[00:00:03]
[1. Call to Order]
>> STARTING. GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME.
I CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE BATTLE GROUND SCHOOL BOARD FOR MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2025, AT 6:00 P.M.
PLEASE STAND AND JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> NEXT, WE'LL HAVE ROLL CALL.
>> PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT 1, MARY SNITILY.
>> VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT 5, JACKIE MADDUX.
>> DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT 2, DEBBIE JOHNSON.
DIRECTOR JOHNSON HAS A PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCE.
DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT 3, TED CHAMPINE HAS A PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCE, ALSO.
DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT 4, TERRY TATE.
>> STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE JULIA STIFFLER?
>> STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE ITZEL CONTRERAS MONTIEL.
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
>> WE NEED A MOTION TO EXCUSE DIRECTOR JOHNSON AND DIRECTOR CHAMPINE.
>> I MOVE THAT WE, WE'LL DO THAT IN ONE MOTION, EXCUSE DIRECTOR DEBBIE JOHNSON AND DIRECTOR TED CHAMPINE.
>> MOTION IS MADE TO EXCUSE DIRECTOR CHAMPINE AND DIRECTOR JOHNSON. STUDENT REPS.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES 3-2. NO, THERE'S ONLY THREE.
>> THREE TO ZERO, YES. THANK YOU FOR THE MAP.
[4. Agenda Approval (Board Vote w/Student Voice)]
THE AGENDA THIS EVENING INCLUDES COMMUNICATIONS, SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF UPDATES, CITIZENS' COMMENTS, CONSENT AGENDA WITH ITEMS A-H, NO OLD BUSINESS AND NO NEW BUSINESS, AND IF TIME PERMITS, WE'LL ADDRESS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE AGENDA? IF NOT, I'D LOOK FOR A MOTION.>> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED?
>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. STUDENT REPS.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
COMMUNICATIONS. WE HAVE STUDENT VOICE THIS EVENING,
[5. Communications]
AND WE HAVE SOME STUDENTS FROM [OVERLAPPING] PLEASANT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL.>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
>> WE'RE BOTH IN EIGHTH GRADE AND WE HAVE BEEN GOING TO PVM FOR FOUR YEARS. [NOISE] [BACKGROUND].
>> [OVERLAPPING] COME UP HERE SO YOU CAN GET A GOOD PICTURE.
COME UP BEHIND THIS ONE. [BACKGROUND].
>> HERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE EACH HAVE NOTICED THROUGHOUT THOSE YEARS.
>> THE SCHOOL IS VERY OPEN-MINDED.
I'VE STARTED MY OWN CLUBS AND GROUPS THAT WERE MADE POSSIBLE BY COUNSELORS AND PRINCIPALS.
>> AT PVM, I HAVE PLAYED A LOT OF THE SPORTS THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.
I FEEL LIKE SPORTS ARE A GOOD WAY FOR EVERYONE TO FEEL INCLUDED.
AT PVM, SOMETHING WE ALL SHARE IS THE PRIDE THAT WE TAKE IN OUR SPORTS.
>> ONE CHANGE I PERSONALLY THINK WE WOULD BENEFIT FROM IS ADDING A WIDER RANGE OF CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES.
WHILE THE ELECTIVES HERE ARE NICE, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE MORE OPTIONS.
>> I THINK THAT IF WE WERE TO GET A CAFETERIA, EVERYONE WOULD BE HAPPIER TO COME TO SCHOOL KNOWING THAT THEY CAN HAVE LUNCH WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND FREELY.
>> IN THE EARLIER DAYS OF BEING HERE, IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO FIND MY PLACE SOCIALLY.
PVM IS SUCH A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM.
TEACHERS FROM PREVIOUS GRADES STILL SAY HI, TEACHERS FROM NOW STILL CARE AND I ALWAYS FEEL WELCOME WITH THE STAFF.
>> I THINK THAT OUR SPIRIT WEEKS HOPE TO MAKE EVERYONE AT PVM FEEL INCLUDED.
THE ASB MAKES THE SPIRIT DAYS, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A HUGE HOPE WITH HAVING THE STUDENTS' VIEWS AND OPINIONS IN THE SCHOOL-WIDE DAY.
>> WE ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HIGH SCHOOL AND WE'LL REALLY MISS PLEASANT VALLEY.
>> VERY NICE JOB. I'M REALLY CURIOUS, IF YOU COULD HAVE MORE ELECTIVES,
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WHAT DO YOU THINK THOSE WOULD BE [INAUDIBLE]>> PERSONALLY, I HAVE HEARD WITH OTHER SCHOOLS THAT THERE'S CHOIR.
ME MYSELF, I LIKE TO SING AND I KNOW A LOT OF MY FRIENDS DO TOO.
I THINK I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT OPTION AND THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE FOR MY PERSPECTIVE.
>> TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE CAFETERIA.
>> I THINK THAT IF WE WERE TO GET A CAFETERIA, IT WOULD MAKE PEOPLE FEEL MORE INCLUDED AND BE ABLE TO BE MORE SOCIAL BY BEING ABLE TO SEE PEOPLE THAT THEY DON'T NORMALLY SEE ON A DAILY BASIS?
>> DO YOU ENVISION A CAFETERIA BEING SEPARATE? YOU GUYS WERE IN PRIMARY SCHOOL WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGING THE SMALL GYM INTO A CAFETERIA, BUT WE GOT A LOT OF PUSHBACK AT THAT TIME.
IF WE WERE TO ADD A CAFETERIA, REALLY THE ONLY PLACE THAT WE COULD ADD IT WOULD BE BEHIND THE SCHOOL, LIKE A PORTABLE CAFETERIA, ALMOST LIKE THE ONE THEY HAVE AT GLENWOOD?
>> I THINK THAT OVER THERE WOULD WORK BECAUSE WE TRANSITION FROM LUNCH TO RECESS, SO IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET THERE.
>> WE'D HAVE TO SHARE IT WITH THE PRIMARY SCHOOL.
>> YOU THINK THAT'S AN OVERALL FEELING IS THAT PEOPLE WANT THE CAFETERIA?
>> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW UP AGAIN AND EXPLORE THAT AS AN OPTION.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. DO YOU GUYS BOTH DO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS?
>> YOU'VE DONE THEM? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
>> I'VE DONE BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, SOCCER AND TRACK.
>> YOU'VE DONE LIKE ALL OF THEM. IF WE WERE TO ADD MORE MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS, WHICH ONES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?
>> FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, I KNOW THAT THE BOYS WANT THEIR OWN VOLLEYBALL TEAM, BUT THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OTHER SCHOOLS DON'T WANT THAT.
>> I'M NOT MUCH OF A SPORTS PLAYER.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S MY FEEDBACK. [LAUGHTER].
>> SPORTS ARE OUT. [LAUGHTER] GOOD ANSWER, THOUGH.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR YOUR SCHOOL. WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.
>> GOOD JOB, GIRLS. [APPLAUSE].
>> ANY OTHER STUDENTS THAT HAD PLANNED TO SPEAK TONIGHT THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM?
>> A COUPLE OF HANDS IN THE BACK. COME ON FORWARD.
>> I'M SORRY. IF YOU WANT TO COME UP FRONT, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO.
>> UP HERE YOU CAN TAKE A PICTURE.
>> YOU'RE GOOD THERE. [LAUGHTER]
>> DOESN'T. THERE WE GO. HI, BOARD.
I AM A FRESHMAN OVER AT PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
I'VE NEVER USED A MIC BEFORE, SORRY.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO DISCUSS THE LEVY AND MORE SO, SUMMER SCHOOL.
NOW, I'M A FRESHMAN OVER AT PRAIRIE AND I'VE HAD THE VERY FORTUNATE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE ASPIRE PROGRAM BACK AT CHIEF MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MANY OTHER VARIOUS PROGRAMS SUCH AS BAND.
WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS THAT I HAVE AN OLDER SISTER AND SHE'S TRIED EVERY YEAR TO GET AHEAD IN SUMMER SCHOOL, BUT IT'S JUST NOT AN OPTION.
WE CAN ONLY TAKE SUMMER SCHOOL CLASSES FOR CORE CLASSES WE HAVE FAILED.
NOW, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE SUMMER SCHOOL AS A POTENTIAL, AS A TOOL, A RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS, SUCH AS MYSELF TO GET AHEAD IN SCHOOL AND TO TAKE ADDITIONAL CLASSES SUCH AS TAKING A SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS OVER THE SUMMER, SO YOU CAN FIT IN AN ADDITIONAL CLASS SUCH AS FOODS 2 OR 3 DURING YOUR REGULAR SCHEDULE.
I THINK THIS WILL BE A VERY BENEFICIAL CHANGE TO THE SCHOOLING SYSTEM AND IT COULD HELP A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO WANT TO GO OUT AND DO MORE.
>> MY NAME IS WILLIAM JOHNSTONE.
I DON'T KNOW IF BATTLE GROUND HAS EVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO TAKE ADVANCED [INAUDIBLE]
>> WILLIAMS IS EXACTLY CORRECT.
WE'VE USED OUR SUMMER SCHOOL FOR A LITTLE BIT OF CREDIT RECOVERY.
[00:10:06]
I SEE TAMARA SHAKING HER HEAD.I BELIEVE WE'VE OFFERED SOME CREDIT, HAVE WE?
>> OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO OFFER ORIGINAL ONLINE CREDIT FOR GPA.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF ADVERTISING IT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] AWARE THAT THAT IS AN OPTION AVAILABLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
>> BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, WILLIAM, THE LEVY IS A CRITICAL PART OF THAT.
>> REALLY HELPING WITH PASSES.
>> THANK YOU ALL. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. [APPLAUSE].
>> ANY OTHER STUDENTS THAT WE MISSED OUT THERE? I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR STUDENT REPS.
>> I'M SPACING OUT. DO YOU WANT ME TO GO FIRST?
>> I'LL GO FIRST THIS TIME. WE'RE MIXING IT UP.
>> BUT THE FIRST THING I'LL TALK ABOUT IS THE DISCOVERY COOK-OFF EVENT ME AND JULIA AND WE ALL WENT TO. I LOVED IT.
LITERALLY BEST THING EVER, ESPECIALLY AFTER A TRACK PRACTICE AFTER RUNNING SO MUCH.
THEN EVERY TABLE IS JUST FOOD. IT WAS SO GOOD.
EVERY FOURTH GRADER LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD A LOT OF FUN COOKING.
WHEN ME AND JULIA WENT AND TALKED TO THEM AND WE'RE LIKE, HEY, SO HOW DID YOU DO THIS? THEY WERE LIKE, WELL, THIS IS HOW I STARTED.
THEY WERE BEING SO PROFESSIONAL.
IT WAS SO CUTE. I THINK IT WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE FOURTH GRADERS AND FOR ME AND JULIA.
IT WAS JUST FUN TO SEE HOW THEY WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS EVENT AND HOW THEY TRIED SO HARD.
BUT ALSO SEEING THAT THEY ALL HAD GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP.
EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T WIN A CERTAIN AWARD OR THEY DIDN'T WIN THE BIGGEST AWARD, THEY STILL LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD FUN.
THEY HAD SUPPORTIVE FAMILIES THERE.
THEY HAD THE WHOLE COMMUNITY THERE WITH THEM AND IT WAS JUST FUN.
THEN WE TOOK SOME PICTURES AND THEN WE SAID CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THEM.
I THINK IT WAS A REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT WAS MY FIRST TIME.
I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE COOK-OFF AND THEN JUST HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THOSE FOURTH GRADERS CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE DISTRICT TO BE DOING THOSE THINGS AND TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, OH, THEY LIKE COOKING, MAYBE THEY SHOULD TRY IT OR THEY SHOULD KNOW WHAT CLASSES THEY WANT TO TAKE IN THE FUTURE OR WHAT PATH AND JUST HAVING THEM HAVE FUN WITH CERTAIN THINGS AND JUST GIVING THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY IS JUST SUPER FUN TO SEE.
THEN I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS AT PRAIRIE.
WE HAD OUR SPRING FLING ON MARCH 15 AND WE ACTUALLY SOLD MORE TICKETS THIS YEAR THAN WE DID LAST YEAR.
LAST YEAR FOR SPRING FLING, WE SOLD 200 AND THIS YEAR WE SOLD 350.
IT'S USUALLY DANCE FOR MORE FOR FRESHMEN BECAUSE PROM IS ALWAYS COMING UP.
BUT I DID SEE AT A LOT OF GRADES THERE AND IT WAS JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAD FUN. EVERYBODY WAS DRESSED UP.
ACTUALLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE MORE DRESSED UP TO THE THEME THIS YEAR THAN THEY HAVE IN PAST YEARS BECAUSE EVERYBODY LIKED THE PASTEL COLORS AND THE GARDEN THEME.
ACTUALLY, WE HAD OUR NATIONAL HONORS ART SOCIETY CLUB.
THEY ASKED IF THEY COULD PAINT THESE MUSHROOMS AND THESE THINGS.
ASP OF COURSE, SAID, YES, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS LIKE TO DECORATE AND IT'S A WAY TO SAVE MONEY AND ALSO TO REPRESENT THOSE OTHER CLUBS THAT AREN'T REALLY SEEN.
THEY PAINTED LITTLE MUSHROOMS AND LITTLE TREES.
IT WAS REALLY FUN TO SEE ALL THEIR PAINTINGS.
WE ALSO TOLD EVERYBODY THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HELP, AND THEY JUST CREATED A LOT OF THINGS.
THEY CREATED MORE THINGS THAN WE ACTUALLY THOUGHT THEY WERE, AND THEY ACTUALLY CAME OUT REALLY GOOD WITH THE LITTLE TIME THEY HAD. THAT WAS GOOD TO SEE.
THEN THIS WHOLE WEEKEND, THIS FRIDAY IS OUR COLORS WARS.
OUR COLOR WARS ASSEMBLY IS FRIDAY, MARCH 28.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING EACH GRADE DECORATE THEIR OWN HALLWAYS, SO EACH HALLWAY IS RESERVED TO ONE OF THE GRADES, SO THEY TRY TO PUT AS MUCH AS THEIR COLORS UP.
THEN SOPHOMORES IS BLACK, SO MEN IN BLACK.
THEN JUNIORS IS KICKING IT WITH THE JUNIORS KARATE THEMED.
THEN SENIORS IS RED, SO THEY CHOSE SPIDER-MAN.
ALL OF THEIR HALLWAYS ARE DECORATED TO THAT THEME.
THEN WE ALSO HAD SPIRIT WEEK, SO TODAY WAS STOPLIGHT.
YOU'D DRESS UP GREEN IF YOU WERE SINGLE, YELLOW IF IT WAS COMPLICATED, RED IF YOU WERE TAKEN AND BLACK IF YOU WANTED TO BE A LITTLE SECRETIVE.
OF COURSE, I WORE RED, BUT I HAD A SURPRISE INTERVIEW WITH ME AND MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER JUST TO KNOW THAT.
MAYBE WE DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT EACH OTHER.
MY FAVORITE ANIMAL DID NOT KNOW THAT.
LET'S JUST SAY THAT. THEN TUESDAY IS GOING TO BE BEACH DAY.
WEDNESDAY IS GOING TO BE DUO DAY, THURSDAY IS GOING TO BE COLLEGE DAY SLASH HERE AND THEN FRIDAY IS, OF COURSE, COLOR WARS.
THEN SPORTS-WISE, PRAIRIE FIRST TRACK MEET IS THURSDAY.
[00:15:04]
IT'S A TRY MEET WITH KELSO, SKY VIEW AND OF COURSE, PRAIRIE.>> I'M GOING TO ADD ONTO THE TRACK BECAUSE BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL HAD OUR FIRST TRACK MEET THIS PAST FRIDAY.
IT WAS THE WILDCAT RELAYS AT LA CENTER HIGH SCHOOL.
IT WAS SUPER FUN. THIS MEET SPECIFICALLY WAS ONLY RELAYS, SO IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE TYPICAL TRACK MEET, BUT WE ALL HAD FUN.
I WAS REALLY MUDDY, AND IT WAS GREAT.
PRAIRIE, THEY HAD A COUPLE ATHLETES TO GO.
THEY BROUGHT TWO RELAY TEAMS FROM THEIR DISTANCE RUNNERS, BUT THEY DIDN'T BRING THEIR FULL TEAM. IS MY MIC ON?
>> I DON'T KNOW. MY EARS ARE A LITTLE FULL RIGHT NOW.
I APPRECIATE THAT. OUR NEXT TRACK MEET IS THIS THURSDAY ALSO. IS YOURS THIS THURSDAY?
>> OURS IS ALSO THIS THURSDAY, BUT IT'S MOUNTAIN VIEW, BATTLE GROUND AT UNION HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK BATTLE GROUND IS PRETTY SURE TO BEAT MOUNTAIN VIEW, BUT UNION HAS A REALLY BIG TRACK TEAM, SO THERE'S POWER IN NUMBERS THERE.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE SUPER FUN.
I LOVE BOTH BATTLE GROUND AND PRAIRIE.
WE HAVE PRETTY GREAT TRACK TEAMS, AND WE ALSO, I WOULD SAY, HAVE SOME OF THE BEST TEAM SPIRIT, JUST IN OUR WHOLE LEAGUE BECAUSE I SAY WE'RE PROBABLY THE LOUDEST AND THAT'S REALLY AWESOME.
I ACTUALLY HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT THINGS TO REPORT IN TERMS OF ACTIVITIES BECAUSE I WENT TO THE DISCOVERY KITCHEN COOK-OFF, AND THAT WAS SUPER FUN AND THAT WAS GREAT.
I RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM ONE STUDENT.
SHE'S A JUNIOR AT BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE'S A HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENT.
SHE'S TAKING ALL APS OR RUNNING STAR.
SHE HAS AN INCREDIBLE TRANSCRIPT.
SHE JUST WANTED ME TO MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT DUAL ENROLLMENT IN TERMS OF TAKING BGVA CLASSES TO SUPPLEMENT BECAUSE THERE ARE A FEW CLASSES WHERE IF THEY DON'T REACH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF STUDENTS, LIKE AN AP CLASS OR AN HONORS CLASS, THEN IT CAN'T BE RUN AT BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL.
FOR EXAMPLE, SHE USED HONORS CHEMISTRY.
SHE WANTS TO TAKE HONORS CHEMISTRY AT BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL, BUT SHE COULDN'T THIS YEAR, SO SHE ENDED UP SUPPLEMENTING WITH A CLASS FROM BGVA.
BUT THIS YEAR, THE ENROLLMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT CAN GET A LITTLE FINICKY WITH THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHEN SHE DID HER FORECASTING, THEY SAID THAT SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT WITH AN HONORS, SO ON HER TRANSCRIPT, SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THE HONORS FOR THE COLLEGES SHE'S APPLYING FOR.
HER QUESTION WAS JUST, HOW CAN WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO HONORS AP OR HIGH ACHIEVING CLASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF JUST THE ENROLLMENT AT PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS AND OUTSIDE OF THE REALMS OF BGVA, WHICH I THINK ALSO COMES BACK TO WILLIAM'S POINT, WHICH I REALLY LOVED WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT SOME STUDENTS REALLY DO WANT TO GET AHEAD, AND WHILE THAT ISN'T EVERYBODY'S PATHWAY, ACADEMICS REALLY ARE THE TRACK FOR A LOT OF STUDENTS.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
I JUST LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
I'M SORRY, GUYS. [LAUGHTER] WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE.
I HAD TRACK PRACTICE TODAY, BUT THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING SHE BROUGHT UP.
WE HAVE SO MANY AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW EVERY STUDENT HAS A UNIQUE PATHWAY, AND IT'S GOOD TO REALLY THINK ON THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN OFFER THE PERFECT FIT FOR EVERY STUDENT BECAUSE SHE'S TAKING HER BGVA CLASS NOW, BUT NEXT YEAR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DO, SO WE'LL SEE. THAT'S ACTUALLY ALL I HAD.
>> FOLLOW UP FOR THAT. IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITY OR OPTION FOR US TO MAYBE COMBINE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES? BATTLE GROUND DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR AN HONORS CLASS, PRAIRIE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR A CLASS.
>> I JUST TOTALLY FORGOT WHAT RIVER HOMELINK DOES.
RIVER HOMELINK, WE HAVE OUR HONORS CLASSES AND OUR NORMAL TYPICAL ONES LITERATE TOGETHER.
YOU WILL BE IN THE SAME CLASSROOM IF YOU'RE AN HONORS ENGLISH STUDENT, YOU'LL BE IN THE SAME CLASSROOM AS A STANDARD ENGLISH CLASS, BUT YOU WILL JUST DO EXTRA ASSIGNMENTS AND EXTRA CREDIT, AND YOU WILL JUST HAVE A HIGHER STANDARD.
THIS IS SOMETHING I SHOULD PROBABLY MEET WITH CURRICULUM PEOPLE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MAYBE INTEGRATING THEM.
>> WE HAVE SOME CONTRACT LANGUAGE AT THE COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO WORK AROUND SOME THINGS THERE, BUT WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE POSSIBILITY.
[00:20:02]
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MORE CREATIVE, ESPECIALLY IF THE LEVY WERE TO FAIL BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE CAP OUR AP CLASSES.AS LONG AS WE HAVE 18 STUDENTS, WE OFFER THE AP CLASS.
IF THE LEVY WERE TO FAIL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE THAT TO 25, SO THERE'S THE POTENTIAL THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OFFER EVEN MORE AP COURSE OFFERINGS.
IT'S PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN RIGHT BACK HERE, AND I THINK I'VE REPORTED TO THE BOARD THAT WE HAVE DOUBLED OUR AP ENROLLMENT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE'VE GONE FROM A LITTLE 240 TO OVER 600 STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN AP, SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF ALTERNATIVES.
WE WILL EXPLORE THAT. IT'S DIFFICULT.
I JUST WANT TO TALK TO JULIA BROUGHT IT UP AND WILLIAM BROUGHT IT UP ABOUT THE IDEA OF HAVING STUDENTS GET AHEAD.
IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US BECAUSE WE DON'T GET ANY FUNDING FOR STUDENTS WHEN THEY TAKE MORE THAN THEY'RE ALLOWED TO TAKE IN THE COURSE OF A NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR.
IF WE OFFER THESE EXTRA CLASSES THAT STUDENTS CAN TAKE IN ORDER TO GET AHEAD, WE HAVE TO USE LOCAL FUNDING WHICH, AGAIN, IS LEVY FUNDING.
THAT'S TRICKY FOR US THERE, AND IT ALWAYS IS A MATTER OF DESIGNATING WHAT PRIORITIES.
EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT, SO WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO.
>> I THINK THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE BELIEVE SO STRONGLY IN OUR ALTERNATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IS BECAUSE YOU REALLY HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR ALL KINDS OF OPTIONS.
WE CAN SHARE STUDENTS ACROSS DIFFERENT ALES OR COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE.
OFTENTIMES, THAT'S WHAT WE LOOK FOR WHEN A STUDENT IS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO MIX AND MATCH THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT TO DENNY'S POINT, THERE STILL REMAINS REALLY SOME LIMITATIONS IN FINANCES BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET EXTRA FUNDING, AND SO IF IT'S GOING TO COST MORE TO HAVE A STUDENT IN ADDITIONAL COURSES, THE MONEY FOR THAT'S GOT TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.
IT'S A CHALLENGE, BUT ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS.
OUR MISSION IS EACH AND EVERY STUDENT, SO CERTAINLY CONTINUING TO LOOK TO MEET THOSE NEEDS IS IMPORTANT.
>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION, LUKE LECOUNT.
>> BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND INVITE THE FIVE RECIPIENTS UP TO THE FRONT HERE.
THERE SHOULD BE FIVE EMPLOYEES.
I THINK THEY'RE ALL HERE TONIGHT.
I HAVE MY FRIEND, MICHELLE, WHO'S GOING TO HELP HAND OUT THE CERTIFICATES.
HR IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK. DON'T GET ME WRONG.
HERE IS DEFINITELY A HIGHLIGHT.
IF YOU'RE A FAMILY MEMBER, YOU WANT TO TAKE A PHOTO, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME ON UP.
YOU GUYS STAND RIGHT OVER HERE IN FRONT OF THE BOARD.
>> FEEL FREE TO COME UP BEHIND US.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE, YOU'LL GET A BETTER PICTURE OF THEM.
>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO IT. LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE THREE OF THE FIVE UNLESS WE'RE MISSING SOMEBODY.
BUT GO AHEAD AND READ A PASSAGE.
SOME OF IT WAS SHARED THROUGH THE NOMINATION FORMS FROM STUDENTS, STAFF, OR COLLEAGUES.
I WROTE IN VERY COMPLIMENTARY THINGS OF YOU GUYS, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THAT TO THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY.
THEN AFTERWARDS, WE'LL HAVE YOU SHAKE HANDS WITH THE BOARD AND GET A PICTURE RIGHT OVER HERE.
SHE'S A TEACHER AT RIVER HOMELINK.
TRACI IS A CORNERSTONE OF RIVER HOMELINK, BRINGING JOY AND INSPIRATION TO EVERY CLASSROOM SHE ENTERS.
WITH A KIND HEART AND CONTAGIOUS SENSE OF HUMOR, SHE MAKES LEARNING A GOOD TIME, RAIN OR SHINE, WITH MANY STUDENTS GIVING HER THE TITLE OF FAVORITE TEACHER.
TRACI'S DEDICATION SHINES THROUGH HER INNOVATIVE EFFORTS, LIKE SENDING LETTERS TO FRENCH CHILDREN AFTER A TERROR ATTACK OR RAISING FUNDS FOR HAITIAN RELIEF, SHOWING HER COMMITMENT TO BOTH HER STUDENTS AND THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY.
HER POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND TIRELESS SUPPORT FOR SAFETY, HAPPINESS, AND LOVE IN EVERY STUDENT'S HEART MAKE HER AN IRREPLACEABLE EDUCATOR.
RIVER HOMELINK IS LUCKY TO HAVE TRACI.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE RECOGNIZE CHELSEY PACANINS, TEACHER AT CASEE.
CHELSEY HAS FOUND HER EDUCATIONAL HOME AT CASEE, WHERE SHE ONCE ATTENDED AS A STUDENT AND NOW
[00:25:01]
INSPIRES AS A TEACHER AND A THIRD-YEAR IN THE DISTRICT.HER PASSION FOR SCIENCE, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND REAL-WORLD LEARNING LIGHTS UP THE CLASSROOM.
CHELSEY BRINGS PROFESSIONALS IN TO CONNECT LESSONS TO CAREERS, SHOWING HER DEEP CARE FOR HER STUDENTS' FUTURES.
WITH A POSITIVE SPIRIT AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION, SHE'S A PERFECT FIT FOR CASEE'S MISSION, UPLIFTING COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS ALIKE.
CHELSEY'S DREAM JOB IS OUR GAIN.
SHE'S A GREAT ASSET TO OUR DISTRICT, CHELSEY.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAVE ERIC BENAVENTE.
HE'S AN HVAC TECHNICIAN IN OUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT.
ERIC IS A VITAL FORCE IN OUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT, OFTEN TAKING ON SOME OF THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES WITH REPAIRS.
ASSIGNED TO SOME OF OUR MOST DEMANDING SCHOOLS, HE'S BROUGHT AGING HVAC SYSTEMS BACK TO LIFE.
[LAUGHTER] ERIC GREETS EVERY TASK WITH PRIDE AND A POSITIVE SPIRIT, EARNING PRAISE FROM STAFF WHO CAN'T THANK HIM ENOUGH.
A TRUE TEAM PLAYER, HE BENDS OVER BACKWARDS TO SUPPORT CO-WORKERS AND OUR SCHOOLS, PROVING THAT HIS SKILL AND CARING NATURE MAKE HIM INDISPENSABLE.
WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE ERIC ON OUR TEAM.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAVE ERIC ANDERSON, A TEACHER AT MAPLE GROVE.
ERIC IS A TEACHER EVERY SCHOOL DREAMS OF HAVING.
WITH KINDNESS, HUMOR, AND HIGH STANDARDS, HE CREATES A CLASS WHERE EVERY STUDENT THRIVES.
FROM HIS DAYS TEACHING FIFTH GRADE TO HIS CURRENT ROLE IN FOURTH GRADE AT MAPLE GROVE, ERIC POURS HIS HEART INTO CRAFTING ENGAGING LESSONS, WHETHER THROUGH HILARIOUS VIDEOS OR DRESSING UP TO MAKE LEARNING FUN.
HE'S A SELFLESS COLLABORATOR, BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH COLLEAGUES ACROSS SCHOOLS AND ALWAYS SEEKING WAYS TO GROW AS AN EDUCATOR.
ERIC'S DEDICATION TO HIS STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND TEAMMATES MAKE HIM A TRUE GIFT TO BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAVE ELIZABETH HIX.
SHE'S A TEACHER AND DRAMA CLUB ADVISOR AT BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL.
ELIZABETH IS AN EXCELLENT TEACHER AT BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL, STEPPING INTO THE DRAMA CLUB ADVISOR ROLE DURING ITS MOST EVENTFUL YEAR YET WITH AMBITION AND GRACE.
STUDENTS ADORE HER, AND SHE'S ALREADY ELEVATING THE CLUB WITH PLANS FOR FUNDRAISING AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES, ALL WHILE WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATION.
IN HER ENGLISH CLASSES, SHE SHINES AS AN EXCEPTIONAL TEACHER, BRINGING EXCELLENCE AND ENTHUSIASM TO EVERY LESSON.
ELIZABETH'S ABILITY TO DIVE IN AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE HAS LEFT A LASTING MARK ON HER STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES ALIKE.
BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HER, ELIZABETH.
>> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. PROUD OF YOU GUYS. THANK YOU.
>> YOU MUST BE [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND]
>> NOW, SHE'S GOING TO START CRYING AND STUFF. [LAUGHTER]
>> LOOK AT THIS. THEY GOT THE WHOLE CLASS HERE.
>> COME ON, MATT, GET INVOLVED.
>> THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING IN.
>> THAT'S REALLY NICE OF YOU GUYS.
[APPLAUSE] VERY NICE. HOLY MOLY.
[00:30:27]
ONE, 02, 3. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND]>> DEBBIE, WEREN'T YOU SAYING LIKE WE HAVE 1,400 EMPLOYEES?
>> 1,600. IF WE BRING UP FIVE PEOPLE, AND YOU BRING UP FIVE MORE PEOPLE, YOU GOT TO STOP TO THINK WE HAVE 1,600.
TO BE ONE OF THE FIVE, THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
THEN TO BRING SO MANY STUDENTS ALSO.
I'M SURE YOU WILL, THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
>> THANK YOU. TERRY, IT DOES GIVE YOU A SENSE OF HOW ONE TEACHER IMPACTS SO MANY.
>> YEAH, WE HAVE GREAT TEACHERS.
>> MOVING ON TO COMMITTEE REPORTS.
START WITH THE ALLEGE COMMITTEE.
>> I DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A REPORT TONIGHT.
THERE'S THIS IDEA OF HOW WE NEED TO GET OUR POLICIES IF WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR POLICIES.
THEN THE TWO LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS ARE STILL GOING THROUGH REGARDING ISOC AND THE SPECIAL EDUCATION.
IT'S ALL WRITTEN DOWN HERE. YEAH BUT THEY'RE LIKE STUCK IN THERE.
>> WE'LL JUST SEE WHAT TURNS OUT.
>> THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE MINIMAL.
>> THEY'RE MOVING SLOW DOING STUFF.
>> I KNOW IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD A SPREADSHEET SO THAT WE COULD WEIGH IN ON THE POSITIONS TO GIVE YOU.
>> WELL, I'LL LOOK FOR THAT. I'LL CERTAINLY LOOK FOR THAT.
>> I THINK THERE'S A TOOL. PROBABLY NOT TILL APRIL.
>> IF YOU NEED HELP, WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ON THAT TOO.
>> I THINK IT USUALLY DOESN'T COME OUT UNTIL APRIL.
APRIL 1ST IS WHEN IT IS RELEASED.
>> BUT SOMETHING FROM WATER REGARDING THE POSITIONS.
>> AUDIT COMMITTEE, NEITHER OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE HERE, AND I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A REPORT ANYWAY THIS TIME AND BATTLEGROUND EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
>> FOR BATTLE GROUND EDUCATION FOUNDATION, THEY HAD THEIR MEETING LAST THURSDAY.
THEY ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THEIR AUCTION.
I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE AND SAY THANK YOU FOR THEIR SUPPORT TO THE SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON MATH COMPETITION.
THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT TO THAT GROUP.
THEN THEY ALSO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS YEAR'S BIG GIVE 2025 IN MAY COMING UP.
THAT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, WOULD LIKE GIVE MORE 24 IN THE FALL, BUT THIS IS A SPRING EVENT WHERE YOU CAN DONATE, SO MORE TO COME ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU. TOURS COMMITTEE, WE HAVE A TOUR THIS FRIDAY AT CAPTAIN AT 9:30, AND DEBBIE HAS THE BIO THIS WEEK.
DEBBIE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND IT. GOT IT RIGHT.
>> JACKIE, I KNOW YOUR SCHEDULE IS DATE.
>> CAN'T. BUT I APPRECIATE THE OFFER.
AS SOON AS SHE GAVE ME THE BIO.
>> I JUST REALIZED THAT I JUST PUT YOU RIGHT ON THE SPOT.
>> OTHER REPORTS? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT? I WENT TO PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL, THERE IS A TIME TO REPORT ON THAT?
>> WAY TO WEEK. I HAVE ONE OTHER THING FIRST, TERRY, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
[LAUGHTER] I ACTUALLY WANTED TO TALK AND THIS INVOLVES YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO ESTABLISH THE RETREAT COMMITTEE WHICH WOULD BE IN PLACE FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF JUNE.
IT CAN ONLY BE TWO PEOPLE, AND I KNOW THAT YOU AND DEBBIE HAD TALKED ABOUT IT.
>> SHE SAID TO ME, I'M ON BOARD.
>> THAT BEING SAID, IT WILL BE TIME FOR US TO TAKE OUR BOARD SURVEY,
[00:35:02]
AND WE CAN MAKE THAT AVAILABLE THROUGH WASDA BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.IT'S ALSO A TIME WHEN I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO SET OUR GOALS FOR 25 26, OUR BOARD GOALS.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO REVIEW OUR CORE BELIEFS BECAUSE OUR CORE BELIEFS WERE.
>> FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, 25, 28, WE SHOULD BE REVIEWING OUR CORE BELIEFS.
IF YOU AND DEBBIE ARE PLANNING TO BRING SOMEBODY IN LIKE A WASDA PERSON, PROBABLY THAT WOULD NEED TO BE SET UP SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
FINALLY, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A DATE.
USUALLY IT'S THE LAST WEEK IN JUNE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING IN MIND?
>> ARE YOU THINKING THESE ITEMS SHOULD ALL BE A PART OF THAT RETREAT TEAM.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR US TO HAVE A CONCENTRATED AMOUNT OF TIME.
>> WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED, NOBODY'S TALKED ABOUT A TIME THAT I'VE HEARD A DATE.
>> A DATE. NO. WE WOULD NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT AS A BOARD AND SINCE TWO OF US ARE MISSING MISSING TONIGHT'S PROBABLY NOT THAT NIGHT, BUT TYPICALLY IT'S THE LAST WEEK IN JUNE.
>> SURE. THAT'S WHAT SHE HAD MENTIONED.
>> NEXT TIME, MAYBE REMIND ME THAT WE NEED TO SETTLE ON A DATE.
>> THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS TO EVERYBODY WHO HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THEIR SCHEDULES AND WEIGH IN.
>> TYPICALLY, AS MARY SAID, THE LAST WEEK OF JUNE WORKS WELL.
JULY IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THAT'S THE MONTH WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO GET AWAY IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE AWAY.
THE OTHER TIMES THAT WE HAVE DONE IT IF WE'VE DONE IT IN THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST, IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
I'LL GO THROUGH THE CALENDAR SHELLY AND I.
>> IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE DATES OF THE LAST WEEK IN JUNE, THE OPTIONS WOULD BE TUESDAY THE 24TH, WEDNESDAY THE 25TH, AND THURSDAY THE 26TH ARE PROBABLY THE BEST OPTION.
THEN IF WE WERE LOOKING AT THE FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST, IT LOOKS LIKE PROBABLY THAT WOULD BE THE FOURTH, WHICH IS A MONDAY, THE FIFTH, WHICH IS A TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY IS THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH.
ANY OF THOSE DAYS, THERE'S NO BOARD MEETING THAT WEEK.
THERE IS BOARD PREP ON WEDNESDAY, BUT NO BOARD MEETING.
>> WELL, I WONDER IF WE SHOULD LET TERRY AND DEBBIE HAVE SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THEIR PLAN IS BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE DEPENDENT ON IF THEY WANT SOMEONE TO COME HERE.
>> MAYBE SHE'S TRYING TO GET SOMEBODY TO COME.
>> MAYBE THAT NEEDS TO COME FIRST.
>> SURVEY THE BOARD MEMBERS AND COME UP WITH A DATE.
>> THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PRESENTED AT THE REGIONAL MEETING?
>> THAT'S EXACTLY. SHE AND I TALKED ABOUT IT RIGHT AS A MATTER OF FACT.
I KNOW SHE'S THINKING A LOT ABOUT IT.
>> WE'LL WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF SHE CONTACTS YOU.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY I WENT TO PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
TODD FERRIS IS RUNNING A ROBOTICS CLUB OVER THERE, AND I RAN A ROBOTICS CLUB AT MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND OH MY GOSH.
WHEN HE SHOWED ME AS ROBOTS AND STUFF, THEY'RE LIKE THE SIZE OF A THIRD GRADER OR WHATEVER. IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR ROBOTICS, AT LEAST AT PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE DOING IT AT BATTLE GROUND, BUT THE ROBOTICS CLUB IS AMAZING AND THEY'RE REALLY INTO IT.
THEN I WENT TO CHRISTIAN ATHLETES CLUB AND THOSE KIDS WERE ALL EXCITED AND JAZZED ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
I ROPED INTO SOMETHING, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS YET.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO REPORT ON THAT.
I WENT TO THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE 13TH.
THERE WAS A PANEL THAT PARTICIPATED.
HELP ME BECAUSE I'M GOING TO MESS THESE UP, I FEEL LIKE.
WE HAD A SECURITY OFFICER, A HEAD SECRETARY, AN SEL COORDINATOR, A PREVENTION INTERVENTION SPECIALIST, AND A COUNSELOR THAT WERE ON THE PANEL.
I WAS LIKE FAST AND FURIOUS TO TAKE NOTES.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS ASKING THEM, JUST WHAT WOULD YOU DO? IT WAS A GREAT PANEL.
LOTS OF QUESTIONS, REALLY IMPRESSED BY THEIR LEVEL OF
[00:40:01]
UNDERSTANDING AND HOW DEDICATED THEY ARE TO THESE SCHOOLS.BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS, IF YOU HAD $10,000, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT? IT WAS REALLY FASCINATING TO HEAR THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES COME FROM THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS THAT WERE REPRESENTED, VAPE SENSORS, BETTER CAMERAS, FOOD, SNACKS FOR STUDENTS, WHICH ALWAYS REALLY SPEAKS TO ME.
WIGGLE SEATS, FLEXIBLE SEATING FOR KIDS WHO JUST STRUGGLE TO SIT STILL A LITTLE BIT.
>> THESE CHAIRS ARE REALLY GOOD WITH THAT I FOUND.
>> BUT I THINK THEY WIGGLE THIS WAY, THEY GO THIS WAY NOT SIDE TO SIDE.
>> DOESN'T SURPRISE ME YOU NEED A WIGGLE. [LAUGHTER]
>> I DO FEEL LIKE TERRY NEEDS A WIGGLE SEAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICT, DON'T WE? WE CAN BRING ONE FOR YOU.
>> BUT ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, PLAYGROUND AND HEALTH ROOM ASSISTANCE.
>> JUST REALLY A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THE PTAS, WHO ARE HUGE SUPPORTS? THERE'S SO MUCH HERE I COULD TALK ABOUT, BUT IT WAS JUST SO GREAT.
IF YOU GUYS, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE MORE PANELS COMING, ON THE AGENDA, BUT YOU GUYS CAN GET TO ONE.
>> INSIGHTFUL AND JUST REALLY GIVE YOU A LOT.
THEY OFFER A LOT AND JUST RESPECT FOR.
>> THEY DON'T. THEN I ALSO, WE HAD OUR DISTRICT REGIONAL MEETING FOR WASDA.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD REMINDER THAT THEY SHARED SOME OF OUR TOP SCHOOLS ARE IN THE DISTRICT, WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS WERE ON SEVERAL TOPICS LIKE WHAT DOES LEADING WITH PURPOSE MEAN TO YOU.
THEN THEY SHARED WHAT OTHER SCHOOL DIRECTORS HAS SAID, BUT THEY ALSO SHARED WHAT WASDA'S POSITION WAS ON IT.
I REALLY APPRECIATED HOW THEY BROUGHT BACK JUST THE OVERSIGHT THAT THIS IS A NON PARTISAN POSITION, BEING A SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR.
IT SEEMS SO UNREALISTIC SOMETIMES WITH HOW PASSIONATE AND HOW MUCH POLITICS PLAY A PART OF THIS.
BUT IT WAS A REALLY GREAT REMINDER AND THEY SAID IT VERY ELOQUENTLY.
BEING NONPARTISAN DOESN'T MEAN AVOIDING DIFFICULT DECISIONS, RATHER LEADERSHIP DECISIONS IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE SO COMPLEX THAT THE BEST DECISIONS INVOLVE INPUT FROM MULTIPLE PARTIES.
THAT JUST REALLY SPOKE TO ME BECAUSE IT TAKES ME RIGHT BACK TO EACH AND EVERY STUDENT.
WE WANT TO LISTEN TO ALL THE VOICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO LISTEN TO ALL OF OUR STAFF, ALL OF OUR ADMIN, AND JUST REALLY GAIN THAT PERSPECTIVE SO WE CAN MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS.
I'M PREGNANT I SHOULDN'T, BUT JULIA, YOU DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS.
I WAS JUST REALLY IMPRESSED AND I DON'T WANT TO NOT SAY SOMETHING.
I'M SURE EVERYBODY WILL SAY SOMETHING, BUT IT WAS GREAT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> DEFINITELY SHOUT OUT TO JULIA. YES.
>> IT WAS GREAT WHAT YOU SAID IN THE PERSPECTIVE YOU GAVE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S WHAT I GOT.
>> DO OUR STUDENT REPS HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE FROM THE DISTRICT MEETING?
>> I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD SAY IS GIVING THANKS TO OUR DISTRICT BECAUSE ME AND JULIA WERE THE ONLY STUDENT REPS THERE.
ME AND JULIA ACTUALLY WE'RE SURPRISED BECAUSE WE KNOW SOME OF THOSE DISTRICTS ACTUALLY DO HAVE STUDENT REPS OR VOICE THAT THEY DO HAVE STUDENT REPS IN SOME WAY.
BUT I WENT INTO A GROUP WITH RIDGEFIELD IN KELSO, AND IT WAS JUST SURPRISING TO HEAR THEM SAY LIKE WE DON'T HAVE STUDENT REPS.
IT MADE ME THINK, THEN HOW ARE THEY KNOWING WHAT STUDENTS NEED IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT VOICE BEING HEARD? I TOLD THEM THAT I VOICED THAT AS AN OPINION OF HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT'S NEEDING TO BE FIXED WHEN YOU'RE JUST SEEING THE OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF THE INSIDE VIEW OF EVERYTHING AND HEARING THEM SAY, WELL, SOMETIMES WE GO AND VIEW THE SCHOOLS AND SOME OF THOSE DISTRICTS DON'T EVEN VIEW INSIDE THEIR SCHOOLS, SO THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEIR MONEY'S GOING TO OR WHAT THEY'RE FIXING WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S BEING FIXED? THEY'RE JUST TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO DO.
BUT IN OUR DISTRICT, WE GO INTO OUR SCHOOLS.
ME AND JULIA AS REPS, WE DO OUR INDIVIDUAL TOURS.
AS A WHOLE BOARD, WE DO OUR TOURS.
IT JUST SHOWS HOW MUCH OUR DISTRICT CARES ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND HOW IT WAS SUCH AN EASY QUESTION WHEN IT CAME TO NOT EASY, BUT IT WAS EASIER TO UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION OF, WHY DO YOU NEED STUDENT VOICE OR HOW CAN YOU DIFFERENTIATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT STUDENTS NEED AND THE NOISE BEHIND IT.
[00:45:01]
YOU HAVE STUDENT REPS, AND THAT'S WHAT ME AND JULIA ARE HERE FOR IS TO VOICE OUR OPINIONS AND OUR NEEDS AND ALSO WHAT'S GOING WELL AND WHAT'S GOING BAD.THEY GO AND SEE IT, THEY GO AND SEE WHAT THE MONEY THEY PUT INTO TO BE FIXED AND SEEING IF IT'S WORKING, IF IT'S NOT WORKING.
I JUST GIVE THANKS TO OUR DISTRICT AND OUR BOARD OF HOW MUCH TIME AND HOW MUCH EFFORT WE PUT INTO OUR STUDENTS.
>> I SPOKE WITH TWO BOARD MEMBERS FROM DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, AND ALTHOUGH WHEN WE WERE DOING THE WALK AND TALK, WE HAD A PROMPT THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING ABOUT.
ALL THEY WANTED TO TALK TO ME ABOUT WERE THE TWO OF YOU AND WHAT IMPACTS YOU HAVE IN THE DISTRICT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT YOU LEFT A VERY LASTING IMPRESSION WITH AT LEAST TWO DISTRICTS.
THEIR BOARD WANTED TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU DO WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU GET INPUT AND ALL THAT. GOOD JOB.
I THINK I TALKED TO THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, AND IT ULTIMATELY BOILED DOWN TO JUST LOOK AT OUR POLICY.
WE HAVE THE BEST POLICY ON STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES, WHICH, BY THE WAY, I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THAT BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS THE BEST POLICY ON STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES, AND THAT EVERY SCHOOL OR EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS OUR SIZE, SHOULD HAVE THE SAME POLICY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY, I THINK IT'S THE BEST ONE.
IT WAS REALLY FUN THAT WE WENT.
>> GOOD. THANKS FOR JUMPING IN THERE AND SAYING YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN GOING.
>> AND FOR REPRESENTING US SO WELL.
>> ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS, WHAT DOES LEADING WITH PURPOSE MEAN TO YOU IN YOUR ROLE AS A BOARD MEMBER, AND AS WE WENT AROUND AND TALKED, I HAD TAKEN SOME NOTES.
IT MEANS BEING PROACTIVE AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE DOWN THE ROAD, NOT JUST THE NEXT MEETING OR THE NEXT MONTH OR EVEN THE NEXT YEAR, BUT LOOKING FOR THE, WE EACH SERVE MAYBE FOUR YEARS OR MAYBE 12 YEARS, I RAN INTO SOME PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN SERVING 20 YEARS.
BUT A BOARD MEMBER REALLY HAS TO BE THINKING BEYOND THE TIME THAT THEY SERVE.
IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO BECOME JUST A CRISIS MANAGER INSTEAD OF A LEADER, UNLESS WE KEEP ONE THING IN OUR MIND AND THAT IS OUR WHY IS OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR LEARNING.
CAME AWAY WITH THAT. THE LAST THING THAT I HAVE IS JACKIE AND I HAVE BEEN INVITED, AND WILL BE ATTENDING THE LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST PUT ON BY TEACH ONE TO LEAD ONE AND THE LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP ON APRIL 15.
WE'LL BE REPRESENTING THE BOARD AT THAT EVENT.
[6. Superintendent and Staff Updates]
WITH THAT, UNLESS ANYONE HAS SOMETHING ELSE.I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF UPDATES.
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE. THE BUDGET PROPOSAL.
FIRST, I WANTED TO SAY, THANKS FOR MENTIONING THE COOK OFF, AND I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO CHART WELLS, OUR FOOD SERVICE PARTNERS BECAUSE THEY DID AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC JOB, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
BOARD, AS YOU KNOW, AS WE MOVE INTO THE LEVY, VOTE COMING UP ON APRIL 22.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TASKED WITH IS PUTTING TOGETHER A LIST OF POTENTIAL CUTS, BUDGET REDUCTIONS THAT WOULD BE MADE IF THE LEVY WERE NOT TO PASS.
THE TOTAL FOR THOSE CUTS HAS TO REACH $20 MILLION.
AND SO WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A DOCUMENT, AND FOR ANYBODY LISTENING OUT THERE OR FOR ANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, THIS DOCUMENT IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S BEING PRESENTED IS TONIGHT.
AND IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC EARLY THIS WEEK, PROBABLY MOST LIKELY TOMORROW WILL BE AVAILABLE.
BUT IT GOES OVER THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CUTS.
YOU CAN SEE WE'VE TRIED TO DIVIDE THE CUTS UP INTO FOUR CATEGORIES.
THERE IS A SAFETY CATEGORY, AN INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT CATEGORY, AN ENRICHMENT CATEGORY, AND AN OPERATIONS CATEGORY.
WE GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW THERE.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT FOR YOU.
BUT THEN WHERE WE GET INTO SAFETY.
SAFETY WOULD RESULT IN OVER $5 MILLION BEING CUT.
IT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE REDUCTION IN SCHOOL COUNSELORS.
WE WOULD REDUCE EIGHT OVERALL IN THE DISTRICT, SIX IN THE K-8 CAMPUSES AND TWO AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
REDUCTION OF BEHAVIOR SUPPORT, PARA EDUCATORS, ELIMINATION OF ALL CROSSING GUARDS,
[00:50:02]
OVER 40 OF THOSE.THAT'S PAID FOR ENTIRELY BY THE LEVY.
ELIMINATION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL SECURITY GUARDS AND REDUCTION OF HIGH SCHOOL SECURITY, ELIMINATION OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, ELIMINATION OF ASSISTANT SECURITY SUPERVISOR, ELIMINATION OF DEAN OF STUDENTS AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL, ELIMINATION OF OUR DRUG AND ALCOHOL PREVENTION INTERVENTION PROGRAM, WHICH BE EIGHT INDIVIDUALS, REDUCTION OF LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES, ELIMINATION OF THE NURSING SUPERVISOR, REDUCTION OF BEHAVIOR SUPPORT PERSONNEL, RBTS AND BCBA, AND ELIMINATION OF OUR CONTRACTED MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE TWO FULL-TIME MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS THAT WE CONTRACT THROUGH ESD, ONE AT PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL AND ONE AT AMBOY MIDDLE YACO.
>> BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL. SORRY. ON AT BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL.
FOR THE INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS, WE WOULD INCREASE CLASS SIZES, WHICH WOULD BE A REDUCTION OF 25 TEACHING POSITIONS THROUGHOUT K-12, END OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR ALL PRIMARY STUDENTS.
RIGHT NOW, WE PAY FOR ALL THOSE SUPPLIES.
PARENTS DON'T HAVE TO GO WITH A LIST TO FRED MEYER AND PUT TOGETHER A LIST.
WE PAY FOR THAT. WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
ELIMINATION OF ALL TEACHER LIBRARIANS, REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, ONE PER SHARED CAMPUS, ELIMINATION OF THE PRINCIPAL AT BATTLE GROUND VIRTUAL ACADEMY, ELIMINATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES, ELIMINATION OF SPECIAL HEAD COORDINATORS, ELIMINATION OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.
ELIMINATION OF THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT POSITION AND THE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES, ELIMINATION OF ACADEMIC SUPPORT PERSONNEL, ELIMINATION OF THE ASPIRE MAGNET PROGRAM.
WE STILL HAVE THE ASPIRE PROGRAM, BUT IT WOULD BE A CLUSTER PROGRAM INSTEAD OF OUR MAGNET PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE, WHICH WE ARE THE ONLY DISTRICT IN ALL OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON WHO RUNS A MAGNET PROGRAM, BUT IT COSTS US ALMOST $700,000 EXTRA A YEAR.
REDUCTION OF SOME ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES, AS I SAID, WE WOULD RAISE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED TO PUT A CLASS ON, REDUCTION IN CREDIT RECOVERY STAFF, SUSPENSION OF NEW CURRICULUM, AND ASSESSMENT PURCHASES, AND ELIMINATION OF THE KINDERGARTEN JUMPSTART PROGRAM THAT SAVES US $10 MILLION.
FOR ENRICHMENT, THIS ONE BREAKS MY HEART, ELIMINATION.
THEY ALL BREAK MY HEART, BUT ELIMINATION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS AND THOSE COACHING POSITIONS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT, ELIMINATION OF HIGH SCHOOL C TEAM SPORTS, REDUCED ATHLETIC TRANSPORTATION, INCREASED HIGH SCHOOL EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY, PARTICIPATION FEES, ELIMINATION OF ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND CLUBS AND A REDUCTION IN OUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER OF TWO STAFF MEMBERS.
FOR OPERATIONS, REDUCED BUS ROUTES, REDUCTION IN FACILITY, WAREHOUSE MAINTENANCE AND CUSTODIAL STAFF, ELIMINATION OF ASSISTANT CUSTODIAL SUPERVISORS, REDUCTION IN TECHNOLOGY PURCHASES, REDUCTION IN HOURS FOR OFFICE AND SUPERVISION SUPPORT STAFF AND BUILDINGS AND DEPARTMENTS, AND A REDUCTION IN BUILDING BUDGETS, 25% REDUCTION FOR BUILDING AND DISTRICT BUDGETS.
THE ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES ARE ALMOST $1 MILLION AND THE OPERATION COSTS ARE ALMOST $4 MILLION.
YOU ADD THOSE FOUR THINGS UP AND IT'S A TOTAL OF $20 MILLION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. CAN YOU GUYS GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, PLEASE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE TWO ITEMS. HOW WERE THESE POTENTIAL BUDGET CUTS CHOSEN? THE FOCUS IS ON MAINTAINING STAFF POSITIONS WITH A DIRECT IMPACT ON STUDENT LEARNING, AND THOSE THAT ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO MEET CONTRACTUAL STATE AND FEDERAL MANDATES.
BECAUSE STAFF MAKE UP APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THE BUDGET, POSITION CUTS ARE REQUIRED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
ANY POSITIONS NOT PAID FOR BY THE STATE, INCLUDING SOME TEACHING EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, SAFETY, NURSING ROLES, NOT COVERED AS PART OF THE STATE'S FUNDING FORMULA WERE CONSIDERED AS POTENTIAL CUTS.
IN WASHINGTON STATE LOCAL LEVY DOLLARS FUND LOCAL PRIORITIES.
ARE THE BUDGET CUTS DEFINITE? HERE'S THE CAVEAT.
IF THE REPLACEMENT EDUCATIONAL OPERATIONS LEVY IMPROVED IN APRIL, THE DISTRICT WOULD NOT NEED TO MAKE ANY OF THESE CUTS.
SHOULD THE LEVY FAIL, THESE CUTS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN LATE APRIL FOR APPROVAL.
ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS COULD BE MADE ON INCREASED STATE FUNDING.
ANY INCREASED ENROLLMENT ENROLLMENT CHANGES.
IT COULD GO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IF ENROLLMENT GOES DOWN AND THE USE OF THE DISTRICT'S FUND BALANCE, WHICH THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON.
THESE CUTS WOULD TAKE EFFECT FOR THE 2025/26 SCHOOL YEAR.
[00:55:02]
AGAIN, THESE ARE A LIST OF ITEMS. FOR THE BOARD, IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, YOU WANT MORE CLARITY ON ANY OF THESE, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO SHELLY OR I AND WE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT.AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC STARTING TOMORROW AND WE'LL BE POSTED ON OUR LEVY INFORMATION SITE.
I ENCOURAGE ANY CITIZENS, STAFF, ANY OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE ITEMS AND THEY WANT ADDITIONAL CLARITY TO REACH OUT AGAIN TO SHELLY AND I, AND WE'D BE GLAD TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THESE POTENTIAL CUTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
NOT ONLY TRYING TO PICK WHICH ONES WILL MAKE UP THIS MONEY, BUT JUST THE IMPACT TO THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE IN THESE POSITIONS OR MAYBE SERVING IN OTHER POSITIONS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE A LOT OF MOVING AROUND.
I THINK THE ONE THING THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE REST OF THE BOARD CAUGHT THIS TOO, BUT JUST FOR EXAMPLE, IN INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT, YOU TALK ABOUT THE END OF FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES, I GET THAT, WHICH ROLLS INTO MORE FAMILIES MAY NEED HELP.
BUT WE'RE ELIMINATING PART OF THE FCRC.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE ONLY EXAMPLE.
IT'S JUST THE ONE THAT SEEMS VERY OBVIOUS TO ME.
BUT I FEEL IT'S GOOD TO BE PREPARED AND TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. THANK YOU.
>> I BELIEVE I HAVEN'T ADDED IT UP, BUT THERE'S OVER 200 INDIVIDUALS IF YOU ADD UP THE NUMBERS.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF THINKING, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I'M NOT THE SHARPEST KNIFE ON THE DOOR, OF COURSE, BUT A LOT OF THINGS, IT'S HARD FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND AND SEE.
AND SO I THINK SOME OF THESE THINGS INFER PEOPLE, SOME OF THOSE 200.
BUT IT'S NOT QUITE EASY TO SEE THAT THAT'S A PERSON.
IT SOUNDS MORE LIKE IT'S A PROGRAM OR SOMETHING AND YOU DON'T SEE THE PEOPLE IN THE NUMBERS HERE THING.
AS WE PURSUE THIS, DENNY, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS, AND I'LL, OF COURSE, BE ASKING YOU QUESTIONS.
BUT HOW WILL WE BE TALKING ABOUT IT MORE HERE? DO YOU ENVISION THAT OR.
>> TERRY, AT SOME POINT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BRING TO YOU A REDUCTION IN FORCE RESOLUTION THAT THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHO WE WOULD ELIMINATE, WHAT POSITIONS WOULD BE ELIMINATED?
>> ALL OF THAT HAS TO HAPPEN BY JULY 1ST?
>> THAT HAS TO HAPPEN BY MAY 15.
>> WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME WITH OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS BECAUSE WE ARE ALSO GOING THROUGH OUR Q MIGRATION.
WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR BUDGET DONE BY THE END OF JUNE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL THESE DECISIONS MADE RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
BY MAY 15, WE HAVE TO LET ALL OUR CERTIFICATED STAFF KNOW, INCLUDING OUR ADMINISTRATORS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE A CONTRACT FOR NEXT YEAR.
YEAH, THE TIMING, IT'S GOING TO BE A TIGHT TIMELINE FOR ALL OF US.
>> REALLY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SECOND MEETING IN APRIL BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T HAVE A RESOLUTION BEFORE US UNTIL AFTER WE KNOW WHETHER THE LEVY PASSED.
>> YES. YOU'RE LOOKING AT APRIL 22 WHEN THE LEVY AND APRIL 28.
WE'LL HAVE APPROXIMATELY SIX DAYS.
>> TO IDENTIFY THE CERTIFICATED.
WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE CLASSIFIED DONE, BUT THAT MEANS ALL ADMINISTRATORS AND ALL CERTIFICATED TEACHING, COUNSELORS, TEACHER LIBRARIES, ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS.
IN TOTALITY, AS DENNY SAID, IT'S A LITTLE OVER 200 PEOPLE IMPACTED DIRECTLY, BUT THERE'S 387 PARTICULAR JOBS.
SOME OF THOSE, AGAIN, ARE ADD ONS, SOMEBODY WHO'S COACHING, BUT WOULDN'T LOSE THEIR JOB.
BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU CUT A POSITION LIKE A TEACHER ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT THAT'S SUPPORTING CURRICULUM, THEY HAVE LOTS OF EXPERIENCE AND LOTS OF SENIORITY.
THEY WILL GO BACK INTO THE POOL AND WE DISPLACE SOMEONE WITH LESS EXPERIENCE.
WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SENIORITY LIST.
[01:00:01]
THAT PROCESS, AGAIN, INTERNALLY IN HR, WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE 22.WE WILL HAVE TO DO SOME OF THAT IN ADVANCE OF THAT, BUT WE WON'T BRING A RESOLUTION UNTIL WE KNOW ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND WE WON'T BE REACHING OUT.
WE'VE ALREADY LET STAFF GROUPS THAT ARE IMPACTED KNOW, BUT WE WILL NOT LET INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IMPACTED KNOW UNTIL WE KNOW THE RESULTS OF THE LEVY.
IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY TIGHT TURNAROUND SHOULD THE LEVY NOT PASS.
>> I AM GOING TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION.
>> I'M HOPING THAT THIS IS HELPFUL TO TALK ABOUT HERE.
BECAUSE ALL OF THIS RANDOMS TOGETHER, AND ONE THING.
SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING I THINK CROSSWALK GUARDS.
WELL, WE USED TO HAVE VOLUNTEER CROSSWALK GUARDS.
THERE MIGHT BE THINGS WE CAN DO TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THROUGH THIS.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
NOW, I'M LOOKING AT THE HIDDEN LIKE NUMBERS, AND I WAS LOOKING AT THIS ONE HERE IN THE SECOND COLUMN THIS FIRST, IT SAYS, INCREASED CLASS SIZES, REDUCTION OF K THROUGH 12 TEACHING STAFF.
NOW, BUT THEN YOU SAID SOMETHING AND IT GETS SO CONFUSING.
YOUR COMMENTS WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL, I THINK, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE LIKE RACING UP TO THE LAST DATE WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
PEOPLE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THIS STUFF.
>> THE STATE FUNDS PER STUDENT FOR CLASSES, AND YET THE LEVY IMPACT WILL IN FACT CAUSE OUR CLASSES TO ACTUALLY GROW IN SIZE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE FUNDING PER PERSON.
YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING? CAN YOU HELP US TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT COMES TOGETHER?
>> WE LOWER OUR CLASS SIZE BEYOND WHAT THE STATE FUNDING BRINGS TO US.
>> JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST CLASS SIZES IN ALL OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON.
>> VERY GOOD. [OVERLAPPING] I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT.
>> OUR AVERAGE CLASS SIZE AT PRIMARY, K3 FOR PRIMARY, IS 19 POINTS [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE ALSO GET ENHANCED FUNDING AS LONG AS WE STAY UNDERNEATH THOSE CAPS AT THE K3 LEVEL, AND WE TRY TO STAY BELOW THAT.
WHAT WE HAD TO DO TO IDENTIFY 25 IS WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW FAR IN OVERLOAD THAT WE MIGHT GO.
I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW.
WE HAVE CONTRACT LANGUAGE THAT SETS IT FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL OR EACH SPAN OF GRADE LEVELS.
WHAT WE HAVE DETERMINED IN ORDER TO GET A NUMBER THAT GETS PART OF THAT 20 MILLION IS THREE STUDENTS IN OVERLOAD IN EVERY CLASS.
WHEN YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN CLASS SIZE, ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE ARE STAFFING AT IS THREE STUDENTS ABOVE CASELOAD LANGUAGE.
>> THEN DID I HEAR CORRECTLY, THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE DO USE LEVY MONIES TO HELP US REDUCE THAT?
>> SIGNIFICANTLY. FOR INSTANCE, IF WE WANT TO OFFER AN AP CLASS OF 17 STUDENTS, MAYBE ONLY 17 STUDENTS WILL SHOW UP, WE ABSORB THAT, WHICH NOW MEANS THAT ANOTHER TEACHER MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE 30 STUDENTS IN THEIR CLASSROOM.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU COMBINE THOSE TWO TOGETHER, 17 AND 30 IS 47, THAT MEANS THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF 23 STUDENTS.
WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT AP CLASS.
NOW THOSE 17 STUDENTS, BECAUSE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO OFFER THOSE CLASSES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE LEVY FUNDING, THOSE 17 STUDENTS HAVE TO FIND A PLACE.
THEY'LL HAVE TO FIT INTO THOSE OTHER CLASSROOMS. AS JACKIE SAID SO ELOQUENTLY, IT HAS A LOT OF TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECTS.
ONE THING IMPACTS SOMETHING ELSE, WHICH IMPACTS SOMETHING ELSE, AND OUR ABILITY TO DO ALL OF THAT.
I JUST THINK ABOUT OUR PRINCIPALS, FOR INSTANCE.
THE PRINCIPALS AND OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN EVALUATE STAFF.
IF YOU HAVE AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT A SCHOOL AND THEY HAVE 40 TEACHERS, AND THEY DON'T HAVE AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, THAT'S 40 TEACHERS THEY HAVE TO EVALUATE.
THAT'S A HEAVY LIFT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
>> NOW WE'VE REDUCED MIDDLE SCHOOL SECURITY, WE'VE REDUCED SECURITY AND OTHER SUPPORTS, COUNSELING SUPPORT, SOME OF THOSE OTHER THINGS, WHICH MEANS THAT THOSE EXTRA DUTIES ARE GOING TO FALL TO THEM.
SOME OF THE DECISIONS, I THINK THAT ARE AHEAD OF US, IS IF WE DO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WHAT ON THIS LIST IS GOING TO BE PRIORITIZED IN ORDER TO MAKE DIFFERENT DECISIONS BASED ON A BALANCE OF THE BEST ENVIRONMENT WE CAN PROVIDE FOR KIDS,
[01:05:06]
I THINK IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT DISCUSSION.>> I MEAN THIS IN THE BEST WAY FOR THE BOARD, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT BETWEEN NOW AND APRIL 22ND, THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT THIS LIST AND SAYING, WELL, IF I HAD TO BRING BACK TWO OR THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE THINGS, THESE WOULD BE MY PRIORITIES.
BECAUSE IF WE ARE GOING TO USE SOME OF THE FUND BALANCE OR WE DO GET INCREASED FUNDING, WE'LL CERTAINLY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT WE'LL BE ASKING FOR YOUR INPUT AS WELL.
THE SAME THING GOES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
IT'D BE INTERESTING TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOME OF THESE CUTS AND WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE RETURNED, AND HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING THAT.
>> THIS DRIVES HOME THE POINT AGAIN, AND MAYBE THIS ISN'T CLEAR TO EVERYONE, THAT YOU CAN'T CUT THIS FUNDING WITHOUT IMPACTING MOSTLY PEOPLE.
>> MICHELLE, TELL US THE NUMBER AGAIN, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET IS?
>> YEAH. WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CUT FUNDING BY DOING SOMETHING [OVERLAPPING].
>> THERE'S A LOT OF THE NON-PEOPLE STUFF YOU CAN'T CUT.
YOU CAN'T CUT YOUR INSURANCE AND YOU CAN'T CUT YOUR ELECTRICITY AND YOU CAN'T CUT YOUR WATER AND YOU CAN'T CUT YOUR MAINTENANCE.
YOU CAN REDUCE IT, BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE DID WE DID A MATH ON WHAT THE PEOPLE IS, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT OVER 80%, IS PEOPLE.
IT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO ALIGNMENT.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT HEAVIER, BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S TO DENNY'S POINT, THAT SOME OF THOSE THINGS, YOU'RE LEAVING THE LIGHTS ON.
YOU'RE NOT TELLING KIDS THEY GOT TO BRING THEIR OWN TOILET PAPER.
>> WELL, AND DOES THAT 80% INCLUDE THE FACT THAT WE CONTRACT FOR TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD? SEE, YOUR NUMBER WOULD BE HIGHER.
>> EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT WITH THE CONTRACTED SERVICES.
>> I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO SHELLY AND TEACHING AND LEARNING.
>> TEACHING AND LEARNING. WE DO WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ABOUT GRADUATION RATES THIS EVENING.
TRAVIS IS GOING TO COME UP AND PRESENT SOME INFORMATION FOR YOU AND TAMARA IS HERE TO ALSO ADD IN IF SHE DECIDES TO [LAUGHTER].
>> THANK YOU, BOARD. I WILL NOT STAND THERE IF THAT'S THE SCREEN YOU CAN SEE.
THIS IS JUST A REALLY QUICK PRESENTATION.
I WANTED TO TALK THROUGH WHAT SEEMS WOULD BE A VERY SIMPLE NUMBER TO LOOK AT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GRADUATION RATES AND JUST A FEW SLIDES TO SHOW HOW OUR RATES HAVE LOOKED THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS COMPARED TO THE STATE.
THE CONNECTION TO THE DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLAN, SO IN TERMS OF HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION, ONE OF OUR OBJECTIVES IS TO INCREASE THE FOUR-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES.
THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WE DO WITH THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT DOES A GRADUATION RATE MEAN? GRADUATION RATE IS BASED ON A COHORT, SO A GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO START THEIR NINTH-GRADE YEAR TOGETHER.
STUDENTS WHO TRANSFER INTO OR OUT OF A SCHOOL ARE ADDED OR REMOVED FROM THAT COHORT.
IF STUDENTS STOP ATTENDING SCHOOL, THEY ARE COUNTED AS A DROPOUT.
THE FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATE INCLUDES STUDENTS THAT GRADUATED IN FOUR YEARS AND THOSE THAT GRADUATED IN FIVE.
I UNDERSTAND THOSE ARE VERY SIMPLE EXPLANATIONS, THOSE ARE DIRECTLY FROM OSPI.
WE ALSO DO LOOK AT FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATES.
AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, I USED TO TELL STUDENTS ALL THE TIME, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY LIFE SITUATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO OUR STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF THEIR CONTROL, AND IT IS EXTREMELY GRATIFYING TO SEE A STUDENT WHO STICKS WITH IT AND GRADUATES IN FIVE YEARS BECAUSE OF WHATEVER WAS GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES.
WE DO LOOK AT THOSE RATES AS WELL.
I WON'T READ ALL OF THEM TO YOU.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY COVER JUST ABOVE 80%.
THEN IF YOU LOOK AT OUR DISTRICT GRADUATION RATES, WE ARE SLIGHTLY BELOW THE STATE AVERAGE.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT THAT LAST YEAR WAS OUR HIGHEST GRADUATION RATE SO FAR AND ALSO THE CLOSEST TO THE STATE GRADUATION RATE, SEPARATING ONLY BY 1% BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE DISTRICT GRADUATION RATE.
I WON'T READ ALL OF THOSE TO YOU.
WE'LL JUST FOCUS ON '23/'24, AND YOU CAN SEE THE TREND OVER THE YEARS.
[NOISE] BATTLE GROUND AND PRAIRIE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN RIGHT CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, SEPARATED TYPICALLY BY ONLY 1-2%.
[01:10:02]
SUMMIT VIEW IS AT 45.8%.I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON SUMMIT VIEW IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
CAM TRADITIONALLY HAS THE HIGHEST GRADUATION RATE IN OUR DISTRICT, AND RIVER HOMELINK, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT DOES FLUCTUATE QUITE A BIT AND THERE ARE REASONS FOR THAT.
PRIMARILY AT RIVER HOMELINK, AS A PARENT-PARTNERED PROGRAM, THEY DO RELY ON THE PARTNERSHIP AT HOME, AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE PARENTS AREN'T PROVIDING THAT SUPPORT.
IT IS TO SAY THAT THE SCHOOL DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE STUDENTS AT ALL TIMES.
ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES IS IN TERMS OF WHAT INTERVENTION LOOKS LIKE AT RIVER HOMELINK WHEN YOU ONLY SEE THE STUDENT, AT TIMES ONE DAY A WEEK.
>> CAN I JUST STOP YOU FOR JUST A SEC?
>> CAN YOU JUST FLIP BACK TO THE SLIDE WITH THE STATE TEST SCORES?
>> THESE ARE [OVERLAPPING] GRADUATION RATES.
>> GRADUATION RATES, I'M SO SORRY.
TEST SCORES ON THE BRAIN, 82.8 FOR THE STATE AVERAGE?
>> NOW, IF YOU FLIP BACK, THREE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ARE WELL ABOVE THAT.
>> THE REASON WHY WE'RE BELOW OVERALL IS BECAUSE IT'S AN AVERAGE OF THE FIVE.
>> THIS IS A POINT THAT I WAS GOING TO MAKE AFTER.
I DO THINK THE FACT THAT WE OFFER SO MANY ALTERNATIVES IN OUR ALE PROGRAM HAS AN IMPACT ON OUR GRADUATION RATE.
>> SURE. THE REASON WHY I POINTED OUT, AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT WHY I'M POINTING IT OUT IS BECAUSE, EVERYBODY WANTS BETTER GRADUATION RATES, AND WE HAVE PRETTY GREAT GRADUATION RATES.
WE ALSO OFFER A LOT OF PROGRAMS, WHICH IS, I THINK, VERY UNIQUE TO OUR DISTRICT, BUT MAKES OUR DISTRICT SO GREAT, IS THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
>> OUR COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS ALMOST NINE OUT OF 10 STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING.
>> YEAH. I THINK THERE'S SOME MATH IN THERE THAT WHEN YOU GO TO OSPI AND YOU LOOK AT, WHAT DOES BATTLE GROUND SCHOOL DISTRICT DO? IT'S NOT AS BLACK AND WHITE AS WE'RE BELOW STATE AVERAGE.
>> THANK YOU, JACKIE. THERE'S A FEW THINGS ABOUT SOME OF YOU THAT I'M GOING TO POINT OUT IN JUST A SECOND WHEN I GET THERE.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DEAL WITH, IF A STUDENT TRANSFERS TO ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS THEIR SENIOR YEAR AND THEY ARE CREDIT DEFICIENT, AND WE'VE HAD STUDENTS TRANSFER INTO SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS AS LATE AS MAY.
>> ESPECIALLY OUR ALES AND THESE ARE STUDENTS TRANSFERRING OR MOVING IN FROM OTHER AREAS.
THEY NOW WOULD COUNT AGAINST OUR GRADUATION RATE.
SUMMIT VIEW PREDOMINANTLY ENROLLS STUDENTS WHO ARE CREDIT DEFICIENT, NOT ONLY FROM OUR DISTRICT BUT FROM OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT.
SUMMIT VIEW HAS A GREAT REPUTATION AROUND THE AREA.
30% OF THE STUDENTS WHO ATTEND SOME OF YOU ARE THERE ON A BOUNDARY EXCEPTION.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE COMING FROM RIDGEFIELD AND EVERGREEN.
ON AVERAGE, STUDENTS ARE 6.5 CREDITS DEFICIENT WHEN THEY TRANSFER INTO SUMMIT VIEW, AND THEY'RE TYPICALLY 17 YEARS OLD.
THAT'S THE AVERAGE STUDENT TRANSFERRING INTO SUMMIT VIEW.
>> THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEM GRADUATING ON TIME IS SLIM TO NONE.
>> WHILE BATTLE GROUND OFFERS GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE KIDS TO FIND SUCCESS AND GET A DIPLOMA, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS REFLECT WELL ON US BUT SERVES KIDS WELL.
>> I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS WHEN NINE OUT OF 10 OF OUR STUDENTS FROM PRAIRIE AND BATTLE GROUND ARE GRADUATING, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE PATTING OURSELVES ON THE BACK AND NOT TRYING TO DO THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE IMPROVE OUR GRADUATION RATES.
WE ARE NOT HIGHLIGHTING SUMMIT VIEW AS AN EXAMPLE TO SAY, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN, LEAVE US ALONE.
WHAT WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING IS, WE DO RECEIVE STUDENTS WHO WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN, AND FOR MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS, THEY'VE HAD MANY LIFE EVENTS THAT HAVE IMPACTED THEIR ABILITY TO GRADUATE IN A TRADITIONAL SETTING ON TIME.
SUMMIT VIEW IS A GREAT OPTION.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE STICK WITH THEM TILL THEY DO GRADUATE, SOMETIMES IN YEAR 6 OR YEAR 7.
>> THEY HAVE SEVEN YEARS TO GRADUATE.
WE HAVE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT I WON'T GO INTO TONIGHT LIKE OPEN DOORS WHERE WE SUPPORT STUDENTS THERE AS WELL.
A FEW JUST REAL QUICK, SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE DO EMPLOY.
WE DO HAVE UNIT RECOVERY, WHICH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS IF A STUDENT FAILS A COURSE, DEPENDING ON THE COURSE, WE HAVE SOME CLASSES WHERE WE CAN IDENTIFY WHICH UNITS THEY DIDN'T PASS AND THE STUDENT CAN COMPLETE THOSE UNITS AND THEY CAN EARN THE CREDIT THAT WAY, AND THAT WOULD BE ONE WAY FOR THEM TO RECOVER THAT CREDIT WITHOUT HAVING TO DO AN ENTIRE CREDIT RECOVERY COURSE.
ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE CREDIT RECOVERY.
A STUDENT FAILS A COURSE, THIS WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE TRADITIONAL THAT WE ARE USED TO A STUDENT FAILS A COURSE, THEY WOULD TAKE THAT COURSE VIA CREDIT RECOVERY.
THE FAILED GRADE STAYS ON THEIR TRANSCRIPT.
[01:15:03]
WE CANNOT REMOVE THAT FAILED GRADE.THEY WOULD JUST GET A PASS ONCE THEY COMPLETE CREDIT RECOVERY.
AT THE TWO COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS, WE HAVE FALCON SUPPORT AND TIGER TIME, WHICH RIGHT NOW OCCURS TWO DAYS A WEEK FOR 30 MINUTES A DAY, AND THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO GET SUPPORT IN THE COURSES THEY ARE STRUGGLING IN.
THEN ONE THING THAT I WILL HIGHLIGHT TONIGHT IS WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH CENTER FOR HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS, WHICH FOCUSES ON NINTH GRADE ON TRACK.
THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT 100% OF OUR FRESHMEN HAVE SIX CREDITS BY THE END OF THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR.
ALGEBRA 1 AND ENGLISH 9 ARE TYPICALLY THE TWO COURSES WHERE STUDENTS FAIL THE MOST, AND SO THAT IS WHERE WE DO TRY AND PROVIDE THE MOST SUPPORT, AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE STRATEGIES, PARTICULARLY WITH ALGEBRA, TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT.
THIS IS JUST A REAL QUICK EXAMPLE.
THESE ARE OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS THAT ARE ROUGHLY THE SAME SIZE AS OUR TWO COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS.
YOU NOTICE THAT THEIR GRAD RATE ARE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN OURS, AND IT REALLY COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT THEIR NINTH GRADE ON TRACK IS ALSO SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN, ESPECIALLY PRAIRIE AND BATTLE GROUND.
>> WE JUST STARTED THE NINTH GRADE ON TRACK PROGRAM THIS YEAR.
>> CORRECT. CENTER FOR HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THEM.
THEY ARE WORKING WITH BOTH OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS.
THERE WAS A GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED, AND WE WILL FIND OUT AT THE END OF APRIL IF THEY HAVE RECEIVED IT AGAIN TO ALLOW US TO ACCESS IT.
BUT WITH CENTER FOR HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS, WE MEET WITH THEM ONCE A MONTH AS A WHOLE TEAM.
BOTH BATTLE GROUND AND PRAIRIE HAVE NINTH-GRADE SUCCESS TEAMS ON THEIR END.
BECAUSE CENTER FOR HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS PARTNERS WITH OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA, WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO PARTNER WITH HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE EVERGREEN SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS WELL AS [INAUDIBLE].
>> I ASSUME THAT THESE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT YOU'RE POINTING OUT HAVE THAT PROGRAM IN PLACE ALREADY AND HAVE HAD IT IN PLACE FOR A WHILE?
>> THIS IS WAY TOO SMALL FOR EVEN IF YOU HAD IT IN FRONT OF YOU, IT'S TOO SMALL TO READ, BUT THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE DATA THAT THE CENTER FOR HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS DISTRICT COACH BRINGS TO US, AND THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE FROM PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE FAILURE RATE OF SPECIFIC COURSES.
LIKE I SAID, THEY PARTNER WITH MULTIPLE DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE.
THEY PROVIDE A COACH WHO WE MEET WITH AND THEY BRING SPECIFIC DATA.
THEY CREATE COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING THE EVERGREEN PUBLIC SCHOOL, AND WE DO PARTNER WITH CENTER FOR HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS AT NO COST THROUGH A GRANT AT THE STATE LEVEL.
THEY WILL FIND OUT AT THE END OF THIS LEG LEGISLATIVE SESSION IF THEY RECEIVE THE MONEY AGAIN THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO PASS ALONG TO US.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AROUND GRADUATION RATES?
>> WHAT HAPPENS IF A STUDENT STARTS NINTH GRADE WITH US AND THEN MOVE SOMEWHERE AND WE AREN'T ABLE TO TRACK THEM.
DO WE STILL HAVE TO COUNT THAT STUDENT AS OURS?
>> CORRECT. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN.
TYPICALLY, WE WOULD GET TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS FROM THE SCHOOL THAT THEY ARE TRANSFERRING TO.
ONCE THEY SHOW UP ON ANOTHER SCHOOL'S LIST FOR ATTENDANCE, THEN THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE OURS AND IT WOULD NO LONGER IMPACT OUR GRADUATION.
>> BUT IF WE CAN TRACK THEM NOW.
>> IF WE CAN'T TRACK THEM, IF THEY DO TRULY DROP OUT AND THEY DON'T ATTEND SCHOOL ANYWHERE ELSE, THEN YES, THAT WOULD IMPACT US.
THERE ARE OCCASIONS EVERY SINGLE YEAR WHERE A FAMILY WILL DISAPPEAR, AND WE ARE UNABLE TO TRACK THEM DOWN TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY GO, AND SOME OF THEM MOVE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY.
SOME OF THEM CHOOSE TO HOME SCHOOL, THERE'S DIFFERENT REASONS.
WE DO HAVE PEOPLE AT BOTH HIGH SCHOOLS WHO ARE TRYING TO TRACK DOWN THOSE FAMILIES JUST TO GET CONFIRMATION WHERE ARE YOU GOING.
BUT TYPICALLY, THEY'RE TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S IN OUR STATE OR ANOTHER STATE, AND THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE PART OF OUR COHORT INFORMATION.
I HAVE A QUESTION, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT GRADUATION RATES, SO I WON'T NECESSARILY ASK THAT, BUT THE COMMENT IS, THANK YOU AND I HAVING WORKED WITH YOU AS A PRINCIPAL AND A TEACHER, ME THE TEACHER.
I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU TAKE ALL OF THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
IT'S VERY HARD TO UNDERSTAND ALL THIS DATA AND LOOK AT ALL THIS DATA AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT ALL THIS DATA.
SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT FEEL GOOD THAT ONE OUT OF 10 KIDS DON'T GRADUATE.
BUT I KNOW HOW SERIOUSLY YOU TAKE IT AND HOW MUCH THIS IDEA OF KIDS GRADUATING IS AT YOUR HEART KIND OF A THING.
MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM SUMMIT VIEW AND NEEDED SPECIAL HELP, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT FOR HER.
[01:20:03]
THE NUMBERS GET SO CONFUSING.I THINK IF PEOPLE LOOK INTO IT AND THEY TALK TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND DENNY, THEY WILL DISCOVER THAT WE'RE WORKING ALL THE ANGLES HERE TO HELP KIDS TO GRADUATE AND NOT TO FAKE GRADUATE TO ACTUALLY GET THEM SOME GOOD POINTS AND GOOD SCORES AND SOME EDUCATION WHERE THEY QUALIFY TO GRADUATE.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME.
WE ARE WORKING REALLY HARD AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE'RE DOING, AND THERE'S ROOM FOR GROWTH BECAUSE YOU WON'T FIND ANYONE WHO'S WORKING AT ANY OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS WHO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO AREN'T GRADUATING.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAINTAIN CREDIBILITY WITH THE DIPLOMA.
WE DO NOT WANT TO BECOME A DIPLOMA FACTORY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S VALUE.
THERE ARE STRATEGIES THAT OTHER DISTRICTS DO UTILIZE.
ONE REALLY SIMPLE ONE IS THEY WILL PULL THE STUDENT SENIOR PRIOR TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THEY WILL PULL THAT STUDENT FROM THE CLASS, GIVE THEM THE F AND THEN JUST HAVE THEM COMPLETE THE COURSE DURING CREDIT RECOVERY.
THAT CREATES SOME CHALLENGES, AND IT DOES CREATE SOME FEELINGS WITH THE STAFF WHO ARE PART OF THOSE SYSTEMS BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WERE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE STUDENT, TRYING TO GET THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, AND THE PERCEPTION IS MAYBE GIVING THEM A DIFFERENT PATH OUT ISN'T NECESSARILY THE BEST THING TO MAINTAIN CREDIBILITY IN THAT DIPLOMA.
THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE AND I'M NOT SAYING WE WOULD NEVER LOOK TO DO THAT.
WE TYPICALLY HAVE THE STUDENTS COMPLETE THE COURSE PRIOR TO MOVING INTO CREDIT RECOVERY.
>> AFTER THE FIFTH YEAR, DOES THAT NUMBER INCREASE VERY MUCH IN OUR DISTRICT?
>> FOR FIFTH YEAR GRADUATION RATES, AND I UPDATED THIS PRESENTATION, BUT DIDN'T TELL YOU, LISA, SO THAT'S MY FAULT NOT YOURS.
A FIVE YEAR GRADUATION RATE, IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD, IS TYPICALLY 3% HIGHER THAN THE FOURTH.
SIXTH AND SEVENTH DIDN'T GO UP VERY MUCH AT ALL BECAUSE TYPICALLY BY THAT TIME STUDENTS HAVE MOVED ON TO EARN THEIR GED THROUGH CLARK AND OR OUR OPEN DOORS PROGRAM.
>> I ASKED MY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY.
>> THANK YOU. NO HR REPORT, SO WE'LL SKIP MISS REINHARDT AND GO TO FINANCE. MICHELLE SCOTT.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU. GETTING NEW BOARD.
JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT THERE IS AN ENROLLMENT UPDATE IN YOUR PACKET, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH IT IN DETAIL, BUT JUST PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FIRST LINE GRAPH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S OUR FUNDING BY FTE.
WE'RE STILL ABOVE OUR BUDGET, AND WE STILL HAVE MORE STUDENTS THAN WHEN WE STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
WE ARE DOING WELL AND TRACKING WELL.
YOU'LL SEE SOME OF OUR TRENDING LINES, AND SO YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF IT'S TAPERING DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE STILL ARE ABOVE THOSE BENCHMARKS THAT WE HAD PLANNED.
THEN I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN AUDIT UPDATE.
FROM THE AUDIT, WE STARTED AT THE END OF JANUARY AND IT'S ON THE THREE SECTIONS, FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND FEDERAL AUDIT.
WE'VE BEEN IN AUDIT NOW FOR TWO MONTHS NOW, AND THINGS ARE GOING WELL, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO EXITING PRETTY SOON, PROBABLY AFTER SPRING BREAK, BUT WE'RE PRETTY PLEASED WITH THE AUDIT SO FAR.
IT'S GOING WELL. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> MICHELLE, I'M HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THE GRAPH THAT SHOWS ME WHAT WE PLANNED AND WHERE WE'RE AT. WHICH ONE IS IT?
>> IF IT'S THE FIRST ONE, I SEE THE 24-25 DATA, WHICH IS APPARENTLY THE REAL DATA, BUT I DON'T SEE A PROJECTION FOR 24-25.
WE'RE 117 ABOVE BUDGET ON AVERAGE FOR THE SEVEN MONTHS.
>> THANK YOU, MICHELLE. KEVIN JOLMA, OPERATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. SPRING BREAK COMING UP.
WE'RE GOING TO BE STARTING ALL THREE OF OUR ROOF PROJECTS ON THE TUKES,
[01:25:02]
DAYBREAK, AND CHIEF SCHOOLS, THAT WE APPROVED THE CONTRACTS A COUPLE OF BOARD MEETINGS AGO.WE'RE CONTINUING OUR PERMITTING AND CONTRACTING FOR THE BGVA MODULAR AT PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL. THAT'S GOING WELL.
OUR CENTRAL OPERATIONS BUILDING AS YOU DRIVE BY.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S MOVING RIGHT ALONG. IT'S GOING SMOOTH.
WE'RE ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET.
HAD A GOOD INTERVIEW WITH THE REFLECTOR TODAY REGARDING THAT BUILDING.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR KEVIN? AMANDA?
>> GOOD EVENING BOARD. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS TO SHARE WITH YOU.
FIRST IS THAT THERE IS A NEW EPISODE OF THE BG CAST PODCAST OUT.
IT FEATURES A CONVERSATION WITH MIKE SYRON AND MATT STANFILL FROM BATTLE GROUND VIRTUAL ACADEMY.
NOW THAT THEY HAVE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OF THAT SCHOOL UNDER THEIR BELT.
THEY HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH DENNY AND DAVID LINDER ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
THERE'S ALSO A SPOTLIGHT ON A TEACHER NAMED ANDY NOY FROM CAM ACADEMY, AND SHE AND HER STUDENTS CREATED CARE PACKAGES FOR OTHER STUDENTS IN GEORGIA WHO WERE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HELEN AND SENT THEM OVER TO THEM.
GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.
THEN TUKES VALLEY PRIMARY HAS BEEN VERY BUSY.
THEIR SCHOOL COUNSELOR JUSTINE COHEN.
SHE HAD THIS IDEA THAT SHE BROUGHT FROM HER FORMER SCHOOL TO HAVE STUDENTS DECORATE COFFEE SLEEVES WITH POSITIVE MESSAGES AND THEN SPREAD THEM OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY CREATED ABOUT 720 DIFFERENT SLEEVES AND THEN TWO DIFFERENT COFFEE SHOPS ON MAIN STREET HANDED THEM OUT ONCE THEY WERE READY.
THEN ON THE RIGHT IS A PICTURE OF ELIZABETH MCALEER WHO YOU RECOGNIZED FROM A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO.
SHE DID REALLY WELL AT THE WASHINGTON STATE POETRY OUT LOUD COMPETITION.
SHE TOOK HOME THIRD PLACE FOR HER RECITATION OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT POEMS, AS WELL AS WAS THE FIRST RUNNER UP FOR HER ORIGINAL POEM.
THEN A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
OUR FCRC IS DOING A GIVEAWAY OF GENTLY USED OUTER WEAR THIS TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, AND ANY BATTLE GROUND FAMILY CAN STOP BY AND PICK UP SOME OF THESE ITEMS BETWEEN 9:00-2:00.
THEN NEXT WEEK, BALLOTS WILL BE MAILED FOR OUR LEVY ELECTIONS.
THEY SHOULD BE ARRIVING BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK AROUND APRIL 4, THEN APRIL 8 AND APRIL 16, WILL BE TWO PUBLIC LEVY PRESENTATIONS WHERE ANYONE CAN COME IN AND LEARN ABOUT THE LEVY AND ASK QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> AMANDA, THE POETRY COMPETITION, WAS THAT A STATE OR A REGIONAL?
[7. Citizens' Comments]
>> THAT BRINGS US TO CITIZENS COMMENTS.
THIS EVENING, WE WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS FOR EACH SPEAKER BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WISH TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
THIS IS A MEETING OF THE BATTLE GROUND SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND VIEW PRESENTATIONS AND HEAR BOARD MEMBERS DISCUSS TOPICS DURING OPEN SESSIONS.
THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS DURING CITIZENS COMMENTS AND ASKS THAT THOSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD SIGN IN ON THE SIGN IN SHEET PROVIDED, WHICH IS LOCATED CLOSE TO THE ENTRANCE.
PLEASE FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES FOR CITIZENS COMMENTS BY STATING YOUR NAME.
LIMITING YOUR TIME TO TWO AND A HALF MINUTES AND REFRAINING FROM DISCUSSING CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS.
THE BOARD REQUIRES THAT ALL COMMENTS SPOKEN AT THE MEETING BE APPROPRIATE FOR A FAMILY AUDIENCE.
COMMENTS INAPPROPRIATE FOR A FAMILY AUDIENCE CAN BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING.
BOARD MEMBERS DO NOT NORMALLY RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR PETITIONS DURING CITIZENS COMMENTS.
THEY WILL LISTEN AND GIVE DIRECTION TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM IF ACTION IS DEEMED NECESSARY.
FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST, KIM BECKER.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KIM BECKER.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BATTLE GROUND EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER, A PARENT OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE ATTENDED THE BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND A BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY MEMBER.
I'M HERE TO PUT ON RECORD THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE LEVY THAT WILL RUN AGAIN ON APRIL 22.
HAVE LIVED IN BATTLE GROUND SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 21 YEARS, AND I HAVE WATCHED THE DISTRICT GROW TO A LARGE DISTRICT IN MY 42 YEARS IN THE AREA.
WE ARE THE ONLY LARGE DISTRICT IN THE AREA THAT HAVE LESS THAN 200 STUDENTS FROM OUR PRE PANDEMIC NUMBERS.
[01:30:01]
BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFER A LOT OF CHOICES.WE HAVE FOUR ALTERNATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE THE FASTEST GROWING ONLINE SCHOOL.
WE HAVE TWO SCHOOLS THAT OFFER PARENT AND TEACHER PARTICIPATION.
WE OFFER SOME OF THE BEST CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CLASSES AVAILABLE IN THE AREA.
THE COUNTY GREW DURING THE PANDEMIC AND BATTLE GROUND SAW A LOT OF THAT GROWTH.
WITH THAT GROWTH, WE SAW A HUGE INCREASE IN ELL AND MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION.
THE STATE, THE DISTRICT, AND THE ML TEACHERS WORKED HARD TO HAVE A VERY STRONG PROGRAM FOR OUR MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS, AND THEY ARE THRIVING.
I SIT HERE TWICE A MONTH AND HEAR ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT BATTLE GROUND SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DOING.
SOME OF THE BEST TIMES ARE DURING STUDENT VOICE WHEN THE YOUNG CHILDREN PRESENT WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT THEIR SCHOOLS OR WHEN WE CELEBRATE STUDENTS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AT SPECIAL EVENTS AT THE DISTRICT OR STATE LEVEL.
THE TEACHERS, PARA EDUCATORS, MAINTENANCE PERSON, CLERK, SECURITY, THE ADMINISTRATION, AND A LOT MORE, ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER AS A VILLAGE.
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT THIS BATTLE GROUND VILLAGE IS DOING FOR OUR CHILDREN AND VOTE YES ON THE LEVY, APRIL 22.
SHELLY, CONGRATULATION ON YOUR NEW JOURNEY AS SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I'M GOING TO ASK THOSE OF YOU OUT THERE NOT TO CLAP.
I'M A GRADUATE OF VETERAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CLASS OF 2000 FATHER OF TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLERS IN THIS DISTRICT.
I WENT TO SCHOOL HERE FIRST THROUGH 12TH GRADE.
I CAN STILL REMEMBER A RECESS OF MAPLE GROVE PRIMARY COWS, MILL AND [INAUDIBLE], WHERE THERE'S A MOVIE THEATER NOW.
>> SOMETIMES I STRUGGLED IN SCHOOL.
I FELT LIKE I HAD A LACK OF SUPPORT.
I'M ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT YOU GUYS MENTIONED EARLIER AT SUMMIT VIEW HIGH SCHOOL, IT TOOK FIVE YEARS TO GRADUATE.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE.
BECAUSE OF MY EXPERIENCES, I WAS NERVOUS TO MOVE BACK DURING COVID.
I WASN'T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT FOR MY KIDS IN THIS DISTRICT.
2020 AND 2021 WERE DIFFICULT YEARS FOR EVERYONE, AND SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR STRUGGLED TO IDENTIFY THE RIGHT APPROACH.
IN 2021, BATTLE GROUND SCHOOLS TOOK THE PROACTIVE STEP TO SYSTEMATICALLY ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY WITH THE ADOPTION OF A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS GROUP SINCE THAT FIRST YEAR, AND I WAS QUICKLY CONVERTED BY THE COMPETENCY, DEDICATION, AND TRANSPARENCY THAT I'VE ENCOUNTERED WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, THESE TWO HERE.
THE FRANK FAR REACHING DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD AS COMMITTEE MEMBERS THESE PAST FOUR YEARS.
MEETING THE COMMUNITY WHERE IT'S AT AND BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE IS WHAT BATTLE GROUND SCHOOLS IS ALL ABOUT BETWEEN THESE ALES, THE SUMMIT VIEW, BATTLE GROUND VIRTUAL ACADEMY, CAM, RIVER HOMELINK, AND CTES LIKE CASEY, AUTO SHOP, CULINARY, HEALTH SCIENCES, AND ROTC, THE FUTURES PROGRAM, THE BAKERY, ASPIRE, AND A COMMITMENT TO AP.
BATTLE GROUND SCHOOLS HAS GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SINCE MOVING HERE, I'VE SEEN MY CHILD FLOURISH IN BATTLE GROUND SCHOOLS.
SHE'S HAD SOME OF THE MOST FANTASTIC TEACHERS AND HAS BEEN AFFORDED INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES.
WHEN SHE ONCE STRUGGLED, SHE'S NOW COMPETING FOR AWARDS IN ROBOTICS, NATIONAL HISTORY DAY, CIVICS B, MATH CHALLENGE.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MY TEENAGE YEARS MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF BATTLE GROUND SCHOOLS IN THE '90S RESEMBLED WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE TODAY.
AS A PARENT, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THESE PROGRAMS, AND I WORRY ABOUT THE COST TO OUR COMMUNITY IF WE SHOULD LOSE THEM.
I WANTED TO SPEAK TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE LEVY FOR NEW SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SHELLY WHITTEN, WHO I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN AS A SKILLED ADMINISTRATOR AND LIFELONG EDUCATOR, SOMEONE WHO'S FROM THIS AREA AND UNDERSTANDS THIS COMMUNITY.
IN CLOSING, I WANTED TO THANK THE BOARD FOR HAVING THE TRUST IN US, THE VOTERS TO RERUN THIS LEVY.
I IMPLORE THE COMMUNITY TO HONOR THE WORK AND DEDICATION OF THIS BOARD, THESE ADMINISTRATORS, AND ALL THE BATTLE GROUND WONDERFUL EDUCATORS AND THE STAFF BY VOTING YES.
MY NAME IS LAURIE SIBLEY, SECOND GRADE TEACHER, DAY BRAKE PRIMARY AND VICE PRESIDENT OF PGEA.
I WANTED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE DISTRICT AND THE DECISION BY THE BOARD TO HAVE SHELLY WHITTEN LEAD OUR DISTRICT INTO THE FUTURE.
I'VE BEEN A TEACHER FOR THE PAST 31 YEARS HERE.
[01:35:03]
IN THAT TIME, I'VE EXPERIENCED QUITE A FEW SUPERINTENDENT CHANGES.DENNY HAS BY FAR BEEN THE BEST, AND HE WAS PROMOTED FROM WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
IN THE PAST, WHEN WE HAVE RECRUITED THROUGH AN OUTSIDE SEARCH, WE HAVE ENDED UP WITH SHAWNY BREA AND MARC HATHAWAY, AND I CAN SAY THOSE WERE NOT WHAT THE DISTRICT NEEDED.
SHELLY HAS GROWN UP IN OUR DISTRICTS AND SHE WAS LITTLE.
SHE WAS A STUDENT HERE, SHE WAS A TEACHER, A PRINCIPAL.
I'M PROBABLY GOING TO MISS SOMETHING, HR DIRECTOR AND NOW DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, NOW SUPERINTENDENT.
SHE IS SO WELL RESPECTED BY ALL DEPARTMENTS, EVERYBODY.
SHE IS INTELLIGENT AND HAS A HEART FOR STUDENTS, WHICH IS THE BOTTOM LINE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE ELSE LEADING OUR DISTRICT.
RECRUITING FROM WITHIN JUST ENSURES THAT THAT HEART KEEPS GOING, AND WE KEEP THAT HEART HERE.
THANK YOU BOARD FOR STANDING FIRM AND SELECTING SHELLY.
I'M EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE OF BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS NIKKI FRANZ, AND I TEACH AT CAPTAIN STRONG PRIMARY.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE LEVY AND TO SUPPORT THIS DISTRICT.
I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD TO HAVE WORKED HERE FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS, ALTHOUGH I LIVE IN PORTLAND AND COMMUTE EVERY DAY.
I CHOOSE THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE, BOTH MY COLLEAGUES AND THE STUDENTS WE SERVE, THE RELATIONSHIPS I'VE BUILT MAKE EVERY MILE OF MY COMMUTE WORTH IT.
LIKE ANY JOB, THERE ARE CHALLENGES, BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE TEACHING ANYWHERE ELSE.
IN PARTICULAR, THE LEADERSHIP OF SUPERINTENDENT DENNY WATERS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT.
I HAVE FELT MORE RESPECTED AND SUPPORTED THAN EVER BEFORE.
I KNOW MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES FEEL THE SAME WAY.
RECENTLY, OUR DISTRICT ADOPTED A NEW ELA CURRICULUM, A DECISION MADE AFTER MONTHS OF CAREFUL EVALUATION.
I WAS A PART OF THAT ADOPTION COMMITTEE AND WE TOOK A DETAILED LOOK AT SEVERAL OPTIONS BEFORE SELECTING THE ONE WE BELIEVE BEST MET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
IMPLEMENTING A NEW CURRICULUM IS NEVER EASY.
IT REQUIRES TEACHERS TO ADAPT, RELEARN, AND PUT IN SIGNIFICANT EXTRA EFFORT.
BUT DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, I HAVE SEEN MY COLLEAGUES RISE TO THE OCCASION.
WE'VE UNDERGONE TRAINING, COLLABORATED AND WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL.
WHILE CHANGE IS NEVER COMFORTABLE, I CAN PERSONALLY SAY THAT I'VE SEEN MY STUDENTS ENGAGE IN DEEPER DISCUSSIONS AND CRITICAL THINKING IN WAYS THEY NEVER HAD BEFORE.
THEY MAY NOT ALL LOVE SCHOOL, BUT THEY ARE LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER, WORKING TOGETHER AND THINKING CRITICALLY.
THAT HAS REIGNITED MY PASSION FOR TEACHING.
EVERY TEACHER I KNOW PUTS THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS JOB.
TEACHING IS NOT JUST ABOUT SHOWING UP MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, IT'S A COMMITMENT THAT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.
WE THINK ABOUT OUR STUDENTS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
WHEN A CHILD WALKS IN ON MONDAY MORNING WITH THEIR HOOD PULLED OVER THEIR HEAD SILENT AND WITHDRAWN, WE WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT HOME AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEM.
WHEN A STUDENT STRUGGLES TO GRASP SUBTRACTION, WE SPEND OUR EVENING SEARCHING FOR NEW STRATEGIES TO HELP THEM SUCCEED.
WHEN CONFLICTS ARISE ON THE PLAYGROUND, WE DEVOTE VALUABLE CLASS TIME TO RESOLVING THEM BECAUSE WE KNOW SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS JUST AS CRITICAL AS ACADEMICS.
THIS IS A CAREER I CHOSE BECAUSE I LOVE IT, BUT IT IS DISHEARTENING TO HEAR NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT TEACHERS IN THIS DISTRICT, WHEN WE ARE POURING EVERYTHING WE HAVE INTO THIS WORK.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING TO SEE OUR STUDENTS THRIVE.
THIS REQUIRES TRUST, COLLABORATION, AND MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN EDUCATORS, FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY.
I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS DISTRICT, AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS WHO WILL SHAPE OUR FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>> HI. MY NAME IS WYNN GERSICH, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I'M AGAINST THE LEVIES.
AND THE REASON I'M AGAINST THE LEVIES IS THAT CLARK COUNTY JUST RAISED BUY PROPERTY TAX 3% GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.
EVERY YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE OUR PROPERTY TAXES 3%.
YOU THINK WE NEED TO RAISE THE SCHOOL TAXES TOO? I CAN BARELY MAKE IT.
[01:40:02]
ALL THE SENIOR CITIZENS ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR HOMES.YOU KNOW WHAT? I WENT TO THE AGENT COMMITTEE AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS THAT THEY'RE NOT BUILDING ANY MORE LOW INCOME FOR HOUSINGS FOR SENIORS.
THEY WERE SAYING THAT ANY OF YOU THAT HAVE A HOUSE WITH ONE OR TWO PEOPLE IN IT, YOU NEED TO TAKE SOMEBODY IN AS A ROOMMATE BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE.
THIS IS WHY YOU GUYS NEED TO WORK UPON YOUR MEANS.
WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID, HE SAID THAT IF THIS LEVY DOESN'T GO THROUGH, WE CAN GET RID OF THE TEACHER LIBRARIAN.
YAY, YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THAT'S THE PERSON WHO STARTED ALL OF THIS WITH THESE PORN BOOKS THAT YOU HAVE THE STATE LAW OF THAT YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO PORN, AND YET YOU HAVE THEM, AND YOU SPENT $14,000 READING PORN.
IF YOU HAD $14,000 FOR THAT, BELIEVE ME.
YOU COULD HAVE PUT SOME WATER FILTERS ON THESE SCHOOLS.
NOT ONE OF YOUR TEACHERS WANTED TO STOP THE FLOTATION.
THIS IS GOING TO HURT YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT THE FLORIDA ASIAN IN THIS CITY LOWERS IQS, INCREASES CANCER DEATH RATES, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW IS THIS THING I'M PUTTING ON ABOUT THE FLAG.
WE HAVE A GUY, FUENTES, WHO'S ON THE CLARK COUNTY THING, ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND HE WANTED TO GET RID OF THE PLEDGE, HE WANTED TO GET RID OF THE INVOCATION, AND THIS GUY IS AN IMMIGRANT WHO TOOK HIS CITIZENSHIP TEST.
THE SCHOOLS HAVE TO TEACH ABOUT THE FLAG.
YOU CANNOT GET YOUR CITIZENSHIP TEST IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY.
THE THING THAT'S AMAZING IS THAT IT WAS PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, AND IT WAS ON JUNE 22, 1942, WHERE THE FLAG BECAME THE FLAG CODE AND ALL THAT.
THEN THE SECOND PART WAS EISENHOWER, ON FLAG DAY 1954, ADDED UNDER GOD.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERY ONE OF THE STUDENTS IN THESE SCHOOLS NEED TO KNOW THIS BECAUSE WE CAN GET FUENTES OUT OF OFFICE BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE HIM INSPECTED THAT HE LIED ON HIS CITIZENSHIP TEST.
HOW ON EARTH COULD YOU TAKE AN IMMIGRANT HERE, GIVE THEM OUR CITIZENSHIP? IT'S A PRIVILEGE, IT'S NOT A RIGHT.
THEN HE TURNS AROUND AND WANTS TO GET RID OF OUR FLAG AND THE GOD PART.
I'M PUTTING ALL THIS ON PUBLIC RECORD. [NOISE]
>> GOOD EVENING SCHOOL BOARD. IS THIS ON? GOOD EVENING SCHOOL BOARD. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I AM A PARENT OF FIVE KIDS THAT HAVE EITHER GRADUATED FROM OR ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE LEVY TONIGHT.
YOU MOSTLY ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
ONE, 200 JOBS IN OUR COMMUNITY, MOST OF THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO GET CUT ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT AFFECTS THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, THAT BUY GROCERIES HERE, THAT SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL HERE.
IT'S A BIG IMPACT ON PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.
NUMBER 2, I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE LEVY IS JUST A CONTINUATION OF FUNDING, IT'S NOT A NEW LEVY, IT'S JUST REPLACING ONE THAT ALREADY EXISTS.
IT'S NOT AN INCREASE IN A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR TAXES.
THERE'S MISINFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT WHAT THIS LEVY IS.
I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ATTEND ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PUTTING ON SO THAT THEY CAN GET INFORMATION FOR THEMSELVES AND ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, GO TO THE SOURCE AND ASK THE QUESTIONS, PLEASE.
THIRD, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT PERSONNEL COSTS.
I WORK FOR A SMALL LOCAL NONPROFIT.
WE'RE A SERVICE ORGANIZATION AND OUR PERSONNEL IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST COST THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE IT TAKES PEOPLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
THAT'S JUST PART OF HOW IT IS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT INVESTS IN OUR TEACHERS TO ATTRACT QUALITY TALENT AND TO RETAIN THE HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS THAT WE HAVE.
I WANT TO GO FOR JUST A COUPLE SHORT STORIES.
I HAVE A DAUGHTER IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO FINDS A LOT OF JOY IN THE AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE OFFERED AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SHE'S REALLY FINDING A WAY, SHE'S CHANGED THE NARRATIVE IN HER HEAD ABOUT THAT SHE CAN DO MATH BECAUSE SHE LOVES ROBOTICS.
SHE'S LIKE, I CAN DO THIS AND THAT'S THE CHANGE THAT WE SEE IN OUR STUDENTS.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE ONE OF MY SON'S FIRST GRADE TEACHERS HERE TONIGHT.
WHEN HE WAS IN FIRST GRADE, HE WOULD COME HOME KICKING AND SCREAMING AND SWEARING BECAUSE HE KEPT IT TOGETHER AT SCHOOL, BUT COULD NOT AT HOME.
HE IS NOW A HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR WHO'S TAKING FOUR AP CLASSES AT PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
HE HAD A TEACHER LIBRARIAN AT MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO INTRODUCED HIM TO ULTIMATE FRISBEE, WHO REALLY KEPT HIM ENGAGED IN SCHOOL.
THAT RELATIONSHIP WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HIM.
NOW HE RUNS CROSS COUNTRY AND THOSE SPORTS KEEP HIM ENGAGED IN SCHOOL.
HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO TO CLARK AND LOSE FUNDING FOR BATTLE GROUND SCHOOLS BECAUSE HE LOVES HIGH SCHOOL AND THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENGAGE HIM.
[01:45:04]
PLEASE VOTE YES, FOR THE LEVY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.>> I'LL TALK FAST. GOOD EVENING, BOARD.
I AM A PARENT, AN ALUMNI, A RESIDENT AND ACTIVE VOLUNTEER IN THIS DISTRICT.
I AM HERE TONIGHT LIKE EVERY MEETING TO SHOW MY SUSTAINED SUPPORT FOR THIS DISTRICT BY STAYING INFORMED OF ITS BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS HOLD IT ACCOUNTABLE WHEN NECESSARY.
DESPITE THE REGULAR AND INCESSANT DECLARATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF A PARTICULAR GROUP THAT THEY SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THIS COMMUNITY, THEY DO NOT AND THEY CERTAINLY DON'T SPEAK FOR ME NOR DO THEY APPEAR TO REALLY CARE OR TAKE INTEREST IN STUDENT VOICE OR THE REGULAR PROGRAMS AND BUSINESS OF THE DISTRICT OR/AND BOARD AS THEIR BEHAVIOR SEEMS TO REGULARLY SHOW THAT THEY ARE HERE FOR ONE PURPOSE AND ONE PURPOSE ONLY TO DEMAND THE BOARD, AND DISTRICT, BEND TO AND FOLLOW THEIR SELF PROCLAIMED MANDATE.
BULLYING IS DEFINED AS THE USE OF FORCE, COERCION, HURTFUL TEASING, COMMENTS, OR THREATS IN ORDER TO ABUSE, AGGRESSIVELY DOMINATE OR INTIMIDATE ONE OR MORE OTHERS AND IS OFTEN REPEATED AND HABITUAL.
THE MANTRA OF THIS DISTRICT SAFETY AND SECURITY POLICY FOR STUDENTS IS SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
THIS SHOULD APPLY TO THEIR PARENTS AND OTHER ADULTS AS WELL.
I AM OFFICIALLY SAYING SOMETHING.
THIS CONTINUED AND COORDINATED BOMBARDMENT OF INTIMIDATION AND THREATS OF HARM TO THIS DISTRICT STUDENTS BY ACTIVELY TRYING TO DEFEAT THE LEVY BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY IF THEY DON'T GET THEIR WAY IS BULLYING, PLAIN AND SIMPLE, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED.
MAY I SUGGEST A DIFFERENT APPROACH FOR THIS GROUP TO TRY.
GET INVOLVED, VOLUNTEER IN YOUR CHILD'S CLASSROOM, ATTEND SCHOOL EVENTS, MEET WITH BUILDING AND OR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.
LISTEN TO STUDENT VOICE AT THE BEGINNING OF THESE MEETINGS AND STAY THROUGH THE VERY END TO LEARN WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON.
PARTICIPATE IN THE MANY COMMITTEES THE DISTRICT OFFERS AT THE BUILDING AND OR DISTRICT LEVELS.
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS.
IT WORKS, I KNOW FIRSTHAND BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ACTIVELY DOING IT NOW FOR 15 YEARS.
I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS DISTRICT, THE BOARD'S DECISION TO HIRE SHELLY AS SUPERINTENDENT, AND I AM DOING EVERYTHING IN MY CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE TO GET THIS LEVY ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
I WILL ALWAYS VOTE YES FOR THIS COMMUNITY BY VOTING YES FOR THIS DISTRICT'S LEVY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JENNIFER HINE WHITNEY.
>> WELL, THAT'S OKAY. GOOD EVENING, BOARD.
MY NAME IS JENNIFER HEINE-WITHEE.
THIS AFTERNOON, I SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY AGAINST SB 5181, THE BILL THAT WOULD GUT THE PARENTAL BILL OF RIGHTS.
I WANT YOU TO HEAR WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
>> I'M SORRY. I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY YOU DIDN'T TESTIFY.
>> BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY AND THEY JUST [OVERLAPPING] DIDN'T HAVE TIME AND I WISH I COULD HAVE.
>> [LAUGHTER] NO, THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU.
THE US SUPREME COURT HAS RECOGNIZED THAT PARENTS HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO DIRECT THE CARE CUSTODY AND CONTROL OF THEIR CHILDREN, PROTECTED BY THE DUE PROCESS CLAUSE OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT.
THIS RIGHT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE EQUITY COALITION, PLANNED PARENTHOOD, P FLAG, THE OSPI, THE WA, OR OTHER SPECIAL INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS OR POLITICAL PARTIES.
THIS RIGHT HAS BEEN CODIFIED TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND IS SUPPORTED ACROSS ALL SPECTRUMS OF OUR SOCIETY, INCLUDING THE GAY GROUPS, STRAIGHT GROUPS, BLACK, WHITE, LIBERAL, CONSERVATIVE, CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM, SIKH, JEWISH, ORTHODOX, ASIAN, ETHIOPIAN, HISPANIC, SLAVIC, AND ON AND ON ALL OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS.
KIDS HAVE LOTS OF THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS, AND PASSAGE OF THIS BILL WILL NOT STOP BULLYING, BUT IT WILL INTERFERE WITH THE PARENTS' ABILITY TO PROTECT THEIR KIDS.
KIDS DON'T HAVE FULLY DEVELOPED BRAINS, AND SO IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT THE STATE DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE RIGHT OF PARENTS TO GUIDE, NURTURE, AND PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN.
EVEN THOUGH EDUCATORS ARE MANDATORY REPORTERS, THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY CASES WHERE THEY DON'T.
I JUST ASK YOU TO GOOGLE, OLYMPIA TEACHER AVOIDS PRISON AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH MOLESTING STUDENTS.
DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR STUDENTS MEANS NOT COMING BETWEEN STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS, WHICH IS WHY THE PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS AS PASSED HAS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT.
[01:50:03]
PARENTS ARE SCARED OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEIR RIGHTS TO PROTECT THEIR KIDS, WHICH IS WHY THEY ARE FLEEING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WASHINGTON STATE.I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT A PERSON WHO TESTIFIED EARLIER HAD DISPARAGING REMARKS TO SAY ABOUT OUR DISTRICT, WHICH WERE NOT TRUE.
I WAS GOING TO TELL LEGISLATORS THAT. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD. MY NAME IS TERRY DOTSON.
I RESIDE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.
I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS EITHER WORKING FOR THE DISTRICT OR ATTENDING SCHOOL HERE.
I WANT TO ECHO A COUPLE OF STATEMENTS THAT I HEARD TONIGHT.
JACKIE, YOU LEARNED SOMETHING AT THE WASDA CONVENTION.
ALI, WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY IS GOING TO ECHO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY THIS EVENING.
NOTHING GETS DONE WHEN BOTH SIDES ARE AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER.
WHAT I SEE HAPPENING IS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION THAT IS STATED BY THOSE LIVING WITHIN THE DISTRICT ON A MONTHLY BASIS AT THESE MEETINGS.
NEITHER GROUP IS GOING TO BE PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME UNLESS WE CAN COME TOGETHER WITH SOME RESOLUTION THAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS AND NOT PERSONAL AGENDAS.
IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO WHAT IS FACTUAL AND WHAT IS SIMPLY A STATEMENT HEARD AND THEN REPEATED UNTIL PEOPLE ACTUALLY BELIEVE THE FALSEHOODS BEING SPLAYED ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
IF ANYONE HAS AN INKLING THAT THEY WANT TO RUN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD POSITION, YOU NEED TO REMEMBER ALL THE DECISIONS YOU ARE ASKED TO MAKE NEED TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS, THE STAFF, AND MOST OF ALL, THE DISTRICT.
WE DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR POLITICAL AMBITIONS.
THE CONTINUED NEGATIVE COMMENTS ARE NOT GETTING US ANYWHERE.
IT'S TIME TO COME TOGETHER AND COME TO SOME RESOLUTION FOR THE SAKE OF OUR STUDENTS.
WHICH ONE OF YOU WANTS TO TAKE THIS ON? THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD. MY NAME IS EUNICE INGER MANSON, WITH PRONOUNS SHE/HER AND A VOLUNTEER AND A CONCERNED RESIDENT IN THIS DISTRICT AND A LEVY SUPPORTER.
I OFTEN HEAR THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT.
PARENTS ARE THE PRIMARY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
I HOME SCHOOLED ALL MY CHILDREN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
THEY WERE FULLY HOME SCHOOLED FOR A WHILE, ENROLLED PART TIME IN HOME SCHOOL COOPS FOR A WHILE.
ONE ENROLLED IN SKILL CENTER THROUGH THIS DISTRICT, AND TWO TOOK CLASSES IN CLARK COLLEGE.
YOU CAN SAY THAT I DIRECTED THEIR EDUCATION, COMBINING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC METHODS.
THEY ENDED UP EARNING BACHELORS OR DOCTORATE DEGREES FOUND JOBS.
SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION? YEAH, STORED UP.
THE THING IS I ALSO HELD SOME STRONG RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, WHICH I DIDN'T CHALLENGE UNTIL MY YOUNGEST CHALLENGED IT AS AN ADULT.
FOR THAT, I HAVE DEEP REGRETS.
MY BELIEFS BROUGHT PAIN TO MY CHILD AND HELD HIM IN A PLACE OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION FOR YEARS ON ACCOUNT OF HIS QUEER IDENTITY.
THIS DEEPLY HELD BELIEF IS COMMON HERE.
THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES ABOUT WHICH MANY OF OUR PARENTS HAVE DEEPLY HELD BELIEFS, AND EVEN DEEP DARK SECRETS THAT HARM CHILDREN.
IN 2022, 434,000 CHILD ABUSE PERPETRATORS WERE REPORTED IN THIS COUNTRY AND 76% WERE PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS, SOBERING SOBERING STATISTICS.
MY WISH IS FOR THE DISTRICT TO WORK WITH THE PARENTS TO HIGHLIGHT PROBLEM AREAS, PROVIDE RESOURCES, TOOLS, AND TRAINING [INAUDIBLE] CARE SOLACE.
[01:55:06]
IT IS THE CHILDREN WHO ARE THE PRIMARY STAKEHOLDERS IN THEIR EDUCATION.INSTEAD OF UNLIMITED PARENTAL CONTROL, CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND THRIVING, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND ACADEMICALLY, SHOULD BE WHAT WE ALL NEED TO STRIVE FOR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. TRAVIS BLANKENSHIP.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT GUIDANCE. EVENING BOARD. APPRECIATE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR COMMENTS, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE DISENGAGED OR NOT A PART OF OUR DISTRICT.
OUR VOTE ON THE LEVY SPEAKS TO OUR VALUES, OF COURSE.
MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE VOICED THEIR FRUSTRATIONS WITH YOU AND WITH OUR DISTRICT, BE IT ABOUT BOARD MEMBER APPOINTMENTS, THE INCOME OF DISTRICT STAFF, THEIR SPENDING PREFERENCES, AND WHAT WE'RE TEACHING OUR STUDENTS.
I KNOW THAT THEIR NO VOTES COME FROM THOSE REASONS, AND I WANT TO PROPOSE TO MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT THESE RESTRICTIONS AREN'T COVERED, THEY AREN'T HEALED OR REMEDIED BY A NO VOTE ON A LEVY.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER.
I ALSO WANT TO PROPOSE THAT STUDENT OUTCOMES WON'T INCREASE WHEN FUNDING DECREASES, WHEN STAFF DECREASES, WHEN RESOURCES AND THE ABILITY TO GET IN THE BUILDING DECREASE.
PARALYZING SYSTEMS WON'T IMPROVE THEM, AND WE DON'T INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS WHEN WE ACTUALLY INTENTIONALLY DON'T INVEST IN THEM.
A LACK OF INVESTMENT FINANCIALLY IS A LACK OF INVESTMENT RELATIONALLY.
REGARDING EDUCATION, PEOPLE DEMAND THAT YOU STOP INDOCTRINATING THROUGH GENDER STUDIES, READING $14,000 WORTH OF PORN BOOKS, WHATEVER THOSE ARE, TEACHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND SNEAKING MARXISM INTO OUR SCHOOLS.
MUCH LIKE LITTER BOXES BEING IN THE BATHROOMS FOR STUDENTS TO PRETEND TO BE CATS, NONE OF THIS IS HAPPENING.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF IT, AND I KNOW IT'S NOT COMING FROM EXPERIENCES WITHIN THE WALLS OF OUR SCHOOLS.
THEY'RE COMING FROM UNEDUCATED RESEARCH ONLINE AND GROUPS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT DO NOT VALUE DIVERSITY, THE PURSUIT OF EQUITY, AND THE INCLUSION OF EVERY STUDENT.
TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S A POSTURE TOWARDS UNIFORMITY, INEQUITY, AND SEGREGATION.
I PERSONALLY THINK BATTLE GROUND IS BETTER THAN THAT.
I THINK WE ARE PAST SEGREGATION.
I THINK WE WANT TO GO FORWARD, NOT BACKWARDS.
A NOTE TO THE LEVY WILL MOST NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE MOST VULNERABLE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT ALL OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS AND STRONG COMMUNITIES DO NOT SACRIFICE.
THEY DO NOT SACRIFICE THEIR CHILDREN TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS.
THEY CHAMPION THOSE YOUTH, THOSE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND THEY DO IT TOGETHER, YES, EVEN WITH OUR TAXES.
I'LL VOTE YES ON THIS LEVY AND ENCOURAGE MY COMMUNITY ALSO TO DO SO BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, BLACK, WHITE, YELLOW, BROWN, GAY, STRAIGHT, TRANS [OVERLAPPING].
I BELIEVE THEY ALL DESERVE AS MUCH AS WE CAN GIVE THEM, NOT AS LITTLE AS WE CAN BEAR OR AS IS CONVENIENT.
>> THANK YOU. MACKENZIE HARRIS.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MACKENZIE HARRIS.
I AM A PROUD COMMUNITY MEMBER AND GRADUATE OF BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I STARTED IN KINDERGARTEN AT MAPLE GROVE AND I GRADUATED FROM BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL IN 2007.
MY MOST [INAUDIBLE] TITLE THOUGH IS KINDERGARTEN TEACHER FOR THE BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I AM HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT OF THE UPCOMING LEVY.
I AM NOT VOICING MY SUPPORT ONLY AS A TEACHER, BUT ALSO AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO BELIEVES THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
AN EDUCATED POPULACE IS A POPULACE THAT IS CAPABLE OF VOTING AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD PROTECT FIERCELY.
I ALSO WANT TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR SHELLY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT OUR SUPERINTENDENTS KNOW THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SCHOOLS, AND YOU CLEARLY DO.
THANK YOU, SHELLY AND DENNY, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR SCHOOLS, STAFF, AND STUDENTS.
I LISTEN IN TO THE BOARD MEETINGS AND I ALSO READ COMMUNITY COMMENTS ONLINE.
I'M OFTENTIMES JUST A SILENT OBSERVER, AND I KNOW OTHERS ARE TOO.
I JUST WANT TO SAY TO OTHER SILENT OBSERVERS THAT
[02:00:01]
SOMETIMES THE OPPOSING VOICE CAN BE A ROAR, BUT YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR SCHOOLS, AND THERE ARE MANY OF US HERE AND WE ARE HERE TO STAY. THANK YOU.>> IT'S GOOD TO KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY GLUTTON FOR FUNCTION.
>> GOOD EVENING BOARD. MY NAME IS JESSICA COLE.
I WANTED TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE VOLUNTEERING WITH THE DREAM TEAM'S FIRST EVER PREVENTION CONVENTION, THE WAY TO WELLNESS.
IT BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 150 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT THAT HAVE A DREAM TEAM.
THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER ZANDER IS A KAH TRAINER FROM WHOGLE.
HE REALLY CONNECTED WITH THE STUDENTS.
ONE THING THAT IMPRESSED ME WAS HOW MUCH OWNERSHIP THE STUDENTS HAD.
THEY CREATED THE PLAYLIST, DECORATED, TOOK PHOTOS, CREATED SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT, DRAFTED THE PRESS RELEASE, AND SPOKE AT THE EVENT.
EACH SCHOOL FOCUSED ON EITHER SOCIAL EMOTIONAL OR PHYSICAL WELLNESS, AND THEY ABSOLUTELY NAILED IT.
STUDENTS SHARED THAT THEY HAD MADE NEW FRIENDS, LOVE THE WORKSHOPS, WHICH COVERED TOPICS LIKE BOUNDARIES AND COMMUNICATION AND NOT BEING A PERFECTIONIST.
SKILLS THAT EVEN ADULTS COULD BENEFIT FROM.
THE BATTLE GROUND PREVENTION ALLIANCE HAD GREAT SUPPORT FROM PREVENTION INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS, SCHOOL STAFF, AND PARENTS, INCLUDING ONE FROM RHL.
SOME OF THE WORKSHOP PRESENTERS WERE EVEN PARENTS AND STAFF, MAKING IT FEEL LIKE A TRULY COMMUNITY DRIVEN EVENT.
A HIGHLIGHT WAS HEARING FROM A FORMER DREAM TEAM STUDENT WHO HAS RECENTLY STARTED A GROUP AT PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
HIS MESSAGE TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WAS POWERFUL AND SHOWED THE LONG TERM IMPACT PROGRAM IS HAVING.
THE ENERGY WAS HIGH STUDENTS WERE ENGAGED IN THE COLLABORATION ACROSS SCHOOLS AND GENERATIONS WAS INSPIRING.
I ENCOURAGE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR YOUTH LED PREVENTION WORK, AND THAT INCLUDES VOTING YES ON THE LEVY.
LASTLY, A QUICK REMINDER THAT DRUG TAKE BACK IS HAPPENING SATURDAY, APRIL 26, FROM 10:00 -2:00 AT THE BATTLE GROUND POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO SUPPORT PREVENTION EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES CITIZENS COMMENTS.
[8. Consent Agenda (Board Vote w/Student Voice)]
NEXT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 19TH, SPECIAL MEETING.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR MARCH 10TH, SPECIAL MEETING, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR MARCH 10, REGULAR MEETING, STUDENT TRAVEL, BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS, PERSONNEL REPORTS, AND COMPLETED PROJECTS REQUESTS FOR APPROVAL.
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? IF NOT, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> I'D MOVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED THAT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES 3-0.
MOVING ON, WE HAVE NO OLD BUSINESS, NO NEW BUSINESS.
[11. Future Agenda Items and Board Events]
I THINK WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT OUR FUTURE EVENTS, THE TOUR THIS FRIDAY, AND I'M NOT.>> ENJOY SPRING BREAK, AND WE ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:03.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.