'T MISS THAT, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'LL WE'LL MAKE IT WORK OUT IN THE LONG RUN.
BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS MORE THAN WELCOME TO JOIN THE TOURS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS WE GO ALONG.
JUST KEEP IN TOUCH AND LET US KNOW AND WE WANT IT TO WORK FOR YOU BOTH WAYS.
YOU CAN EXPECT BETWEEN SANDY AND I WILL GET YOU A CALENDAR INVITE ABOUT THE OCTOBER 27TH DISTRICT SIX MEETING, AND I'LL SEE IF I CAN GET ALSO MAYBE, WITH THAT I'LL SEND THAT SAMPLE, HOW TO RANK THE POSITIONS SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.
IT'D BE HELPFUL BECAUSE THAT GENERAL ASSEMBLY HANDBOOK, WHICH IS AVAILABLE ONLINE FROM [INAUDIBLE] AND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.
IT'S A BEEFY ONE, IT'S A 100 AND SOME PAGES AND IT'S NOT EXACTLY A NOVEL LIKE TO READ, BUT IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THEY'VE GOT, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CHECK WITH ROB AND I AND WE'LL TRY TO HELP YOU OUT.
ANYTHING FURTHER. OKAY. LIKE TO ADJOURN THIS SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2021 MEETING AND THE BATTLEGROUND SCHOOL BOARD.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.