School Board Meeting June 12, 2019 Part 1

Good afternoon.

Welcome to the June 12th 2019 Seattle School Board Legislative Meeting.

As we begin we would like to recognize and honor the First Peoples of the Puget Sound territories by acknowledging that we are on the land of the Coastal Salish tribes.

We'd also like to welcome Jolinda Viveo who is joining us on the Diocese evening from Southlake High School.

Ms. Viveo will have a chance to give her comments later in the evening.

Roll call please.

Director Burke Here Director DeWolf Present Director Geary Here Director Mack Here Director Patu Here Director Harris

here and Director Pinkham is ill this evening and will not be joining us but I know he's watching on channel 26. Hi Scott.

If you care to please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice.

are our students from West Seattle Elementary here and ready to go.

Outstanding and thank you principal.

Stand up and take a bow for your great crew.

Okay directors front row so we can enjoy with everyone else.

You're starting with that.

Huh?

Hello we are the West Seattle Elementary Leadership Club.

We've been learning about how to collaborate and advocate for others and ourselves.

The reason we are here because we wanted to talk about something that actually meant something to us.

We had multiple things we wanted to say like school lunches but we chose to talk about after school programs.

After school programs meant a lot to us because a lot of public schools didn't have it and a lot of students needed for help with their homework and stuff.

Another reason it really meant to us because we felt as if we were having a privilege over other schools.

Hello my name is Mubarak and today we will be talking to you about after school programs.

After school programs give us a chance to interact with others and collaborate.

Also after school programs give us health benefits.

This is why we believe all schools in Seattle Public Schools should have after school programs.

Hello my name is Najma and my partner I will be talking to you about the health benefits of after school programs.

After school programs provide healthy snacks for students before they go off to the clubs.

For example if we didn't have after school programs kids would probably go home and eat and it's not very healthy for them.

So after school programs provide healthy snacks for kids.

after school programs also are are help you with physical health by promoting healthy habits and healthy lifestyles.

For example I participate in basketball club and that helps me stay healthy by helps me stay healthy by making exercising fun.

In a study shown by youth DOV it states after school programs can play an important role in encouraging physical activity.

After school programs also help with mental health by giving you a place to learn play and make new friends and make new friends and make new friends.

and make new friends.

After school programs are a great place to socialize to have a social benefits and Geneva and Xander will be talking more about that now.

Hi I'm Geneva.

And I'm Xander.

We will be talking about the social benefits of after school programs.

Many students at our school are shy and if they sign up for an after school program and make friends with people that have the same interests as them they can be more confident and it will be easier for them to make friends.

For example I joined the school play and met people I did not even know and I became friends with them.

After school programs give students a place to do things they love to explore new things and it's a great place to make friends.

They can also be taught students can also be taught life skills.

One of the life skills students can be taught is how to work together.

In almost every after school program students have to collaborate and work together to accomplish goals.

For example me and the leadership team collaborated to create this presentation for all of you.

In an article from the Washington Post it states It's where students are taught that sometimes failure provides the best learning opportunity for all.

My name is Nardoz and I will be talking to you about the academic benefits of after school clubs.

Are you a parent who's always worried about your kids failing school and not having as many opportunities as every other kid.

Well after school programs could be a solution to your problem.

Kids who go to after school programs are more likely to succeed in life and get better jobs and for the future.

The Washington Post states that kids who go to after-school programs are more likely to get better grades.

For example, in West Seattle Elementary, I am in Leadership Club.

In Leadership Club, we help around the school to make our school a better place for kids like me.

If we didn't have Leadership Club, then we wouldn't be able to solve problems that are causing our students, affecting our students at West Seattle Elementary.

Hi, my name is Zamzam.

I will be adding on to Nardos.

Kids who struggle school need more time school so they can get a chance to learn their mistakes.

After school program can encourage students by teaching them what the mistake and what they are the same mistakes.

Some students can improve their grades by going to after school program.

Some students usually fail and now they improve by going to after school program.

This helps parents worry less about their student failing school.

Hello my name is Kevin.

In conclusion kids who go to after school programs kids who go to after school programs benefit from health benefits academics and being able to socialize with students.

If there is not after school programs here then we wouldn't be presenting to you.

We believe that all students in Seattle public schools to have the opportunity to participate in half school programs so that all students can have these benefits.

We hope you agree.

Thank you for your time for listening.

rock stars each and every one of you and the school staff and the CBO's that help make that happen.

I say we send this to Congress and Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos.

Can we say our names which grade you're in and pass it down here.

And I'm wondering whether we could get this video to the principal's leadership PD come August.

and replicate this wonderfulness.

I'm and I'm in fifth grade.

I'm Kevin and I'm in fifth grade.

I'm and I'm in fourth grade.

I'm Nardos and I'm in fourth grade.

I'm Xander and I'm in fourth grade.

I'm Geneva and I'm in fourth grade.

I'm Cole and I'm in fifth grade.

I'm Najman and I'm in fifth grade.

I'm Mubarak and I'm in fourth grade.

Let's also send this to every member of the Washington State Legislature and tell them that's why we need more funding.

Thank you very much.

Well I'm good for another six months after that.

That was awesome sauce.

Madam Superintendent floor is yours.

Thank you.

I had the pleasure of when I visited West Seattle Elementary this was the group that gave me a tour around and met me on every corner and talked to me about the greatness of their school and how much they loved West Seattle Elementary.

So thank you for bringing that forward so everybody can see their greatness and the good things that are going on over there.

I just really appreciate your leadership and it shows when the students are out.

So thank you.

I would just is Peggy in the room.

Is Peggy going to be in the room?

Fred Podesta you had one job.

I guess when she gets here we can talk about her again but I would just like to acknowledge and honor Peggy McAvoy.

Peggy has worked for Seattle Public Schools for 33 years in various roles from nurse to assistant superintendent of operations.

Her accomplishments on behalf of students are too numerous to name.

However her unapologetic focus on students and families furthest from educational justice is unsurpassed.

The results of her work to pass BEX IV and BTA IV is seen throughout our city in beautiful new and remodeled buildings.

She has worked in partnership with the city to get school based health clinics in our high schools.

and she has helped Seattle Public Schools get 30 million dollars to improve student safety and to create supports for families and students.

Just want to really take a minute and kind of open the floor Madam President to thank Peggy for all she has done for this organization and more importantly for everything she's done to better the lives of our students and families.

You want to talk about it now or later.

I'd like to take a pause and when Peggy shows up I'd like to have comments made at that time.

If she shows up.

She better show up.

Come on Peggy we're counting on you.

OK I'll continue.

I wanted to start by thanking Seattle Public Libraries and MT for their partnership around reading.

And this is a congratulations to Bryant Elementary Global Reading Challenge winners.

A huge shout out to all of our schools that participated this year.

Almost all of our K-8 and elementary schools participate and so MT is the chief librarian and he does a lunch with the global reading challenge winners every year.

And so I was able to join them and talk a lot about books.

Oh here's Peggy.

Peggy I said so many nice things about you for once.

Ms. McAvoy.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

If I'd known this was happening tonight I'd have brought your roses but I guess I ought to buy another tree.

Your leadership.

through some really really tough times is to be emulated.

Your coaching has been extraordinary both for staff for board members your history and lessons learned and guiding us off of any number of cliffs is hugely appreciated and know that you left this district one heck of a lot better than you found it.

Thank you.

Director Burke Director Geary Director Mack.

So I want to also thank you from the bottom of my heart.

There's a thing that happens when you're a new board director where you come in and you're like wow what a strange and one putting words in my mouth wonderfully strange but awkward place to get engaged in because it's so foreboding and intimidating.

And Peggy from day one has been collaborative, smiling, supportive.

When I've come to her as an individual for specific issues whether they're within her scope or not her experience and focus on students and focus on doing what's right has always helped me get to a better place as a board director.

So I want to share how grateful I am for your support your coaching and all the work that you did before my time which is amazing.

I hate goodbyes so I'm probably going to get emotional.

All the things that have been said so true.

Just always a person that I knew I could go to with questions.

But I think the thing that I appreciate most and I'm so sorry to leave our institution is your constant example of how even occupying the role you're in if there is somebody who has presented a problem or is in distress in a room you always take the time to seek them out hear what they have to say and do your best to provide a response and get them going in a direction that is positive for them.

And I have seen it here in this room.

I have seen it in rooms throughout our city and just in my position to have somebody come and testify to me have that stream roll through and then be able to look over and see that you've wrapped around that person to come up with a solution is just that is the heart of our district and it is the role model for every other employee to emulate.

So I am sorry you're gone.

I hope that that spirit is held within the heart of every person who's had the pleasure of working with you.

Thank you so much.

I too might actually get a little choked up here.

I first met Peggy some 2013 and throughout all the time of my advocacy efforts and then coming onto the board a couple of years ago.

It is in fact been very true that her relentless focus on what's right for students in the district and being responsive and listening to what the problems are and the challenges that we face and trying to come up with positive solutions together in a positive frame has been unsurpassed.

And I just really appreciate that.

Your leadership internally.

people inside call it your shop.

It's Peggy's shop over there.

All of the work around student safety and transportation and operations and all of these things that you've just done amazing work and amazing collaborative work bringing community together and finding solutions.

I will miss you a lot.

I've I've known Peggy for a while since I've been here for a long time but I've never actually been able to when it comes to a problem I you know I always can call on Peggy and her and I will get together and come up with a solution and I so appreciate you for that.

It's always been a great.

memories to know that there's someone there that's actually can come up with a solution when you run out of problems solution to solve your problems.

And I know a couple of times that we sat down and just started thinking about what are we going to do now because some of the things that you and I both had gone through in terms of tonnery saw some of the things that needed to be done.

But I just want to say I really appreciate you and being patient and taking time to really assure me Betty we're going to go through this and really take care of it.

So thank you for all the hard work that you do and the patience because sometimes it takes me a little while to get it together but you've always been a very patient person.

So I appreciate you for that and God bless.

Director DeWolf.

DIRECTOR DEWOLF Thank you.

Am I last.

Do I get to go last.

Okay cool.

DIRECTOR DEWOLF doesn't mean you get to talk forever.

DIRECTOR DEWOLF Oh okay sorry.

Sorry.

DIRECTOR DEWOLF I you know I think there's there's a quote I think that's out there that's that nurses are the heart of health care.

And you certainly are one of the hearts of Seattle Public Schools.

So thank you for your measured and caring deployment and calming excuse me deployment of your caring leadership in Seattle Public Schools.

I know I will truly miss you and have been so honored to be able to work with you for the last two years and wish you all the best in your next adventure.

So.

Superintendent Juneau wrap her up.

All right great Peggy I gave your accolades earlier and all your accomplishments on behalf of all your service to Seattle Public Schools and that's one thing.

But I also want to join this chorus up here personally thanking you.

for your kind heart your generous spirit and just everything that you continue to give for the students and staff of Seattle Public Schools.

I've watched you work I've heard you work I've seen your work and I could just join everybody that says this district is truly going to miss you.

and I'm going to miss you.

And so thank you so much for everything that you've done for generations of this school district and to know that you carry that on but you leave a long long legacy as well.

One that we will continue to try to emulate and learn from and to be better because of your service to this district.

So thank you so much.

Well my final board meeting and I just want to say to all of you and to the Seattle community I've been very very honored to work with all of you and support our families and our students and this is incredibly complex and hard work and.

all of my accolades that you read that I didn't hear about were because of a great team that we had here and I could not have done it with all of the staff.

So as we think about moving forward I just want you to know I like retiring because I know that we have got great staff that are carrying on.

I'm so pleased to have Fred come join us for operations.

he truly can continue to carry the work forward and I know that you guys will in your governance and your leadership will continue that.

I also want to give you a final parting gift.

It is a pin that says Heart of Seattle Schools.

I've always considered myself part of the heart of Seattle Schools but you are also part of it and I want you to have that and to wear it and think about me occasionally as I move on.

All right.

Global Reading Challenge.

I also got to help honor our new state champion Garfield girls softball team with Governor Inslee Representative Pettigrew and Senator Saldana.

This is Seattle's first softball state champions ever.

Go Bulldogs.

Thank you to Gail Morris and the Indian Education Department for celebrating our young indigenous student scholars at Daybreak Star.

It was a fun evening with lots of families.

The staff put a lot of work into the gifts of the transition from grade to grade and so it was a good evening had by all.

This awesome group from South Shore's racial equity team showed me the ropes at their school.

This team has one student from each grade that works with their principal to make their school better.

They had lots of opinions but were just such a great group to visit with talking about deep work that they know needs to happen at their school but how they're so engaged in what that future looks like.

Student Advisory Board we had our last meeting this weekend.

Students put their final touches on their presentations.

So and thanks to thanks to President Harris for coming for the lunch.

These students are going to put some positive projects in place next year so their next steps are meeting again in August finalizing a project meeting with their principals and then figuring out ways to get some projects going to better their system.

It's my understanding that at the last meeting of the year we usually celebrate our state athletes and I just want to also just thank Tara Davis for her leadership as the interim athletic director this year.

Things stayed calm.

It was great and we actually got some great outcomes.

Again thanks to congratulations to the Garfield girls softball team for taking first place at state.

Congratulations to Ingram High School girls cross country team for placing first for the academic state championship.

These are nine athletes on their cross country team with an average 4.0 GPA.

It's awesome.

Congratulations again to Ingram High School gymnastics team for placing first for the academic state championship.

Eight athletes with an average 3.86 GPA.

Congratulations to Ingram High School boys soccer team for placing first for the academic state championship 19 athletes with an average 3.6 GPA.

Congratulations to Nathan Hale High School girls track and field team for placing first for academic state championship 31 athletes for an average of 3.87 GPA.

and then there was also some individual results at the state tournaments swim and dive from Roosevelt Elke Ombach Gymnastics Ballard girls vault and girls bar from Leanne Kistler.

Wrestling Nathan Hale boys 145 weight class was first place again our first state champion in wrestling ever from Seattle Public Schools.

Dominic Damon.

Tennis Nathan Hale girl singles first place Mia.

a lot in track pair girls para athlete 100 meter dash 200 meter dash and shot put first place Andrea Anaya Garfield girls triple jump Lyric Harris.

Roosevelt girls 200 meter dash first place and long jump first place Camille Duckett.

West Seattle girls Pawvolt first place Chloe Cunliffe.

If there are any athletes in the audience or at home or they can watch later you know I just offer a heartfelt congratulations and thank you so much for making Seattle Public Schools proud.

It shows the this list actually shows the real strength and student athletes.

with an emphasis on student and I know that we are also very very proud of you.

So thank you so much.

we had a lot of athletes at John Stanford not really but we did have a May Moveathon where everybody attempted to be a little athletic and we put together a list a lot of people participated if you were ever up on second floor we had this huge wall of charts for people to track their steps or their miles or their biking whatever it is they put in.

will get you an update on the actual miles that were put in over the month of May.

This we take off in a few little groups walking around the area at lunch.

And I just know that we I would say I would venture to say a million steps but I won't quite say that there were a lot of steps taken or a lot of miles moved.

So we'll get you an update on that.

Thank you to Lisa Love and her team for organizing the second annual LGBTQA plus and trans pride flag raising ceremony at John Stafford Center for Educational Excellence for Pride Month.

I'm so thankful to be part of an organization that honors all students and families and just a thank you to Director DeWolf for being there to speak and to celebrate our staff and students as well.

This is a picture of Alex.

She is one of the leaders on our climate and culture committee here at John Stanford and she helped put together a phenomenal lunch for pride.

Had dancing and games and snacks and cake.

She is actually a real force for positive change here at John Stanford.

So thank you Alex and team for putting that together.

Small Cabinet and our executive assistants had a retreat where we all learned a little more about each other and how we work together as a team.

I just want to thank Chief DeBacker for facilitating this event and putting that together.

I think it was time well spent.

This is Mr. Savino at West Seattle High School.

He won the professional excellence award for CTE.

and woodworking because of his work to incorporate student voice into all of his projects.

You can see there this cool handmade ukulele that a student is making in his shop.

West Seattle High School Principal Vance and I met last week and he showed me around the school West Seattle High School has a great CTE program.

In addition to that ukulele you should see the beautiful wood glass inlay tables that are being made there.

Acoustic guitar a student is making.

So they have a pretty phenomenal CTE wing on their building that is well used and students learning great things there.

Did you know that this is the only all woman security team in the district at a school.

Principal Vance is so very lucky to have them.

Thank you for your leadership Prince to Principal Hendrickson.

He and his students at South Shore Pre-K 8 are living the dream by incorporating student voice into their school.

Again I was led around by the race and equity team student race and equity team so that was pretty cool.

Principal Smith brought this group together to discuss the successes and opportunities at Rainier Beach High School.

I just want to thank thank you to our partners the breakfast group and Somali Mother's Night Out for joining us during this school visit.

Detective Cookie and Principal Lamb invited me to attend the annual Van Asselt chess tournament chess tournament with them and South Shore I believe and they were so so very good.

These students were all lined up.

I'll have to get an update on how that went but we all know that chess if you are a player is something that you take the long view on.

It's a lifelong game.

I still enjoy playing as well.

This awesome mural is at the Northwest African-American Museum where the Seattle Alliance of Black School Educators were celebrating their scholarship award students.

Very cool museum.

Again this great group of special guests listened in on our student advisory board presentations.

A huge shout out to our city year partners for facilitating all year long.

Thank you to our staff Lisa Love Ronna Boy Gail Morris Christine Matfield Ryan Healy Gordon Fowles and Brennan Hamm who gave their time to teach students about their projects and be consultants to the groups of students.

So very very powerful and their work will continue.

So the Student Advisory Board will stay the same next year as they carry out their projects so they're super excited about that.

And I just look forward to continuing the work as they gather momentum and put things into place.

And I forgot to mention at the end of my school visits I have now visited all 102 schools.

official visits and so those were something that really helped me learn about the district brought me around the city.

I learned a lot about our little communities and our neighborhood schools and our option schools and everything that's going on.

So.

I'm very thankful for our school leaders for the staff that are in those schools and most importantly the students that I got to meet a lot of this year.

And so just really thankful to be the leader of this school district and every time I'm out in schools I just continue to be inspired by the work that's going on.

So no matter what we hear hear here and no matter what we hear out in the community It's the days in schools when you know that we are actually doing great things.

We're doing the right work and I look forward to that work continuing with our school principals and our teachers and our students and our families across the district.

Thank you Madam President.

DIRECTOR HARRIS- Thank you.

JOLYNN A. You're next up.

So tell us what we need to hear.

Tell us what you want us to hear.

Tell us what you like.

Tell us what you don't like.

Tell us where you're going.

Hi my name is Jolinda.

I come from a big family and.

Sorry.

Southlake is really a good school.

I'm a senior this year and things that I like about Southlake is that we're very helpful of others.

Before I attended Southlake High School, I went to Rainier Beach and at Rainier Beach High School it was very distracting to me and I couldn't work well with bigger crowds so I transferred to Southlake High School and Southlake High School is very calm and you work individually with teachers one-on-one so I like that I get more help with the teachers at Southlake and for me I work well in smaller crowds so in some classes there would be less students or more students and Southlake it's a really good school they this year they actually increased a lot of resources for us like with laptops and books and stuff and

sorry that there's more student of color there's more there's more people of color yeah and everyone gets along with each other.

That's what I like about this school.

People communicate.

You don't have to feel nervous or shy around others.

If anything, Southlake is like family to me.

It's like my second home.

And I love staying after school at Southlake.

I love helping the teachers.

I love helping with graduation committee, prom committee, after schools.

programs.

Actually, Southlake to me is one of the best high schools I've attended to.

person from my own from my own perspective and teachers they help with students like if you like two days ago I thought I wasn't going to graduate just because of a credit I missed but I think Miss Brown for pushing me to get where I needed to be and Honestly, about Southlake, I don't have any wrongs or there's nothing bad I would say about Southlake High School.

Anything any other questions.

What's next for you.

You're graduating.

What happens next.

Hope streams aspirations.

Well I'm really interested in graphic designing.

I actually help Southlake with flyers and stuff so I make flyers invitations or posters and signs.

Art is my passion.

I come from a family who does art which is my mom.

She inspired me.

So that's where I get my talents from.

After high school I planned on taking a photography class.

I also like photography.

I like taking pictures and.

That that connects to visual arts.

I've also applied to Seattle Central College and I was thinking about getting into Renton Technical College too.

That's very exciting.

OK.

Other questions comments Director Geary and then Director Dewell.

So you came to Southlake from Rainier Beach.

Yes.

But if you were to go into a middle school.

And talk to them about Southlake.

what kind of which of the students would you say you're the one who should think about Southlake like if we were to go out and say you don't need to try and go to Rainier Beach first you should just come straight to Southlake which students do you think we should be talking to

Like from race or.

No no just from from middle schools like would you would you have liked the opportunity to go to Southlake from middle school and gone there the whole time.

Southlake requires many things like they help you with college applications.

They help you with FAFSA.

They help you with jobs careers.

They have applications at the Learning Resource Center we have in our school.

So if you were in front of a group of middle schoolers and there are people talking about their high schools what would you what would you tell them in terms of you should come to Southlake.

What would you what would you tell them about Southlake to get them to go to Southlake.

Anything.

If you were back imagine yourself in middle school.

And what would you have liked somebody to tell you about Southlake.

that you don't need to worry or Southlake helps you.

They make you feel welcome.

It's more welcoming.

Because at Arena Beach, I was kind of scared because it was a big school and it didn't work well for me.

I think that's an important message for us because we probably have other middle schoolers that need to know that there's a special school not a special school but a smaller school where people take the time.

So I really appreciate you coming and talking to us today about how Southlake was a great fit for you and helped you to see your strengths and your future.

Congratulations on your graduation.

Thank you.

So in Native culture we often use stories to communicate.

So I'm curious can you tell us about a time or a story about a great interaction with one of your teachers.

Just some interaction with your teachers that was memorable for you.

Miss Walker was my teacher.

When I was going through it outside of school she helped me. to cope with things in a better way instead of a negative way and one memory I wouldn't forget from her is that when we had sushi day we made sushi and and one thing I wouldn't forget about her she's always smiling she's always positive she's always pushing us like no matter what we go through she always see the good in us.

So yeah.

One memory.

Thank you.

Director Patu please.

Now out of all the things that you've actually have done in terms of what you were going through what is the one thing that I actually encourage you to get to be able to be reach your goal.

What is the one thing that I encourage

Well, when I see other seniors graduating, that pushed me to come to school even more.

And that also motivated me.

If she and he can do it, I can do it.

No matter what I went through, I didn't let that stop me.

And I still wanted to show my family and people who have doubted me that I can do it and prove them wrong.

and so with all that what would be the one thing that you would actually say to encourage someone that's haven't decided whether to go forward or just quit.

If someone have that was you or tell you that you can't do it I look at that as a motivation.

Because then you can turn around and tell them that you did do it that you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I had a high school counselor that laughed in my face.

The fact that she laughed in my face caused me to graduate because she did not believe in me.

And I'm with you.

That is motivation in a really big way way to go.

Okay we have come to the point where we are going to have committee reports.

But Jalinda I want you to know you are welcome to stay till the bitter end of the meeting.

You don't get to vote but you do get to ask questions when the rest of the board members do and we very much appreciate your doing so if you choose to.

Okay.

Thank you.

Who would like to go first.

Director Geary.

And did you want me to cover A&F as well.

I would appreciate it if you would cover A&F and A&F and Director.

Kinkham's absence.

Yes ma'am.

Appreciate the offer.

Sure.

So last night we had the final curriculum and instruction committee meeting for the year.

I would say it was a lively one of our livelier ones we had always the joy of hearing from Gail Selhorst about the creative advantage arts partnership and how that is expanding throughout our district.

more and more I think we're up to 96 schools something close to that.

So the program is rolling out making sure that we're making arts available visual arts available throughout our district.

And then later in the meeting Gail reported on our music in the district as well and how robust that is.

There was some I think a really good discussion around music and how at the elementary grades it is delivered across the schools middle school.

We again see a lot of kids participating but there is a drop off come high school.

It has been noted that to some degree.

that there is racial inequities or the appearance of racial disparities within the music program.

But I think it allowed for a really interesting opportunity because I thought of Southlake High School having visited there several times and the desire to build a music production.

program there and at Rainier Beach and so it made me realize that we need to look at music as a bigger umbrella and not decide that it's just instrumental music but music means a lot of things and it can have cultural significance in different groups for different types of participation in music but nobody should feel excluded from any of those different avenues but music is bigger than just a music program and we need to recognize it as such and grow it as such and welcome everybody to participate in the portion that speaks to them because music is such a fundamental part of the human experience and we need to recognize that.

And I have always applauded Southlake for wanting to grow that down in South Seattle.

We talked about ethnic studies and I think we're moving forward to getting a bar presented or at committee hopefully come.

August we talked more about the policies that should be introducing at our next board meeting but not being approved until the end of summer would be the school board dress policy or maybe we can get that done before the end of this summer.

We're going to get that done in July.

But dress policy so that we will have a new dress policy for next year one that is addressing some of the inequities around just stigmatization.

so hopefully that will be going out and we can solve some of that but there will be more engagement around the issue of any school that has adopted uniforms so that they can understand how that policy will impact their individual communities.

Flexibility has been built into the policy.

And then we are also continuing moving forward.

Yeah.

Is there a number on that policy.

That is 3 2 2 4.

and if you don't mind just I know that there was a resolution passed recently by Seattle Council around dress code but it's a resolution not a policy and I was wondering if that language was being considered in the development of the.

It is my understanding from Ronald Boyd that he has he has wrapped around with many many different groups and vetted the language to make sure and I think everybody will be.

positively like receive the language very it is very what does a student need to come to school to gain access and it doesn't talk about gender specific clothes it tries to be very very respectful of just a student being dressed.

And then we also are moving forward with the students rights and administration of surveys and analysis or evaluations.

So that was I think the meat of curriculum and instruction and what we are looking forward to moving forward on that.

Looking at audit and finance we also had a really good meeting.

And I think the two some of the big things that came through that were really positive is that we'll be looking at a five hundred thousand per year grant for to support community learning centers for over with a total of two million five hundred thousand over five years supporting community learning centers in four of our high poverty and low performing schools.

So that will be bolstering those communities and then we're looking at a engaging in 3.4 million dollars of contracts with 43 schools for after school enrichment again focusing on schools that have higher free and reduced lunch populations.

And so I highlight those because there's going to be discussion tonight around funding our schools and how different sources of funding come into our different schools.

We also talked about policy 6100 which is a policy that and I'm being distracted a little bit because we've just had a whole lot of teachers join.

joined the board meeting.

So welcome everybody.

We're giving our committee report right now talking about I'm personally talking about the audit and finance report that happened last night since you're just coming in sort of dry.

And but we've had to amend the policy 6100 to talk about providing a a hearing right if we're not using our enrichment money properly and this has to do with the enacting of the levy lid coming down and making sure that we're using our funds appropriately with regard to not collecting levy monies in excess of what the state tells us we can.

in supporting basic ed but then what we're also supposed to be looking at in terms of the supporting of enrichment which gets me to policy 6100 which is being amended if you were to take a look at it and what that policy basically says is that we as a school district are going to encourage the donation of money to our district from any kind of source that is willing to give us money.

And we will hear tonight about a PTA like many of our PTA's who provide money to their schools and this is one that has reached a level that it needs to come to the board.

But this is a system that has been perpetuated and is supported by our own policy.

So we do have a policy that really encourages people to go out and find money to and to support the delivery of enrichment in Seattle Public Schools.

So I just key that up because we were talking about that in audit and finance as well.

So.

Though that is my report on audit and finance and curriculum and instruction.

DIRECTOR HARRIS- Thank you Director Mack Chair of Operations.

Good evening.

It's been a busy time for operations.

We had on June 5th we had a student the student assignment transition planning boundaries work session on the 5th where we had conversations about the planning and community engagement and so forth that's going around for various areas and schools in the city that may have changes made for the 2020-21 school year.

The timeline on approving those changes is it needs to be completed prior to open enrollment so everyone has sufficient notice.

So in the fall and we're targeting that to be adopted or acted on by the board on November 20th.

So you can look at the the work session materials to get some information about what was talked about and the following day we had our Ops Committee meeting next door.

It did run long as usual but it was really rich and robust discussion around a lot of great topics.

We did not get to review the policy sixty nine hundred sixty nine oh one was still being routed but the delay doesn't concern me too much.

I think that we're on track we'll be bringing that we'll be coming for discussion in August.

We had robust discussion around the policy 3143 which is the district notification of juvenile offenders.

This has a WASDA model policy and some really important language in there for the safety of our students.

And we also are looking at another final acceptance which is super exciting on Roxhill Elementary at EC Hughes.

The School Traffic Safety Committee which is a committee that's jointly run by the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools came and gave us a presentation.

We invited them actually only a couple days before and they gave some really good information about their their work that they do to support safe walks safe routes to schools and all of this other safety for our students at our all of our schools around the walk zones and transportation.

and those sorts of things so it's really nice to have that that committee doing great work that's spanning between SDOT and us and City of Seattle and so forth.

Had a brief update about the P3 pathway and capacity analysis from Mr. Podesta kind of the framing of what that work is going for the forward.

And.

an awesome presentation around the work that Mr. Smith our new nutrition services director I'm sorry if I'm giving the title incorrect is doing across the district.

I'm super excited about that.

And we also moved forward with a recommendation for consideration to the full board the advisory committee that capacity enrollment and facilities master planning advisory committee.

We've been talking about this for a while so we move that forward expecting that to come for introduction on June 26th.

So next board meeting.

And.

Oh additionally the last thing we also decided that because of the level of complexity around the student assignment transition plan and the boundaries conversations that are going on we we want to have another work session come August to have that discussion with the full board so that we can be ready for for making the changes that need to be made.

And.

That's our last Opset meeting until August something or other.

It's a ways away because we take a break.

So I wanted to actually tell everyone now just to keep it in your mind if you're interested in being present for it.

There are four different open houses for that are ribbon cutting ceremonies for the new schools that are opening the new buildings that are opening and these are all very exciting Magnolia Ingram Queen Anne and Lincoln.

They're being held on August 29th and September 3rd so right before school starts.

I hope you can come celebrate those with us.

Okay executive and then we're going to take a stretch break before public testimony starts.

So we met this morning.

We don't meet again until mid-August.

Executive committee meetings are actually kind of rowdy and.

You might not think so given the fact that it's senior staff and everybody's given reports but I like them because it's an opportunity to have all the chiefs in one room and blow up silos and work more collaboratively and no shy violets in these rooms.

and I want to say thank you to my colleagues on the executive committee Director DeWolf Director Burke.

We tussle as well but we do it openly mostly respectfully and we always leave the room friends.

But you have diversity of opinion on your executive committee and I think that's a good and healthy thing.

So the really great news is the rollout that we were advised about for Seattle super readers.

Super readers rolling out this summer for 12 schools that have the highest percentage of African-American males.

This is part of our strategic plan.

It's a ramp up.

There have been people working.

Yell.

13 not 12 see it's back and forth it's collaborative and appreciate all the help I can get.

Thank you so much.

We're working with community based partners for Seattle library.

Superheroes are coming our way and this is a really exciting way to to launch this and also to get culturally appropriate books in the hands of our youngest readers so they can read about people that look like themselves.

So stay tuned.

But this is a big lift.

It's a different way of doing things.

And let's be honest sometimes the old ways weren't working all that well so let's create a new paradigm and I hate that word paradigm it's overused.

But this really is. blowing up the box and it's exciting.

We heard from our labor partners at 609 who we respect and appreciate the hard work that their folks do every day to support our students and our staff.

And we heard about the difficulties of filling these jobs.

So if you know anyone that wants a job that has an opportunity to work with children and with the extraordinary red shirts here in the room.

send them our way we're recruiting too many openings too many people that are working overtime hours to cover the needs of our schools.

We also heard from the Building Trades Council and we were working with the community workforce agreements.

This has been through ops.

This has.

Going to be something that.

I think we can be proud of in retrospect but we are going to appoint a task force.

We're looking for the money.

We're looking for the partnership of city port and county to lend us their expertise and their analysts so that we can create apprenticeships pre apprenticeships and family wage jobs.

It is our moral obligation to do so.

District 7 appointment.

As you know our beloved Director Betty Patu has submitted a resignation effective July 1 which means that we have an opening or an appointment until the general election in November 2021. So it's a two year appointment and the remaining six directors will make that appointment.

It's statutory.

it's Washington administrative code and we want to be as transparent and inclusive as possible while still maintaining the fact that it's the six directors that make that very difficult choice because let's say that there is a whole lot of talent out there and I know for a fact that there's a great deal of interest.

So.

On Friday.

there will be a portal made on the Seattle Public Schools website for folks to indicate their interest letter of interest and a resume and to send suggested questions to use for screening purposes and probably late July early August.

We don't have the date set yet and the staff reminds me constantly that there are a number of steps to to take to make sure that the process is an elegant one and inclusive and translations are made and phone calls are made so that we cast the widest net possible.

We'll have a forum at Rainier Beach High School in the community.

And it's my hope that we get folks that are truly passionate about public education.

and that we do a bang up job of this appointment process.

Now all of it has to be done in public open public meetings act understand that and wouldn't have it any other way.

Details to come Friday we should have the list we've we're looking towards my colleagues vacation schedules etc. so that we can get as many folks at the dais and at the forum to make the appointment as possible.

summer is a difficult time as you all know and I hope that everyone in this room has a terrific summer vacation planned.

And with that we're going to take a stretch break until 530 when we start our public testimony.

Looking forward to it.

Thank you.