Seattle School Board Meeting June 23, 2021

2021 Regular Board Meeting to order at 331 p.m.

This meeting is being recorded.

We would like to acknowledge that we are on the ancestral lands and traditional territories of the Puget Sound Coast Salish people.

Ms. Wilson-Jones the roll call please.

Director DeWolf.

Director DeWolf will not be joining us tonight.

Director Dury.

Here.

And Director Harris is not able to join.

Vice President Hersey.

Here.

Director Rankin.

Here.

Director Rivera-Smith.

Present.

And President Hampson.

Here.

Superintendent Jones is also joining us for today's meeting and additional staff will be briefing the board as we move through the agenda.

This meeting is being held remotely consistent with the Governor's proclamation on open public meetings.

Public is being provided remote access today by phone and through SPS-TV by broadcast and streaming on YouTube.

To facilitate this meeting I will ask all participants to ensure you are muted when you are not speaking.

Staff may be muting participants to address feedback and ensure we can hear directors and staff.

I will now turn it over to you Superintendent Jones for your comments.

Thank you President Hampson and board members.

I want to start out by just saying thank you to our families and students for your patience and your perseverance over this last school year.

I believe we closed out 2021 very strong.

Our educators and staff and school leaders were amazing.

For example we we stood up 40 meal sites lifted up tech resource centers vaccination sites support hotlines and really supported the essential needs of our families and students.

This last week based on my school visits there were a lot of good spirits of student and staff.

Lots of optimism.

But people were certainly ready for summer break.

So that's and it's well-deserved.

I also had the opportunity to attend graduations.

Over 3,700 of our SPS scholars received their diplomas this this week ago.

And our staff did a tremendous job of making the events meaningful for students and their families.

No one was turned away.

We figured out a way to bring everybody in that wanted to participate.

And I want to also thank the board members for for your participation.

So now we are 69 days away from the start of the 21-22 school year.

We have really good experience from the 21 this last school year to learn from.

And I'm confident.

that we're proactively moving forward for a strong fall reopening.

So I just want to say I'm grateful for all the hard work and expertise all the professionalism of our SPS team and I'm looking forward to getting to down to business for this summer again for a strong in-person full-time reopening September 1st.

Thank you so much.

Thank you Dr. Jones.

We have now reached the consent portion of today's agenda.

May I have a motion for the consent agenda.

Absolutely.

Just confirming.

Can you all hear me.

Yes.

Okay.

Perfect.

You're not super loud but we can hear you.

Okay let me see if I can turn it up.

Is that better.

Yes.

Okay.

All right.

I move for approval of the consent agenda.

Approval of the consent agenda has been moved by Vice President Hersey and seconded by Director Rivera-Smith.

Do directors have any items they would like to remove from the consent agenda.

Hearing none.

All those in favor of the consent agenda signify by saying aye.

Those opposed.

The consent agenda has passed unanimously.

So we've now reached the public testimony portion of the agenda but it is not yet 345. I would ask if any committee chairs have any board committee reports that they would like to give now in lieu of taking a recess to keep the meeting going and then we'll begin testimony at 345 p.m.

Let me check in first with you Director Rankin.

I was just pulling up my calendar trying to place myself back in space and time and remember have we had a meeting since.

I don't know I don't think I have anything new to report between last board meeting and this one in part as far as committee work goes.

What about for let's see operations.

I think we actually inadvertently skipped committee reports during the last board meeting so anything to report from either of the last two is for.

Oh did we.

Okay.

We had well yeah we had Superintendent Jones join us which was great for our last our committee meeting for this month and it was a long one.

It's a good juicy one to join in.

Lots of really good discussion.

And Director Harris requested there was so much to talk about.

Director Harris requested that we consider a July committee meeting.

And so I'm talking to staff now about maybe instead of a meeting because I know staff time is so so Just taken up by lots of things that maybe we could have a sort of July report extra July report instead of having that meeting.

So look for more on that and that would come to the full board.

We discussed an update about isolation and restraint.

We discussed the some items that are going to come before us today.

Don't think there's anything else.

new or different just good work.

And I'm actually I'll say it's a really there's a really great feeling of from teaching and learning staff across all departments of moving in the same direction.

And I think that's partly due to some you know board student-centered outcomes and some shifts in in leadership and departments and I feel really hopeful about staff and board moving together in service of students.

And so I think that was partly why that meeting was so long because there was just a lot of good good things aligning in support of students and thinking about coming back just really really strong in the fall.

So yeah we'll hear about some of that stuff in introduction.

Okay and I can go next with Executive Committee and then I'll call on you after that Director Hersey for the for A&F.

And our last Executive Committee meeting we did a brief update on well we we will be reviewing our Teamsters Local Number 174 Collective Bargaining Agreement today during info.

I mean intro and then we did a sort of administrative timeline update on our progress with respect to our board goals and student outcomes focused governance.

And and then we spoke briefly about the use of Let's Talk which is a customer service platform from Chief of Communications Carrie Campbell about the prospect of the board moving away from the board simply the board off school board email as our sole source of communication with constituents constituents and moving to something a bit more robust which would actually allow us to track what constituents are emailing us about.

And and then allow for us to know whether or not there's actually been a response to a constituent which we don't because of OPMA issues when we all get emailed and can't reply all because of Open Public Meetings Act restrictions.

We have pretty poor customer service when it comes to emails that come to the board.

So that was a good robust conversation.

And I think we'll be moving forward with with some of those changes to provide better responsiveness and customer service.

And then also quick update on our new website that's referred to as our content management system.

And then the there was a brief update from our from our Department of Engagement and Equity.

around Policy 0030 which is an annual report which once that's fully posted in its full form I think that annual report is actually available on on the website as well.

And that was a good conversation a very thorough report representing departments from throughout the district.

And and then a note about based on the nature of the new contract with our with Dr. Jones that the superintendent evaluation process time frame would be different because we have a different contractual obligation for evaluation with him than if we had followed our prior superintendent evaluation calendar as traditionally dictated by by policy.

And then a brief discussion of the superintendent search process and the the need to get the contents of a request for proposal put together so that we can get the support that the board needs in order to get that search process going here locally.

And that's kind of it for for Executive Committee.

Our next meeting isn't until August 15th.

And I imagine that in terms of the work that we're doing on policies annual reports the executive committee work plan as well as the broader board calendar and work plan which will be teeing up for that that August time frame we will probably have a lot.

I hope if we're doing our job over the summer we will have a lot to to look at.

At that time we will have completed our work with the Harvard Institute and be further along on the board goals and student outcomes focused governance commitment.

So I'm looking forward to doing the work necessary to make that a particularly productive meeting.

And I will then turn it over to Director Hersey.

It's only 343 so we have time for one more update on A&F committee.

Absolutely.

I'll try to make this quick.

We had a number of items come through A&F last month Many of which you will see on our agenda in various capacities tonight.

Some of those things including approval of a new website content management system along with experimental updates on our experimental education unit Head Start Washington Schools Risk Management Pool.

Our Resolution 29 or excuse me 2019-2037 for fixing and adopting the 2021 budget.

which we'll talk about in just a second as well and then private school proportional services.

We also received a number of special attention item updates including notifications from our internal audit manager as well as updates on non-discrimination and affirmative action annual report and whatnot.

So really looking forward to.

Oops hold on.

I think I am looking at the wrong agenda but it is OK. we will go ahead and move on to the budgetary updates.

We had a very productive budget work session that came through on June 9th of last week, where we were updated on where our numbers for not only enrollment, but other capacities of our budget are.

We are planning to, as many folks know, finalize our budget in July of this year, if I'm not mistaken.

And so we look forward to Taking those necessary and critical steps to make sure that we are supporting Dr. Jones and the rest of the administration in what is going to be a very successful start to the school year.

So thank you very much.

Okay.

And does anybody from Operations since Director DeWolf can't join us tonight want to give any update on that or if not we can just save it for the maybe just note when the next operations meeting is if you happen to know.

Anybody from operations.

I can look it up.

Yeah.

Hi.

I'm sorry.

I was looking through my calendar.

I don't we don't have another operations meeting until probably August I think.

So.

Yeah.

We talked about we we spoke about some BARs we'll see tonight.

We had the sorry I'm looking at the agenda right now.

Some of the some of the bars of introduction today came through operations a lot of the BEX and CA-1JC kind of the last of them.

So a lot of that we spoke about gearing up for the Clean Energy Task Force which we'll start recruiting this summer hopefully for them I think by August and get moving on that.

I don't have my notes in front of me but it was a robust meeting and I'm looking forward to getting back together in August.

Thank you.

Okay and it looks like the next meeting is August 15th for operations and yes we will definitely hear as we frequently do a large number of the board action reports coming through are in fact from operations so much of which of what you covered will be coming will be up for discussion today.

And I'll look to Directors Rankin and Rivera-Smith to Maybe you can alternate in terms of taking the role for Director DeWolf in speaking first on the respective BARs as they come up.

Okay.

And and also just a note before we get a public testimony that Director Harris had an unfortunate accident and she's fine but her ankle is is messed up and she's in quite a bit of pain and and not in a position to join us right now.

So we know you're listening and we wish you some recovery and some some rest and we'll catch up with you afterwards.

Okay so with that we have now reached the public testimony portion of our meeting.

We will be taking public testimony by teleconference today as stated on the agenda.

For any speakers watching through SPS-TV please call in now to ensure you are on the phone line when your name is called.

Board Procedure 1430BP provides the rules for testimony and I ask that speakers are respectful of these rules.

I will summarize some important parts of this procedure.

First testimony will be taken today from those individuals called from our public testimony list and if applicable the waiting list which are included on today's agenda posting on the school board website.

Only those who are called by name should unmute their phones and only one person should speak at a time.

Speakers from the list may cede their time to another person when the listed speaker's name is called.

The total amount of time allowed will not exceed two minutes for the combined number of speakers and time will not be restarted after the new speaker begins.

In order to maximize the opportunities for others to address the board each speaker is allowed only one speaking slot per meeting.

If a speaker cedes time to a later speaker on the testimony list or waiting list The person to whom time was ceded will not be called to provide testimony again later in the meeting as there is only one speaking slot per person.

Those who do not wish to have time ceded to them may decline and retain their place on the testimony or wait list.

Finally the majority of the speaker's time should be spent on the topic they have indicated they wish to speak about.

Ms. Wilson-Jones will read off the testimony speakers.

Thank you President Hampson.

Speakers please remain muted until your name is called to provide testimony.

When I call your name please be sure you have unmuted on your phone and also press star-6 to unmute on the conference call line.

Each speaker will have a 2-minute speaking time and a chime will sound when your time is exhausted.

First on today's testimony list is Amaya Horegi.

Amaya Horegi.

Amaya if you are on the line you need to press star-6 to unmute now.

I'll move to the next speaker and then I'll call any names we missed again at the end.

Next on today's test oh is that Amaya unmuting.

It doesn't look like it.

Yeah this is Amaya.

Okay excellent.

Amaya go for it.

We can hear you.

Hello my name is Amaya Jauregui and I am Mexican-American.

I just finished fifth grade at Concord International Elementary.

Throughout my six years there I was in the Spanish English dual language program.

I'm going to be speaking about why the dual language program at Concord is so important and why you must support it.

When I started kindergarten at Concord it was incredible that there were so many kids teachers and staff that looked like me talked in both Spanish and English like me and have families from Spanish speaking countries like me.

At the Concord dual language program we got to learn about ourselves our family our culture and our language.

When you see your culture and your language being celebrated and taught it's like a nice warm hug after being outside in the cold rain of racism.

It's a warm hug after everything bad that you have seen and experienced.

It was a warm warm hug that felt really comforting knowing that the teachers always had your back.

As you know racism against Spanish speaking communities have been growing even more in the U.S.

People are told their languages isn't important and that being Latina exists.

is bad.

People end up not speaking the Spanish that connects them to their family and community.

Without the dual language program I wouldn't have learned to speak read and write in Spanish so I can talk with my Spanish speaking family.

In the dual language program we got to learn about ourselves.

My Spanish teachers have always supported everyone and taught us about us.

Dual language also helped form my identity and who I am at the Miami Memorial Hawaii.

When I was in second grade I testified before the school board to support the dual language program and now three years later I hear again to ask you to support the program.

Although I am moving on to Denny Dual Language Program my younger sisters and so many other kids in my community still need it.

They deserve to also experience having their bilingualism biliteracy and biculturalism honored and celebrated.

Please please protect it.

Protect it.

Thank you.

Thank you Amaya.

Next on today's testimony list is Chris Jackins.

Chris Jackins.

My name is Chris Jackins.

Box 84063 Seattle 98124. On the June 7th board minutes in-person attendance was allowed on June 7th but not today.

The board is going backward on the budget.

The hearing is to occur immediately before the board vote.

That reduces board due diligence.

On the Northgate contract two points.

Number one the state considers Northgate School to be historically significant and eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Number two yet the district is still proceeding with plans to demolish the school.

Please vote no.

On the Buelans and Kimball contracts these actions are being introduced without the contract amount.

Is this how the Deputy Superintendent has been used to conducting business.

On the West Seattle Elementary contract please supply the public with the parcel exchange appraisal as promised before voting on the contract.

On final acceptance of playground improvements at 10 schools the report references a project underspend but lists no amount.

Were any projects incomplete.

Did any schools lose playground space.

On final acceptance of field lighting at Franklin.

Most of these school levy funds were spent to support City Parks Department use not school use.

On final acceptance at Magnolia.

Two points.

Number one the report states that the project was quote completed over budget unquote.

Number two the action calls for board approval of a $725,000 budget transfer after the funds have apparently already been expended.

Please vote no.

Thank you.

Next on today's testimony list Janice White.

Janice White.

Good afternoon.

I'm Janice White President of the Seattle Special Education PTSA.

I wanted to talk this afternoon a little bit about board policy 6902 Information Technology Planning which is being introduced today.

The board action report says that the school board recognizes technology as a critical resource to support learning for each and every student.

And the proposed policy states that the IT program shall prioritize technology investments closest to students educators and families with clear actions for inclusivity usability and accessibility.

My concern is that the proposed policy does not mention students with disabilities.

Students with disabilities and students who receive special education services are general education students first.

If you're going to prioritize technology investments in order to meet goals like inclusivity and accessibility I think you should make explicit in the policy the requirement to consider the needs of students with disability.

This is especially true because as you may know the assistive technology department is housed within the special education department.

It's not part of the technology department.

And so it's just not clear based on this proposed policy how the technology needs of students with disabilities will be addressed in the context of technology planning for the district.

So before you adopt this policy I would just ask and urge you to take a closer look at how to make clear that the needs of students with disabilities will be considered in technology planning going forward.

Thank you very much.

That was the final speaker on today's testimony list.

Thank you Ms. Wilson-Jones.

Okay we've now moved to we now move to the action items on today's agenda.

The first item is Action Item Number 1. Approval of a Successor Collective Bargaining Agreement between Seattle School District Number 1 and International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union Numbers 174 for September 1st 2020 through August 31st 2021. This came through Executive Committee on June 9th for and was recommended for approval.

May I have a motion for this item.

Yeah absolutely.

I move that the school board authorize the superintendent to execute the collective bargaining agreement with the International Union of Teamsters Local 174 with the wage schedules and other attachments in the form of the draft agreement for the period September 1st 2020 through August 31st 2021 attached to the school board action report with any minor additions deletions and modifications deemed necessary by the superintendent and take any necessary actions to implement the contracts.

Immediate action is in the best interest of the district.

This item has been moved by Vice President Hersey and seconded by Director Rivera-Smith.

This item is on the agenda for introduction and action today.

Chief Human Resources Officer Noltreat I believe you will be briefing us on this item.

Yes good afternoon directors.

Noel Treat your Chief HR Officer.

I'm pleased to present a tentative one-year agreement today between the district and our labor partner Teamster 174. These Teamster members provide vital truck driving operations for the district.

The agreement includes some cleanup of collective bargaining agreement language but the primary issue in the negotiations was wages.

Following mediation the parties reached a tentative agreement at a 2 percent salary increase for the year along with a 1 percent one-time bonus.

Teamster members have unanimously ratified this tentative agreement and it's now before you tonight for or today for approval with a staff recommendation that you do approve this agreement to move forward.

Okay so I am going to go to directors for any comments or questions.

And I will just briefly state as Chair of the Executive Committee that we're extremely grateful to our Teamsters and the important role that they serve in making sure that critical transportation services and deliveries are made throughout this this district.

and are grateful to the staff for coming to an agreement or a set of agreements that were able to be accepted unanimously and look forward to future good relationship and communications with the with the Teamsters.

I will now go to Director Hersey for comments questions or concerns.

for me at this point.

Thank you to everyone who's worked on this.

I know that it's been a long process and I'm excited to see an agreement.

Director Dury.

No questions for me tonight.

Thanks.

On this.

Director Rivera-Smith.

Thank you.

Yeah I know no questions to call well no no questions.

I do appreciate the work that went into this.

There was a little bit of a struggle through it but I appreciate Chief Treat coming into this and getting us this agreement.

Look forward to continuing our relations with Teamsters.

No further comments.

Thank you.

Director Rankin.

Thanks.

I'm just wondering about the one-year term.

If that is typical if there is benefit for the district and for Local 174 in in having it be one year instead of two or three years and what I'm just thinking about in terms of you know time it takes to bargain again.

If somebody could just tell me a little bit about that why one year.

Yeah, you know, certainly oftentimes we do prefer a longer terms agreements just because it provides a level of certainty and it alleviates the need to immediately start new bargaining.

In this case, the teamsters wanted to just focus on a one year agreement and have another round of negotiations as we do more market research on salaries before we move towards a longer term agreement.

So given that this agreement really just covers this year through August 31st, We'll be starting soon on negotiating a longer term agreement and hope to we have a great relationship with the Teamsters and I think we can hopefully reach agreement on a longer term in this next round.

Sounds great.

That's that's kind of what I thought but I just wanted to double check.

Sounds good.

Thank you.

Okay.

Ms. Wilson-Jones will you please call for the vote.

Vice President Hersey aye Director Rankin aye Director Rivera-Smith aye Director Dury aye President Hampson aye.

This motion has passed unanimously.

We will now move to Action Item Number 2 Amendment Number 3 to the 2020-21 City of Seattle FFVP Agreement.

May I have a motion for this item.

Yep.

I move that the school board authorize the superintendent to accept the August 1st through 31st 2021 City of Seattle grant to expand the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grant Funding Amendment to include an additional $1,031,600 for a total of up to $2,320,527.06.

Immediate action is in the best interest of the district.

The item has been moved by Vice President Hersey and seconded by Director Rivera-Smith.

This item did not go through committee and is on the agenda for introduction and action today.

Chief Operations Officer Fred Podesta I believe he will be briefing us on this item.

Yes.

Thank you President Hampson.

The district has an agreement with the City of Seattle to distribute fresh fruits and vegetables.

And given the changes during the past school year with how meals and other foods were There's been enormous demand for these products and in this model on top of the fact that we had a USDA waiver we've been able to distribute you know far more than the usual model which is localized to specific schools and has an aspect of means testing.

These fresh fruits and vegetables were distributed through all our channels that we use to distribute meals at distribution sites and also home delivery of meals.

And so that's why we're adding yet a third amendment.

The city is adding additional funding so we since we've expended all the resources or will have expended all the resources this allows us to carry the program through the end of summer.

Thank you Chief Podesta.

And let me ask Director Rankin let me go to you first for comments questions and concerns.

No.

Nothing from me.

All good.

Fully support this.

Okay.

Director Hersey.

None from me either.

Director Rivera-Smith I'm sorry Director Dury.

I just have a clarifying question.

This million dollars is for the month of August correct.

It is.

We won't likely expend the full amount of the of the amendment and we'll get reimbursed by the city for what we are able to distribute.

Sorry.

So we'll get reimbursed by the city for what we do distribute.

So we're.

For our actual costs.

Gotcha.

Okay.

Thank you.

Director Rivera-Smith.

No questions.

Thank you.

Okay.

Ms. Wilson-Jones please call for the vote.

Director Rankin.

Aye.

Director Rivera-Smith aye Director Dury aye Vice President Hersey aye Director Hampson aye.

This motion has passed unanimously.

We will now move to Action Item Number 3. 2021-22 City of Seattle Summer Food Service Program Project Services Agreement.

May I have a motion for this item.

I move that the school board authorize the superintendent to enter a project services agreement with the City of Seattle to receive payment of up to $334,700 to provide breakfast lunch and afternoon snacks for the City of Seattle Summer Food Service Program.

With any minor additions deletions and modifications deemed necessary by the superintendent and to take any necessary actions to implement the contract.

Immediate action is in the best interest of the district.

May I have a second.

Second.

Sorry.

This item has been moved Vice President Hersey and seconded by Director Rivera-Smith.

This item did not go through committee and is on the agenda for introduction and action today.

Chief Podesta I believe you will be briefing us again.

Yes.

Thanks again President Hampson.

Annually the City of Seattle operates a summer food service program which distributes meals to young people at a variety of community sites parks community centers and other locations.

The Seattle Public Schools has Nutrition Services Department has been the provider of food for this program for the city for decades.

And this is an annual contract that will allow us to provide food for that program this summer as we normally do.

And then again the changes this year we will this is over and above the meals we'll be serving in our own locations.

So.

nutrition services will remain busy as they have for many months.

And thank you.

I'm happy to take any questions you might have.

Thank you.

I'll go first to Operations Committee Member Director Rivera-Smith.

Hi.

Thank you.

Thanks Chief Podesta for this BAR.

I was wondering is it typically that this like you said this has been since the 70's it says that we've done We've had this partnership.

Does it generally come through this late.

We're already into the summer and we're seeing this far now.

Is that something happening.

I mean is it COVID I guess like a lot of many things.

I can only speak to the last couple of years.

It usually comes about now.

Our previous contract goes through June 30th.

So this is a renewal that starts July 1st.

So we are providing services already.

But yes it seems despite.

Our best efforts it's always a last-minute discussion with the city.

And it hasn't kept us from providing the service.

Great.

Well that's my next question about the timeliness that hinders us from getting everything you know set up and ready to go.

My other question then is are we continuing to provide the meals to annual surplus.

I guess under 18 at least.

Is that going to continue this summer.

Yes to we're providing meals to anyone 18 and younger.

And are the sites updated now on the website or are they going to change at any point this summer.

They are changing.

I believe there are 24 sites and they have been posted on the website.

So is it going to change again during the summer or is that set for the summer.

No I think other than the fact that we will monitor if sites are popular or not and make adjustments if needed.

just as we've done in the past but those that's our intent is to keep these sites unless some are highly underutilized or we have other reasons to think that other sites might be more successful or to shift staff but we will make certain that people are aware.

And again would be highly unlikely we would remove a site that was that was busy.

It was only if it wasn't really being used.

Thank you.

No further questions or comments.

Okay Director Hersey.

No questions for me.

Thank you.

Director Dury.

No questions.

Thank you.

Director Rankin.

I I don't I doubt we have that many people listening to the meeting today on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon or summer afternoon.

But I just wanted to reiterate that children 18 and younger You don't have to show a school ID.

You can pick up food at the school you attend at a different school at a Parks Department site.

This food is for for all children to to access and take advantage of at schools at this contract in particular is for City of Seattle sites.

And I know that Parks Department folks are always you know happy and excited to to pass out those lunches so.

please take advantage.

And yeah thanks for bringing this forward again and continuing the service.

Okay.

And I have no questions.

Ms. Wilson-Jones the call for the vote please.

Director Rivera-Smith aye Director Dury aye Vice President Hersey aye Director Rankin aye President Hampson aye.

This motion is passed unanimously.

Okay.

We will now move to our introduction items starting with Introduction Item Number 1. Approval of the 2021-22 Students Student Rights and Responsibilities.

This came through Student Supports Curriculum and Instruction on June 8th and is recommended for approval.

Associate Superintendent Dr. Concie Pedroza I believe you will be briefing us.

Yes I will.

Thank you.

So this motion would approve the 2021-2022 Students Rights and Responsibilities which include which contains rules and regulations for student behavior.

This document is annually brought before the board for approval per Policy 3200 Written Rules of Student Conduct.

This year's proposed document contains changes that reflect Seattle Public Schools commitment to racial equity authentic student family caregiver engagement and then safe and welcoming environments for all students.

I just want to highlight a few things in regards to this this student student's rights and responsibilities.

This has evolved significantly over the past several years since 2016 to continually to involve more students and families specifically the ones who are disproportionately impacted by discipline policies procedures.

We continue to engage community stakeholders in this process.

I just want to thank on this message right here I want to thank two community members specifically for their work with staff on an individual basis.

They were meeting monthly with department staff.

So I want to publicly thank Emijah Smith and Molly Mitchell there and for their contributions to this work with in regards to engagement for this document.

There's a complete list of community contributors in Appendix A. Also I just want to thank additional staff members and Nikki York and Christine Matfield who worked alongside Aaron Romanek and Executive Director Pat Sanders who designed work plans community engagement schedules and processes to involve stakeholders throughout this process.

I just want to provide a few highlights and then I'll if you have additional questions we do have staff here as well as Executive Director Pat Sanders to answer specific questions.

But a couple highlights to talk about the students' rights and responsibilities.

We added a page regarding thanking the community members and contributors.

We added WAC language around early involvement with families and considering other of forms of responses to behaviors in this in the staff commitments and school responsibilities section.

The WAC language appears later in the document but we wanted to highlight in this conversation.

We added appeals rights and alignment to the dress code policy 3224 in students' rights sections.

And then we've also updated other behavioral violations within this document.

And then we updated language in the high school and middle school sections regarding services and supports available to staff students and families when a disciplinary response is necessary.

And that was in partnership with Interagency Academy Leadership.

And the decision was made to stop offering behavior modifications as a requirement that students had to fulfill before returning to the referring schools.

We also added additional mitigating and extenuating circumstance fact extenuating factors.

changing aggravating to extenuating factors.

And then we also moved several pictures and changes due to community feedback that were over-representation of students of color in the discipline documents.

I just want to just again this was a very long effort involving community engagement.

We have identified next steps for implementation for this document.

And as I mentioned before I have Executive Director Pat Sanders and staff here to answer any questions from school board members.

Thank you Dr. Pedroza.

And I'm going to go first to Director Rankin for I'm sorry Director Rankin Chair of SSC&I Student Supports Curriculum and Instruction Committee to start us off with comments questions and concerns.

Thank you.

Yeah this I think well it's come through committee as a special attention item a few times this year in response to a request from this board at this time last year that it be a more iterative process.

Last year's approval for the current year Student Rights and Responsibilities There was discussion about wanting to really get some alignment with values of this board and some some resolutions that we had passed wanting to see that more in student right to rights and responsibilities document.

And because it was sort of a tight tight timeline we requested to have you know more more engagement during the process this year for the coming year's document.

And so just really appreciate the response from staff on that and the opportunity for for us to see different pieces develop over the year.

And so yeah I just want to say huge thank you to responding to that request and working in partnership with us and giving us us and the community the opportunity to see how it involved and evolved.

And just add my thanks to Molly and Emijah for their work on this document as well.

One thing that we've continued to talk about in committee is how the importance of this document as an informational tool for families to understand really I mean partly what you know what students are are what expectations there are for student behavior but also so that they students and families understand that if there is an incident with some kind of response that involves their student that families understand what what should happen and and what what what their rights are in addition to what their responsibilities are.

So so we've continued to talk a little bit more about how to make this a little bit more accessible and tangible.

I think right now what we do what the district does is it's it's printed at all.

printed and distributed at all school sites in first day packets.

And my guess would be that a lot of families miss it completely or or look at it that that day when they get the back-to-school packet and then and then sort of forget about it.

So we're talking about especially with the new website and things how to sort of help help people understand and remember that this exists so that if there's a question and they and they are seeking more support through a process of a response to disciplinary action that they understand you know how things should go and who to turn to for support.

So yeah I don't have any more questions.

Just wanted to kind of highlight that ongoing work.

This does come annually.

And and again just huge huge thanks to staff and community for taking that collaborative approach and working with us throughout the year in support of students.

It's awesome.

Happy that it's coming forward today.

Thank you Director Rankin.

To you Director Hersey.

And then after this round just as a note to directors after this intro item I'll start to just ask for volunteers.

So but for for Students Rights and Responsibilities I'll continue to call on you by name.

So Director Hersey.

I don't have any questions at this point.

Thank you.

Director Dury.

Hi.

Yeah.

So to Director Rankin's point just now about the communication that was one of my questions is how are we ensuring that students in particular know about this and and that it's like in reading it's an incredibly long document and reading it definitely is not like a you know even 8th grade level probably it's well beyond in college years most likely.

And then I so I'm curious as to how we are going to distribute this in a way that that students younger students all students can access it.

And also a thought on that as I share this in my work in foster care and our foster care rights and responsibilities we did a graphic for the youngest ones.

So I'm wondering if that's also on the table for communicating out to others.

Thank you Director Dury.

This is Pat Sander Executive Director of Coordinated School Health.

Part of our next steps is also that communication with students for the upper grade the middle school and high school.

We have in the work plan to be developing lessons for advisory.

We know that some schools currently go over much of this document with incoming 9th graders at the high school level.

We've learned that over the years and so We will be doing that.

We've also got plans to do some parent education outreach also through the community this next year.

And then your idea of the graphic for the younger students I think would sit well.

But we will plan to work together with our community to make what needs to happen be reflective of their needs and and meet those.

Great.

Thank you.

I look forward to seeing it.

Okay.

Director Rivera-Smith.

Thank you.

No I have not only many questions I appreciate the updates to at the committee meeting.

I noted there was some his and hers still in there and I see that those have been updated.

So thank you for that.

I did question the distribution also at that meeting so I am really excited to hear the advisory components already you know in classrooms so that's good to hear too.

And I don't have enough questions at once.

Thank you.

Great.

Okay.

I have a couple of questions.

Just a note from a typo standpoint there are there's one place where off-campus is used as a hyphenated term and in all the other places it's used as two separate words.

So just a note on that.

And then just also to add oh sorry and on off-campus I couldn't find is off-campus defined in this document what off-campus means.

I would have to go back and go through the the document myself but I will make a note here to look for that definition and report back.

Okay.

I don't think it is at least in my search.

I didn't find it.

It just simply says off-campus and I think in particular and this will lead to what my my last question I'm not sure that that necessarily is clear that yeah so it doesn't the document doesn't mention social media and that is an off-campus place and so my feel like we do have policy that mentions that.

I don't know if that's cross-reference but that would be my big question before it comes through to action that we get that nice and clear.

I will work with Erin Romanek when she gets back next week and we will take a look at that and see what we can do to make the clarity.

Okay.

Needed.

And then I did want to add additional volume to the notion that the first of all I think the formatting is really due for an update.

I don't know what kind of hell that would reek in terms of getting it printed.

And so I apologize in advance for asking for this but it is really hard to read.

Just the entire nature of the formatting is too many words and too condensed a space.

It's just visually a struggle.

The margins are too small.

I don't and I and I don't say this just because I'm reading it here but because I have read it in person many times.

And I you know with respect to when it shows up in our packets coming home to families and it it needs some work.

It's it's a struggle to get through it.

And so to Director Dury's point and I think Director Rankin might have mentioned some something about this.

I don't know if this has been grade-leveled.

And when I say grade-level I don't mean that I don't awful program that is the name of which I can't remember right now which kind of for lack of a better term dumbs down news news ELA that's what it's called which I think is a bit of a dangerous tool.

But I do have a concern that that this isn't necessarily as a board as a district we're all pretty bad about not having good language that that makes documents accessible regardless of the grade level the person reading it in order for it to actually be something that folks want to get through it needs to be at the appropriate grade level.

And so maybe that's a next year project but I just want to add to that question.

And then also add the one of my dreams also in addition to what is what does the school board do.

a you know a video or graphic kind of infographic about that.

I think this would be a really critical one.

I think Director Dury's point is is really well taken that in order to make this accessible to kids at all different levels but also accessible without necessarily having to read it that there's a video format.

And I would think that there's a it's a good opportunity for kids.

If you haven't seen the the the work that was done in conjunction with well no you've seen the work Director Sanders on the consent the video that was done on consent by the directed by one of our former students that was just I mean I could watch that thing a hundred times and it's unscripted students talking about and informing us about consent in a way that is just so impactful and easy to digest.

If we could create snippets like that around section by section for for students' rights and responsibilities and maybe that consent is even even already part of it could just pop right in there.

But that would be that would be pretty amazing.

So so that's a request again not meant to say oh here do this right now but but that that's something that I think would really change the I think this document is starting to become something that we really want to highlight.

And that's a good opportunity to a good way to do that and to involve the students in doing that.

And clearly they're they're beyond capable of communicating this information in a digestible manner as we have seen them do.

So the last question is today the Supreme there was a Supreme Court ruling and I asked previously had reached out and asked if we could get some input from Chief Narver about the impact of the today's Supreme Court ruling on the extent to which as and that goes back to the off-campus comment that I made.

So in looking at the how we can hold students accountable for harassment intimidation bullying sexual assault all those things racism that they do that might happen among students to students.

off-campus quote unquote and our ability to hold hold students accountable for that I wanted to know if there was an impact of this the Supreme Court decision that allowed us to today enhance that language.

Because I have heard as recently as this past year from central office staff and in work working with students on areas of discipline that Seattle Public Schools anything that happens outside of the school building isn't in fact something that that students can be held accountable for.

And I feel like the language here has gotten stronger and that the I would like to know the extent to which we can get really clear on that in terms of setting expectations.

And I think that definition the off-campus definition would help but I would love to hear from Chief Narver about that that question.

That's very recent news if you're willing.

Yes I'd be happy to.

Good afternoon.

This is Greg Narver Chief Legal Counsel.

As President Hampson noted the U.S.

Supreme Court issued a decision today 8-1 decision.

The first of all I want to note that the language we're talking about in the Student Rights and Responsibilities document that's relevant to this is on the bottom of page 14 which begins with the statement that the district will respond to off-campus student speech that causes or threatens to cause a substantial disruption on campus or interferes with the right of students to be secure and obtain their education.

That statement is certainly consistent with existing First Amendment case law.

And my initial read of today's decision is we I don't think we need to change that.

I don't think we need to change that but we might look at tweaking it a little bit.

For context the case that was issued today involved a high school student in Pennsylvania.

She had tried out for the varsity cheerleading squad didn't make it was assigned to junior varsity and off-campus in a coffee shop away from campus on a weekend not in school hours posted something on Snapchat where she expressed extreme displeasure about that in in profane terms.

And the result was that the school suspended her from the junior varsity cheerleading team for a year.

The lower courts found this was a violation of her First Amendment rights and the U.S.

Supreme Court agreed.

What the majority opinion says is there are circumstances under which it's appropriate for schools to regulate off-campus speech.

And so it certainly can't be the rule that anything that happens off-campus is beyond the reach of our schools to to regulate.

The Justice Breyer noted in his opinion that several examples.

One is severe bullying.

Threats aimed at teachers or students.

Participation in online school activities.

An interesting question as to whether that's really on campus or off campus especially after a year of being remote.

Or hacking into school computers.

Those were examples that the court listed of off-campus speech or conduct that a school can regulate reasonably without violating the First Amendment.

But I think the heart of the test remains did this off-campus speech result in substantial disruption to activities within the school.

If so you're certainly getting closer to things that this that the district has a legitimate interest in regulating.

I've not made it all the way through the court's opinion yet.

It's brand new.

I will do that before this comes up for a vote on action.

Again my first impression is we don't need to change any wording in here but it's possible that some tweaks may be appropriate in light of what the Supreme Court said today.

Thank you Chief Narver.

So Dr. Pedroza and Director Sander my request and consistent with Chief Narver's commitment is that we take this clarity of legal opinion and use it as a way to make sure that we are in fact as clear as we can possibly be particularly in light of the fact that and if there's any additional clarity or enhancements that that I do think that there's some having directly experienced sort of a lack of understanding of that maybe in buildings and how important it is that administrators and staff understand exactly what this means because it is a as Chief Narver stated it has become almost an everyday question and management topic.

And I think the extent to which we can be really clear here is going to save our building staff and administrators a lot of headache and heartache.

So and I'll stop talking and let you all respond and then we can move on.

No I was just going to respond that this is thank you for bringing this up and so we'll work very closely with Chief Narver to make sure that we incorporate or adjust any language that's needed to be adjusted.

And then I'll just add one more thing that I am just and what I'm thinking about is we're actually thinking about uplifting some of the responding to hate and bias of procedural pieces.

And so making sure that there's alignment in that as well.

So I I hear what you're saying.

So we're just got to figure out how to make sure that the language is in alignment with the recent ruling.

And then in addition making sure that it's very clear what procedurals procedures are for school staff in making some of those decisions and where to go next in terms of support for the students and families.

Because as we all know that there has been an increase of incidents actually have impacted school communities and we just want to make sure that school teams have a very clear succinct and concise language and procedures aligned to that.

So yes we'll make sure and address some of that.

We can we can work on that.

Thank you.

I don't know if Pat Miss Sanders do you want to have anything to add.

No I'm I'm I'm with you.

We'll we'll move in that vein with Chief Narver and and work with Erin.

Yes.

Thank you.

Great thank you all so very very much.

And and not to be too you know demeaning about the the sort of the typesetting or that that's old terminology but the font and all that I think we're just new for maybe just because I've seen it for too many years but that that probably goes for a lot of parents as well.

No I think it's a it's a it's a good thing to address and we are about continuous improvement and part of our continuous improvement mindset is about making sure that it that it meets the needs of everyone.

So thank you.

Yeah.

Okay.

Thank you so very much.

I know that this document is a lot of work so and appreciate the ongoing commitment to making it better for our students and and sincere gratitude for the community engagement on it as well and to all of those community members that willingly gave of their time and mental and emotional energy to and staff to to continue to make this a better document.

It is absolutely critical and I know you all are really committed to it.

Okay so I'm going to try to move us along.

We've got lots of big stuff but we'll try to keep us moving along.

Introduction Item Number 2 Adoption of Board Policy Number 6902 Information Technology Planning.

This came through Student Supports Curriculum and Instruction on June 8th and is is being brought forward today for consideration.

Director of Technology Infrastructure Nancy Peterson I believe you will be briefing us.

Yes I will.

Thank you.

So this board action request report requests approval and adoption of the new board policy number 6D902.

This policy provides requirements for information technology to plan and prepare an implementation plan for the district.

Currently the district has no policy in place regarding governance addressing the technology planning for the district.

And so the purpose of this policy is to provide the requirements for that that process and the instructions for preparing a technology plan.

We acknowledge that the board recognizes the importance of information technology planning that centers the needs of center of students to provide the learning technology and support systems that students and education and educators need for the highest pilot quality public education experience possible.

The Technology Advisory Committee ITAC collaborated in drafting the proposed board policy.

ITAC met multiple times and helped develop and incorporate some critical requirements into this policy.

The ITAC has representation from staff students teachers and community members.

and families and other technology organizations.

So their contributions were instrumental in making sure that we had the feedback and the voice of our community in the governance process.

So the policy emphasizes at one point the need for our technology to address the usability and accessibility for our best user experience.

That was a big part of the recommendation from the ITAC committee in putting this together.

So the policy basically describes how to develop the plan that is to be done in conjunction with our levy planning.

This happens every three years and the policy lays out that it will be developed within or ensuring that that we adhere to other board policies.

For example the educational and racial equity policy The responsible and effective use of technology.

The policy that that outlines electronic resources and the use of the Internet and also the environmental responsibility.

And so the policy outlines how we develop a technology implementation plan that then comes to the board for review.

We created this policy.

At the time in that started in 2020 when a similar policies were reviewed that were created for the capital implementation and it was determined that technology needed a similar kind of governance process and requirements for that planning.

So this is in relation to that.

I would be happy to address any questions that the board might have at this point.

Thank you Nancy.

Let me start first with Director Rankin Chair of Student Services Curriculum and Instruction.

Director Rankin.

Thank you.

Yes.

Hi Nancy.

As mentioned this is a new policy that addresses this need.

And when we we had a good discussion about it in committee and then I did get a couple of questions from board directors about you know really focusing on on student needs and and a little bit of confusion is not exactly the right word but but how trying to contextualize it I think in in terms of centering on students but but making sure that it didn't sort of drift away from the the intent which is to drive the planning for for building levy asks and stuff.

And so thanks so much to staff for setting up two-by-twos to brief board directors.

I haven't had a chance to hear back from anyone on how those went if folks got their questions answered.

I I guess I'll just say for the record what I think is really important about this and what came up last year I think in talking about doing this is that for me as a board director and particularly as the chair of student services curriculum and instruction.

It's it's critical that as we do technology planning for classroom technology we we we make sure that we're aligned with what's happening in teaching and learning and that the needs of the students and educators are what drives our our our purchases and decision making in terms of technology as opposed to You know an arbitrary schedule or a oh a new technology just came out.

Let's let's buy it.

And then you know and then here here you go teachers.

And then their teaching is sort of being driven by technology instead of technology responding to what they need in the classroom.

So it's been it's It's been great to see this and especially appreciate ITAC's involvement.

I think that's critical.

Something that has come up that other directors may mention or not is in the broader picture of us looking at how existing what existing policies are and trying to really focus our governance on the big picture and not get too into what really should be staff work.

My question now for for staff and I think just all of us is the context of what's in this policy is it better or stronger to put it is a whole new policy the right place.

And that's I'm that's a genuine question.

I think the information and the thought that's in this is is definitely needed and super valuable.

But I'm thinking about context and where I'm starting to think about policy in general is that if Nancy and Carlos were to disappear and and there wasn't continuity in terms of staffing would our policy support the continuation of the work with the intent that we all have right now.

And I'm kind of thinking out loud about that right now because I don't know the answer I'm genuinely asking.

I sort of put it forward as as this is an item for introduction putting that forward for us to think about in the broader context of our policy work knowing that there are outdated policies and sort of some policies that really trickles into the work of staff instead of the work of the board.

Where does this sit in that.

in terms of being a new policy and how do we make sure that it does what it's intended to do in terms of focusing planning on the needs of students and separating that from infrastructural technology for you know Seattle Public Schools as an organization.

So just putting that out there I guess for.

leading into this discussion and see what other other directors want to ask or know.

One thing that I might just address.

It's a great it's a great question and a discussion point.

I'm sure the other directors might have some observations to make.

What I would say from my perspective is that as staff turns over I think this is one of the reasons why it is good to have a policy like this.

It's not only staff turnover in the department it's also leadership turnover and board turnover.

And I think a policy allows us to have a bit more continuity in planning and expectations.

So some of the wording in here was was edited to give more emphasis to the fact that we are really focusing our planning on the needs of students and educators as we get that input and feedback from those different community stakeholders.

And I think it's important to have that codified in a policy.

We have been as a department writing our own implementation plans because as part of the whole levy planning process and board approval we have to do planning anyway to figure out how much we'll need to fund.

And this is not just focused on student and educator end user technology.

This really encompasses all of the technology planning that's done for all of our investments in the organization.

So it does include planning for cybersecurity provisions for the network for support for staffing for all of our back office systems for our student information systems as well as all of the end user computing devices.

All of those things though do support student education.

And I think having a having a policy that directs us to articulate that keeps us accountable to those constituents and also keeps that consistency throughout.

So that's that's my view.

Okay.

Thank you.

And we'll now go to director I'm sorry directors that have questions please either raise your hand or turn your screen on or both.

I think I did have a quick question because we did have those two-by-twos which I really appreciated to get a deeper understanding of the proposed policy here.

I'm wondering how much so this is strictly to dictate our spending on infrastructure is how I should understand it.

There are lots of technology decisions to be made as far as like curriculum use of technology and applications.

Is there, where's the part that's going to kind of oversee or plan out that side of it?

Is that what this is going to be planning out?

Yeah, this will be comprehensive.

It will be all technology, not just infrastructure.

Okay.

And so is that and again like I said this on October 2nd I just want to say again but there is no approval of the plan that is to be developed.

I don't know.

I mean I might be the only director who's slightly concerned with that but I I wonder it is going to go through a committee.

Is that committee is that or is that a place where we can look to to affect it if we have concerns.

I'm not quite sure I got your question.

I think my headset maybe cut out a little bit.

It might need to.

I was wondering because it's not a this the plan that will be created by this policy is not up for approval right it's not to be approved by the board.

Oh.

Right.

So the only place we really can affect that as it's developed when it comes out is in that committee where it will be brought just for discussion I take it.

Yes.

We do however have.

the plan to to create a superintendent procedure that that could have more of that information in it.

The way this policy is written currently it would come to the board for to be presented and discussed in that committee.

It does not come to the full board for approval as it is written today.

My understanding is that there if you compare this to say the capital planning process and their implementation plan they do bring that to the board for approval.

And as a result of their getting that approval sort of ahead of time for all of their plans for investments then their pre-approval level as you if you will is higher.

It's a $5 million level for the technology policies we are still held to bring any investment expectations or any projects to the board for specific approval if they are over a million dollars.

So it's a little different in the board then gets to approve any of the projects that come off of that plan before they are before they are purchased or before they are pursued.

And yeah those are just my my questions.

It's my small concerns but I I I hear you and I and I don't want to muck up the process and we want to keep everything well-oiled.

And we will see it in committee so that does that does give me that solace.

So thank you.

No other questions or comments.

Okay.

Any other directors have comments questions concerns.

And I think so I'll go ahead with I think my my only concern at this point is that I appreciate the updates.

Definitely took note of them and can see the attempts to make sure that to provide some clarity and you know I think that this is definitely a great import.

and incredibly well and thoughtful and sincere appreciation to ITAC.

I think the creation of that committee is a great resource and want us to consider in other venues whether that needs to continue reporting to the executive committee.

We have some stuff to figure out in terms of what needs to come where when when something is so ubiquitously relevant throughout the district and is then only going to be coming to SSC&I That's something that we as a board have to deal with because of what our what we have now created as our as our committee structure where we have so much shoved into two committees that then doesn't rise to the level of board reporting and limits kind of some of the two-way conversation that we should be having.

So my my last request would be before we move this to action is that one we know clearly how this plays into the notion of student outcomes as they will be directly associated with goals in the strategic plan and not not the specific goals but any stated strategic plan goals so that it has some continuity beyond a stated strategic plan.

And then also that we might consider given some work that the board's going to be doing over the summer on policies you know it could be a chicken-or-egg thing but whether or not we wait to approve this until August when we have better reference points for it or might start to.

That's that's my only concern is the timing if we're not a little tiny bit too early on this.

With the idea that once we approve once we have moved towards fuller implementation of student outcomes focused governance we might be able to to have a more structured response to this.

I think we're all a bit reticent right now in a period where we're trying to to be on more of a policy diet of you know creating more policy and yet also want to honor and respect the as you I thought you explained that quite well Nancy in terms of you know why here why and why this.

And then my last question would be you know why right now.

And so that's all I have left.

But in you know in general I'm definitely supportive of of the planning.

I know it's something that has been a need expressed by board directors and by staff for quite some time.

And feel free I don't know if you want to add if you want to respond at all to that Nancy but.

The timing I think is as a result of you know the the planning that we're doing right now for the upcoming levy request.

Yeah.

And this is really kind of interwoven with that.

Yeah.

As I had mentioned, we do as as just part of planning for the the levy, we end up looking at every facet of computing to see what needs we have out there.

And so as part of that planning that we're doing already, for our portion of the levy ask for BTA V we have already started drafting an implementation plan that we've gotten a lot of input from all of the department chiefs and from various stakeholder groups.

I know the public member that spoke in public comments about making sure that assistive technology and special education was apportioned of what was included in the planning and that certainly is a big part of our planning every levy.

And so that planning is taking place right now.

We've already started drafting an implementation plan that we believe would would come as a result of this policy.

So the timing is really sort of interlaced just because of where we are in our levy planning cycle.

I don't know that approval changes that.

And so I don't know that at least from a staff perspective that we have a big need for approval at any certain time.

I think the board has leeway to really decide when that makes the most sense.

Okay.

That's super helpful.

Great.

Okay.

So having heard no other director comments questions and concerns.

Thank you Nancy and Carlos and your staff for working on this and bringing this before us.

Thank you.

And I should say I'm really sorry Carlos couldn't present this today.

Oh I understand.

Is is bothering him.

I know it he has done so much work on this.

He was he was really eager to see this presented.

Thank you.

And we did get to hear from him in two-by-twos and he was barely getting the the the words to be audible then so.

We appreciate we hope he will get well and look forward to talking to him soon.

Thank you.

Okay we'll now move to Introduction Item Number 3. Acceptance of Federal Funding for Head Start Grant Annual Renewal.

This is an annual renewal.

This came through Student Services Curriculum and Instruction on June 8th and is presented for approval.

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Keisha Scarlett I believe you will be briefing us.

Hello.

How are you all.

Good afternoon.

So good evening Directors.

I'm very happy to introduce this item to you as discussed at the June 8th Student Services Curriculum and Instruction Committee meeting.

This Board Action Report if approved would support renewing the Head Start grant as well as expanding programming through the addition of SPP funds to our four-part day program to from our four-day four-part day programs to full day.

Excuse me.

Head Start is a longstanding preschool program in our district serving since 1965 when it was brought to the district by Aki Kurose herself.

Head Start prioritizes and continues to serve preschool students furthest from educational justice.

Its goal is to boost school readiness of children who qualify for preschool based on income and program guidelines.

Under the leadership of the Early Learning Department this program has expanded the opportunities for research-based and inclusive all-day preschool programming by creating Head Start Plus this last year.

In alignment with our Seattle Excellence Strategic Plan Early Learning's priorities include increasing opportunities in our 13 focus schools Title 1 schools Head Start full-day programming and inclusive special education opportunities throughout the district.

Our focus is to ensure safe warm and engaging high-quality early learning environments that develop that develop the talents identity voice and agency of our students furthest from educational justice with the focus on African-American boys.

Through the creation of the talent development plans and asset-based instruction and culturally responsive family and student engagement Our Head Start program looks forward to ensuring that our youngest learners in the district have opportunities for a strong start to their educational journey.

This BAR designates funding and support to the Head Start grant that will be in effect November 2021. Because of the timeline of the federal grant submittal system and the coordination of the district calendar the school district calendar the final application materials will not be fully prepared until mid-July.

This $6,629,437 investment will fund capacity for 335 students.

Programming in 18 classes spread over 12 sites in elementary schools in the north southeast and southwest areas of the city.

Each of the 18 classes serves 20 children and one predominantly 3-year-old class serves 17 children.

Expansion of the four-part day programs to full day while utilizing SPP funding will happen at Northgate Elementary Martin Luther King Junior Elementary School Cascadia Elementary and also Wing Luke Elementary.

All children who receive district will receive district transportation and other support such as nutrition wellness health and safety and direct family support through our Family Services Coordinators.

The Policy Council which is an advisory board of Head Start parents continues to be an important part of this program.

So I'll end my comments and just remind us that we have Cashel Toner who is our Executive Director of Curriculum Assessment Instruction here.

And also I want to highlight that just this afternoon we got some really insightful questions from Director Rivera-Smith that we're looking forward to scheduling a meeting with you Director Rivera-Smith.

along with myself Heather Brown and Cashel to really talk about those questions because I think they're really essential in this effort that we're lifting up.

Thank you.

Okay and we'll go first to Director Rankin Chair of Student Services Curriculum and Instruction.

Thank you.

Yeah this we had a good conversation about this in committee.

This is a renewal.

of a longstanding program but something that Dr. Scarlett touched on and that we mentioned in or we talked about in committee that is really positive is more opportunities for inclusion in early learning.

I personally think every every preschool site should be fully inclusive and available for students with or without and without disabilities.

So any progress towards towards making that more of a reality is very very welcome.

In the again in the broader context about what comes to committee and looking at our work and student-centered governance.

I mentioned earlier that our committee meeting this last time was really long and packed with a lot of stuff.

Not specifically to this item but just in general I think although we had a good discussion in committee because this item is a renewal that it it maybe we didn't need that's slightly duplicative.

We could have maybe just had that conversation together today for introduction.

So I'm just kind of putting that out there I'm thinking about you know trying to preserve staff time and effort in presenting and also to you President Hampson as we're thinking about you know what what things come through committee and what things could go right through the board right through to the full board.

Something like this that is a renewal that there's conversation that you know we could all have together.

Maybe I don't know that's just something for us to think about how I don't know that this needed to come through committee I guess I'm saying.

Not because I don't love hearing about it.

It's obviously really positive and I am a huge supporter.

But just thinking about you know staff time and board time and all of that.

But yeah I am happy to pass it to the next director.

I don't have any any questions.

Okay.

Any other directors have comments questions.

or concerns about this introduction item number 3. Hi.

I just wanted to add so thank you.

Well I'll back up a second.

So as the as the our board our Head Start board liaison I really appreciate the work that's gone into this the application itself.

I know it is a big lift and the program as a whole it really it really does just embody our vision and values as we work for our students furthest from educational justice.

Few things uplift them like the Head Start program.

So it's really dear to my heart and I thank you.

Dr. Scarlett for your recognition of my questions.

I do look forward to speaking with you and Executive Director Turner.

Just for the benefit of the board just so they weren't really questions direct to this BAR so I don't want to bog down this conversation and meeting with them.

There are more questions regarding bell times.

I wanted to see if we're going to be aligning those school buildings because I I feel like that is something that will really benefit the program.

I have some questions about staffing about inclusion because I really that is really just something we should be highlighting with our Head Start program is the efforts towards more inclusive classrooms and full-day classrooms for that matter.

But I really think the Director Brown Heather Brown for her work towards building those inclusive classrooms.

I guess that is a small question there is is when and what is the pathway to more of those because I know I see the increase and that's great to see.

Will we be expecting more Head Start inclusion I guess it's called Head Start Plus classrooms in the future.

You can hold that question for a second there.

My other questions were about enrollments.

What was the plan for fall enrollment.

And then one question which I have explored with Chief Berge in the past is about the indirect fees because they do take a big bite out of this grant.

So I look forward to having more discussion on that.

But yeah those were those kind of things that like again more details that aren't really direct to this BAR so no reason to bog this conversation down with that.

But I look forward to more discussion with the early learning team.

Thank you.

Yeah I'll invite Executive Director Toner to maybe address about the the expansion.

We are eager for expansion.

And then I did share a little bit of information about enrollment.

And so our funded enrollment is 357 for the 19 for the that was the 19-20 school year.

So the funded enrollment was 357 and the actual enrollment this year is 245. And so I did share before that the yeah before that the capacity is 357 and it's programming in 18 classes that spread over 12 sites across the elementary in north southeast and southwest areas of the city.

Yeah and I think the question was more just about as you know it was just more of are we going is there going to be any sort of expanded push for enrollment in the fall.

Did you get this last everything did.

Absolutely.

What thoughts do you have about that.

Yeah I'd be happy to address that.

Good evening directors.

Cashel Turner Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction.

Huge thanks to my colleagues Dr. Scarlett and Heather Brown who have been instrumental in thinking through how we can lift up our Head Start program and continue to get to our vision of someday.

And this speaks to your your question Director Rivera-Smith of having preschool programming in Seattle Public Schools and not you know different categorical programs across our system.

Potentially someday the long-term vision is to work on a sometimes referred to the back back end or behind the curtain a little bit to distribute funds where children and meet them where they are.

So that's our long-term vision would be to continue with expansion.

Head Start actually has a really strong model around inclusion and they have metrics around how many children are expected to be included in the larger program.

So we use that as a North Star but all of our classrooms in my future state for our preschool programming in Seattle Public Schools would be inclusive classrooms for preschool kids.

So what I mean by that is moving away from saying Head Start this or Seattle Preschool Program that or developmental preschool this.

Have preschool where children are and be able to meet their needs in their school communities with a thought toward children being able to transition right up to kindergarten in their neighborhoods where they have friends and community.

So that's a long-term vision.

It's going to take some partnership to get there because right now preschool is really categorically funded and we're very fortunate to be in a city that does support our preschool programming.

So that's a long way around that.

Yes we did have some challenges during COVID with preschool enrollment and we have some specific plans and to target enrollment outreach to specific communities and try to really increase that enrollment before we start school.

So those plans are in the works and I'm actually pretty excited about that work.

Thank you.

Yeah because if I'm reading the BAR correctly but talking about inclusion it sounds like only 6 percent of our Head Start students are special ed and I believe our district is close to 13. So I don't know if that's due to lack of seats for them or lack of students applying for special ed services so.

It doesn't match our district so.

You're correct and we're working we're working on that.

And as we continue to braid programming and not compete with ourselves for children to be in one kind of classroom or a different kind of classroom then our our statistics will probably look a little bit different.

But as a system we're serving students children with special needs that are in preschool.

But it just depends on exactly where they're being served.

Our long-term vision as I said is to have more inclusive programming that's preschool for children in Seattle Public Schools.

Thank you for your work.

Thank you for your time.

No further questions or comments.

Okay.

Any other.

Director Rankin you have your hand up.

Yeah.

Thanks.

I just kind of wanted to chime in on something that Director Rivera-Smith said about the percentages there and that part of part of why inclusive early learning is so critical is because a lot of times a disability isn't identified until a child is in preschool.

And so some of the reasons well some of the reason that number is smaller than the general population is because it's hard to find accessible inclusive preschool spaces right now.

But it's also because a student may not have yet been identified.

And when we build these more inclusive spaces and we have supportive staff who are are ready to sort of identify and notice a challenge or a student in need of more support.

You know there's there's there's students who are who are just yeah that number is lower because a student has not yet been identified and will as they develop you know under age 6 and different things come forward and different needs are being known.

So just throwing that out there again has.

extra support for inclusion in all of those spaces.

Sure Director Rankin.

Thank you.

This is Heather Brown Director of Early Learning and I would like to report that we do have our two Head Start Plus programs that we started this year and unfortunately we started them in a pandemic and so and that was when our overall enrollment as a district was down and so it was challenging to fill those classes as robustly as we wanted to.

So we're really looking forward for so many reasons getting back in person not only being able to serve our kids full-day in-person but also really bolster up these Head Start Plus programs.

And then as you know we are really putting our our Head Start classrooms side-by-side with our special education classrooms to do a lot of collaborative learning at our new sites.

And so we're really I think on our way to As Executive Director Toner had said around really just blend blending braiding our funding together to really become just a leader in the nation around early learning.

Looking forward to it.

Okay.

Moving right along.

If there's no other questions comments or concerns on this we will go to Introduction Item Number 4. And that is approval of the 2021-22 Maxim Healthcare Services Contract RFQ 027 I just lost it.

RFQ 02758. This came through SSC&I Student Services Curriculum and Instruction on June 8th and is recommended for approval.

Associate Superintendent Pedroza I believe you will be briefing us.

Yes I will.

Thank you.

I just wanted to put in front of you this BAR for your approval regarding the contract for with Maxim Health Services.

This contract is in the amount of $2 million and it requires board approval moving forward.

Currently this is serving students Seattle Public Schools students with IEPs that require special education services that the district is unable to provide without contracted behavioral technicians and board-certified behavioral analysts support.

The number of students requiring these services has increased following the return to in-person services due to the change from remote to in-person learning.

These services will support individual student needs as as part of the student's IEP and it will also provide recovery services as well as compensatory services to students to address learning loss that was accrued during the 2020-2021 school year.

We have Director Tara Mitchell here to address any questions and thank you.

Okay we'll go first to Director Rankin for any comments questions or concerns as the Chair of Student Services Curriculum and Instruction.

Nope.

This is another another one that probably could have bypassed committee.

And how does all have the benefit of having the discussion at the same time as it's it's pretty straightforward.

It's just a need for staffing to provide recovery services after the pandemic.

So glad that we can find a way to make this happen because I know how much our well it's summer so some people are not on contract.

But also going into the fall you know caseloads and workloads are pretty high.

So to make sure that all students have their needs met and it's manageable.

Got to do it.

Okay.

Any comments or questions concerns from other directors please turn on your camera and or raise your hand.

Okay Director Dury.

Yeah just one real quick question.

Are we expecting more to identify more students who will be needing these services as we come back from the fall.

And if so is that embedded in the contract or will we need more money to cover that.

Yeah.

So we actually have set aside through the ESSER funds additional resources to support recovery services and compensatory services which will include expanded contracts.

You might see another contract come forward.

It'll also include extra staffing.

It'll it includes extra time for staff.

And so we have actually started that process currently working with staff.

We actually had all of our staff notified families about having these conversations.

We have some families that have indicated they do want to have the conversation about recovery services.

But they want to wait until fall.

They want a break right now.

But we actually have some families that are starting.

We are actually have expanded our summer opportunities and learning opportunities.

We have several programs and services.

So we currently have a large number a larger number of students being served this summer.

One example of that is extended school year.

So we've added more students to extended service services.

We've extended we've extended the number of much the number of days of students being served as well as maybe extended days and times for students depending on the services that are required to support them.

So yeah it's a it's a it's a it's a multi-pronged approach.

But we have some families that are starting now.

Some families that are postponing.

It's for over two years.

So we most likely might be coming ahead in front of you again if we have to expand or need to increase contracts or additional services but we are currently in that process.

Director Mitchell do you have anything to add.

No ma'am that sums it up.

Director Dury did I ask answer your question.

Yeah I mean it sounds like we're prepared to to accept more students as needed and that we have money set aside to address that if we need to.

And that was it.

Thank you.

Yep we do.

Thank you.

Okay.

There are no other comments questions or concerns.

We will move now.

Thank you Ms. Mitchell and Assistant Superintendent Pedroza.

And we will move now to Introduction Item Number 5. Approval of agreements with Seattle Department of Transportation and Cascade Bicycle Club to fund and provide the Let's Go and Let's Go Further bike pedestrian safety education programs.

This came through Student Services Curriculum and Instruction on June 8th and is presented here for approval.

Chief Scarlett I believe you'll be briefing us.

All right let's go.

So good evening Directors.

Dr. Keisha Scarlett Chief Academic Officer.

I'm joined tonight by Cashel Toner Executive Director of Curriculum Assessment and Instruction.

Mrs. Lori Dunn our wonderful Physical Education Manager and Ronald Boy I'm not sure if he's still here but Senior Counsel from our legal team.

In addition we have several community partners from the Seattle Department of Transportation and Cascade Bike Club here this evening.

Thanks to all of you for your ongoing efforts to make this partnership possible.

I'd like to recognize Ms. Ashley Reed Seattle Department of Transportation.

Mr. Steven Rowley from Cascade Bike Club.

Mr. Christopher Shannon from Cascade Bike Club.

Ms. Amy Korver also from Cascade Bike Club.

Ms. Alicia McConnell.

Outdoors for All and also Mr. Ed Bronson Bronsdon excuse me Outdoors for All.

Let's go and let's go further.

Board Action BAR was reviewed by the Student Services Curriculum and Instruction Committee on June 8th and was moved forward with the recommendation for approval by the full board.

This board action report details two agreements.

One with the Seattle Department of Transportation the grantor And one with Cascade Bicycle Club as a service provider to continue the Let's Go and Let's Go Further bike and pedestrian safety education program to elementary K-8 middle school students for the next 5 school years.

The program's cost total over 5 years is just over $2 million dollars which SDOT will provide to the district to pay Cascade Bike Club for their services.

The partnership with SDOT and Cascade Bicycle Clubs provides funds for training equipment materials and services needed to provide programming.

Physical education teachers are provided with resources and training for the in-school bike and pedestrian safety program for elementary and middle school students.

This allows educators to meet students at their skill level with differentiated lessons in the physical education classrooms.

Health professionals recommend that students get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day.

And students who walk and bike to school are more likely to get the recommended 60 minutes.

Students who learn the proper skills and ride their bikes to schools can act can actively utilize the skills learned in this program.

Cascade Bright Club trains and supports physical education specialists to provide the three-week unit in grades 3-5 Let's Go program.

The physical education teacher signs up to borrow a fleet of 30 bikes helmets and equipment delivered via bike trailer.

This program has evolved and improved since its inception.

I'll share a few of those things about the expansion and the redesign.

So in 2016 we started the Let's Go partnership.

In 2019 we actually adapted added the adaptive component in working with Outdoors for All our partners.

Outdoors for All is a national leader in delivering adaptive and therapeutic recreation for children and adults with disabilities.

Outdoors for All's program includes snowboarding snowshoeing cross-country downhill skiing cycling mountain biking kayaking hiking rock climbing youth and adult day camps yoga military programs weekend excursions and custom events.

In 2020 this program was expanded to actually include middle schools.

The pilot was started.

Then there we met with challenges associated with COVID-19 pandemic.

So we added a video learning support to help meet teachers' needs during pandemic.

So we did engage in an equity analysis around this and the equity analysis tool was provided an opportunity for us to really recognize racially equitable outcomes of the Let's Go program.

In alignment with the Seattle Excellence Strategic Plan Our bike distribution will prioritize students furthest from educational justice by beginning with Equity Tier 1 and Tier 2 schools.

These schools will receive priority scheduling and additional volunteers will be made available if needed.

As far as with regard to community engagement in reference to Policy 4265 our Community Partnership Policy the Seattle School Board's policy is to create partnerships between SPS schools and the community.

The board believes it is vital to engage families and community members in the life of the school of a community center of learning.

Therefore the board is committed to creating and implementing effective school-community partnerships that enhance academic outcomes by providing high-quality services and instruction before and after and during the school day.

And so we seek to foster a partnership that furthers our district vision and mission.

So in collaboration with the elementary Let's Go bike and pedestrian program.

We're set to begin a partnership in delivering the content in outdoor school and due to return to in-person instructions required by the Governor and the State of Washington we shifted away from these plans.

During this pandemic and since last March the Physical Education Program Manager continued to meet every two weeks to offer check-ins with Cascade Bike Club leadership.

This time was used to update network and continue to create a partnership community.

Lastly we'd like to thank the Major Taylor Project which is an extracurricular program that is offered beyond the school day and continues to expand.

This program is named after the African-American world champion cyclist Marshall Major Taylor.

The Major Taylor Project MTP empowers young youth through bicycling and after-school bicycling clubs.

MTP students explore their communities build confidence and leadership skills and discover their power to affect change.

This program reaches more than 500 youth annually in middle school and high schools across King County and Pierce Counties.

And residents excuse me in five schools are currently participants in this project.

And we hope to expand with continued implementation and the sustaining of Let's Go and Let's Go Further bikes.

Those schools are Chief Sealth High School Cleveland High School Denny International Middle School Franklin High School and Rainier Beach.

So all this work benefits Seattle student learning and supports in Seattle excellence and we continue to authentically engage with the goal and match our strategic plan focusing on Black excellence and equity in our community engagement and partnerships.

Thank you so much for all of that time to share that.

I thought it was very important and we'll take any questions and we do have our program manager again Lori Dunn and also Executive Director Cashel Toner is here as well.

Thank you.

Over to you Director Rankin Chair of Student Services Curriculum and Instruction.

Thank you.

Yeah this is another one that I think is pretty easily supported and probably could have just come to the full board maybe not not through committee as it is a continuation and an expansion of some existing partnerships and existing programming.

I am really excited about the opportunity for more students to to move and get outside.

I also wonder how we might you know some schools might overlap and dovetail this with you know as as physical education but also as an opportunity for you know biking field trips or you know visits to different sites.

That's sort of exciting potential.

a student transportation to other opportunities as well in the future.

I know I don't have any other questions or comments.

It takes a lot of coordination to get all of this going.

So I'm just excited that this is going to be available still and to more more and more students.

So thanks for bringing it forward.

Okay.

Any other comments questions or concerns from other directors.

Just one quick question just to be clear.

Does the program provide the bicycles or do students are they expected to have their own bikes and helmets and everything.

Hi Director Rivera-Smith.

Cashel Turner again.

The program provides the bicycles.

So it's a fleet of bikes and helmets and other tools to see you know there's some work in the adaptive space.

We do some coordination there to see what sort of modifications might need to be made to a bicycle in advance of the fleet actually arriving and imagine a big trailer coming to a school and then that trailer is there while the physical education teacher uses the bikes for a set period of time and then they're you know sort of maintained and then they move on to the next school.

We do have a prioritization where our schools in different equity tiers get priority in signing up for when they would like to use the bikes according to their local school context.

So that's kind of how it works.

Thank you.

And I remember in previous year I guess it was a year ago when there was one last time we saw this that the questions were regarding just the sort of cultural awareness of the program as it comes to our schools.

Because it's not outside teachers doing it.

It is our own teachers teaching it.

And so they have taken the trainings that we offer for all of our educators and and I'm assuming they take it they take the plan comes from from Cascade and they kind of shape it for their students in a culturally responsive manner.

Correct.

Yep.

And we're even thinking about getting into the balanced bike space because we're finding that some kids actually need that practice before we actually get into a pedal bike.

So we continue to evolve and think about how we can you know build the program and make it stronger and more accessible for all kids with the goal of bike and pedestrian safety to keep kids healthy and safe when they're making their way to school or just being active in community.

That's great.

Yeah my incoming kindergarteners want to balance bike skills.

That would be perfect.

All right.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Any other comments questions or concerns from other directors.

If not thank you Chief Scarlett and Director Toner and let's move on to Introduction Item Number 6. This is approval of of the amendment to Board Policy 6550 and Board Procedure 6550 VP Internal Audit.

This came through Audit and Finance on June 7th and is presented here for consideration.

I am sponsoring this item with Vice President Hersey Director of Internal Audit and Ethics Officer Andrew Medina.

I'm sorry and Ethics Officer Andrew Medina will be beginning the briefing on this item.

Director Medina.

Hello.

Andrew Medina Director of Internal Audit.

This BAR is to approve amendments to the internal audit board policy and board procedure.

Last summer Moss Adams conducted an independent review of the internal audit function.

They issued a report in September which included recommendations to create a high-value internal audit function designed to help the district achieve its goals.

In November the board passed a BAR directing full implementation of all Moss Adams recommendations.

One of the key steps in completing that implementation is updating the board policy and procedure.

Many of the changes to the policy and procedure were discussed at the October and November meetings but some of the highlights include expanding the scope of internal audit activities to include all district functions including programs.

Currently our scope is focused on financial internal controls and compliance.

Also requiring a presentation to the Audit and Finance Committee for any external audits or reviews.

And also including internal audit at key stages of those engagements.

Adjusting the frequency of the Enterprise Risk Assessment to occur once every three years.

Requiring validation for implemented corrective actions.

changing the set of auditing standards that we will follow and also clarifying the process for renewing the chief internal auditor employment contract.

These amendments were discussed with the Audit and Finance Committee in March and June and the committee moving forward for consideration with the understanding that some of the language be clarified.

Since the last Audit and Finance Committee meeting we edited the language related to external audits and reviews to clarify that internal audits should be made aware of these types of engagements but that we will not be serving as the official district liaison.

We also made edits to uncapitalize the term Chief Internal Auditor.

This term is common within the internal audit profession and is a term used by professional standards to refer to the head of the internal audit function.

It's not being capitalized because it's not intended to refer to a specific position title within the district.

If the district were to change the job title of the Director of Internal Audit the reference of the policy and procedure would still be accurate and would not need to be updated.

Overall the policy and procedure amendments will allow internal audit to be of greater value to the district by helping it achieve its goals while strengthening the processes and procedures of the district.

I'm happy to answer any questions and Tammy Lohr and Colleen Orzilles from Moss Adams are also in attendance today if you have any questions you would like to if you would like them to answer directly.

Thank you Director Medina.

I'll go first to Director Hersey for your as chair of the Audit and Finance Committee.

Thank you.

We had a robust discussion about this in committee.

I'm really thankful for the work that Andrew has put into this and moving forward with it.

So for the sake of trying to get everybody to a little bit more sunshine I will pass to the next director.

You're on mute Director Hampson.

Other directors comments questions or concerns.

Me again.

One hopefully quick question.

I was wondering was this.

I know that Internal Audit or Audit and Finance we created a new racial equity analysis I understand that's specific to BAR's coming through the Audit and Finance Committee or at least specific to Internal Audit.

I'm sorry.

So was that used for this or no.

That was not used to come up with the policy and procedure amendments.

No.

But the board procedure does include a requirement that we will be using that tool that we developed specifically for internal audit engagements in the audits we conduct going forward.

Thank you.

That will open up more questions or comments right now.

Other directors.

So in case anybody else is thinking about it I think the the primary topic of discussion was about or sort of back and forth that we had in our very robust discussion in Audit and Finance was about the extent to which internal audit serves as a an actor in the the generating management of communication with outside audits that are that are brought in and done in the district because historically we've had external audits that haven't had the same level of follow-up in terms of manage management response.

They've been done by a department head or other parts of the organization.

And so part of this policy was to make sure that there was a central receptacle for that.

And so we kind of the pendulum went was in one way that that seemed to possibly be initially providing too much centralization of that function because there is such a unique relationship between say the state auditor's office and our chief financial officer and and their staff.

And I would just note that I'm I'm struggling a little bit with feeling like the language may be swung too much in the other way the other direction.

And maybe that's something that could be worked out in procedure.

I'm not sure.

I haven't because I don't have a creative or a thoughtful solution about it I haven't responded about it but I would like to maybe talk a little bit more with with Vice President Hersey and you and Colleen and see if there isn't a tiny tweak that would address some of my concerns to make sure that we're that every audit that this organization does has the same level of rigor I guess in terms of how things are prioritized in the audits how they're connected to risk management for example making sure that that there's a management response and that there's an audit response.

And so I think I need a little more reassurance that where we are now with this policy is going to get to what we need and address the recommendations that were that Moss Adams provided which I was really supportive of.

And yet at the same time also understanding how we don't want to get in the way of other relationships that that doesn't make sense for internal audit to take over.

So those are my concerns.

We don't necessarily need to talk about it here.

I think it's just a you know potentially a small tweak but if you want to respond I'm open to that as well.

I would just say quickly that I'm certainly open to any discussions to make sure that it's communicating your expectations accurately.

The procedure does go on to state that any external audits and reviews do require a presentation to the Audit and Finance Committee.

And also that a corrective action plan be developed for each one that will be tracked and reported to the Audit and Finance Committee quarterly.

And then those also need to go through the same validation process that the internal audit results will also.

Okay well we'll leave it at that for now.

Like I said I think I can probably get comfortable be reassured and maybe there's a word or two here or there that that might get us there but otherwise really excited about this work and so grateful for the work that's gone into this and I'm looking forward to seeing this this move forward.

It's been long overdue.

So thank you for all of that.

And with that there being no other questions comments or concerns about this.

Thank you Director Medina and we'll move on to Introduction Item Number 7. Resolution 2020-21-28 Fixing and Adopting the 2021-22 Budget.

This came through Audit and Finance on June 7th and is was presented is presented for consideration.

Chief Financial Officer JoLynn Berge I believe you will be briefing us.

Good evening directors.

This board action report would adopt the 21-22 school year budget.

Before I move to the PowerPoint I would note that on page 2 of the BAR we've included a 4-year forecast for enrollment revenues and expenditures as required by the state.

As we have discussed in the budget work sessions over the last year we do have a structural deficit.

meaning expenditures are projected to exceed revenues.

And that is outlined in the table on page 2 of the BAR.

Moving to the PowerPoint on slide 2 this outlines the agenda that we will be speaking to.

So on slide 2 please note that this presentation uses the categories programs activities and object for expenditures.

The state requires that we report out and define expenditures using those titles and the state categories.

Slide 3 outlines the funds that we administer at the district and for which the board sets a budget.

So these funds would include the general fund the ASB fund.

Slide 3. Clayton maybe you're maybe it's getting is it slow.

Oh there we go.

So on slide 3 it does outline the funds that we administer at the district and for which the board sets a budget.

Those include the general fund the ASB fund the debt service fund and the capital fund.

You'll note that we're reporting out our projected beginning fund balance for school year 21-22 revenues and other financing sources total expenditures and then the ending fund balance.

And you can see for the general fund We have expenditures at just over 1.1 billion dollars projected.

On the next slide.

Slide 4. This outlines our enrollment by headcount over time and headcount's just what it would indicate counting each student.

And you'll note that there was a drop in this school year 2021 due to the pandemic.

Moving to slide 5. 5 reflects our annual average full-time equivalent or AAFTE which is the data upon which we are funded by the state.

So just to note that AAFTE takes the headcount number and adjusts it by actual seat time and or partial enrollment and is generally less than actual headcount enrollment.

Slide 6. provides an overview of general fund resources.

And you'll note that our state what we're showing here is our 19-20 actual revenue from each of these sources.

The adopted budget because we have not closed the year yet so we don't know what the actual numbers for 20-21 would be.

And then the 21-22 recommended budget.

You'll note that there is a drop in state revenue that's expected and that's because of the adjustment of enrollment down to the actual level the actual 2021 level for 21-22 carrying forward.

And then you'll see a very large increase in federal and that is due to the influx of ESSER dollars.

Moving on to the next slide.

Slide 7 outlines expenditures by state program.

So regular instruction or basic education there's a new category that the state is requiring for the ESSER dollars.

Special education is our next largest category followed by support services.

Slide 8 is the same information but shown as a graph.

Again noting that regular instruction is equal to 44 percent of our total expected expenditures that the federal recovery is 5.5 percent.

So it's a pretty good amount for the upcoming year.

Slide 9 categorizes budget expenditures by state activity.

So these activity activities include teaching and teaching support the principal's office really things that you would see in the school buildings and other support and central administration are those things that are supporting those activities.

Again you can note that we have about a $42 million increase in expenditures that we're expecting from our 2021 adopted budget to our 21-22 recommended budget.

The next slide on slide 11 I'm sorry slide 10 is a chart showing that same information graphically.

And then slide 11 is just some information.

It's not super intuitive what includes teaching or teaching support.

So we provide this slide just so that you have some idea specifically what's included in those categories.

Slide 12 shows budgeted expenditures by object.

I would note that salaries and benefits so that would be object 2 3 and 4 equals 83.3 percent of total budgeted expenditures.

And that is on par and in alignment with other school districts and our previous history.

Slide 14 provides so again sorry.

Slide 13 is the graphical representation of the previous data.

Slide 14 compares direct services to support services for our district.

So direct services again this is another way to talk about How we support our schools.

How many of our dollars are really going out specifically to our school buildings versus support staff that are not in schools but are supporting those operations.

And then as we move on to the next slide showing that picture view.

And then as we move to slide 16 this outlines our projected MSOC or maintenance supplies and operating costs.

And this is funding versus expenditures.

This slide is required by the state for us to report out.

You will note that budgeted expenditures are less than expected funding by about 5 million dollars which is a result of both the use of ESSER funds for areas like curriculum.

So instead of spending MSOC we're going to spend some ESSER dollars.

And then there's other programs that do exceed state funding like special education.

And while some of those dollars come many of those dollars come from our levy.

We also reallocate some of our MSLAP dollars to cover those kinds of programs as well.

Slide 17 outlines our ASB budget.

This is our associated student body.

So this is really set and determined by our students.

Mostly our high school students.

You'll note that the actual expenditures for 19-20 are are pretty low.

So our total expenditures are 3.2 million dollars.

A lot of those expenditures happened in the spring.

We had the pandemic hit.

Those expenditures did not happen.

The budget for 2021 would have been 5.4 million dollars.

We expect actual expenditures to be far far below that because of the pandemic.

And then as we recover and come out of the pandemic they have submitted a budget for total expenditures of 4.5 million dollars for student body activities.

On the next slide on slide 18 this is our debt service fund.

Really the only activity that's going through this fund is our debt service payment for the John Stanford Center bond.

Next slide.

Finally on slide 19 is the recommended capital fund budget.

You can see that we are anticipating total direct expenditures and transfers of just over $373 million dollars and fund balance is estimated to decrease slightly but still maintaining a very healthy reserve for our projects.

And the detail behind the capital fund numbers were provided in that last June work session.

That concludes the PowerPoint remarks.

I would like to express my deepest appreciation for the work of Budget Director Linda Sebring and Capital Finance Manager Melissa Cohn and all of the great budget staff.

And I would also like to thank those students and community members who contributed to our inaugural participatory budgeting process.

That concludes my remarks and I'm happy to take questions.

Thank you Chief Berge.

Let's start with Director Hersey.

Chair of Audit and Finance and Vice President.

Thank you.

I don't really have any questions.

We had a very robust work session on our budget just last week.

What I will say is that this is the opportunity again inviting directors that if you have any feedback or any clarity that you need provided to you on your understanding of what is included in our budget and how we will be moving forward in support and partnership with senior staff given all of the things that need to happen between now and 68 days from now.

Please please please let us know ahead of time.

And so with that I will go ahead and pass it to whoever might have questions at this point.

So directors if you have questions please indicate so by raising your hand and or turning on your video.

And while we're doing that just a note Chief Berge there On the slide that showed the budgeted versus actual enrollment.

You mean the last one that seemed to go down a little bit.

Yeah I was just going to make sure you noted that.

Yeah I'm not sure what happened.

It doesn't show like that on the slide deck so.

It's fine in the what's posted.

It just happened on your presenting version so.

I don't know about that so we'll have to look.

Yeah just so folks don't think somehow we had negative enrollment.

I noticed that.

I wonder what happened.

Okay.

Other directors any substantive comments questions or concerns.

I know we've had many work sessions on this and lots of opportunity and definitely thanks to the participatory budgeting process and having many opportunities starting back in the fall even before the intense volatility of dollars that may or may not or that at the time may or may not become available through state and federal sources.

We we've had innumerable conversations as as a board.

And so yeah I encourage everyone to use this time to ask your your any unanswered questions so that we can move forward in a good way and have an approved budget at our next session.

Let's see.

Director I'm not sure who went first.

Let's go with Director Rankin who's top on my list here.

Director Rankin.

Thank you.

I have a comment which is just that you know our budget Numbers all seem very you know big and a lot and like theoretically in people's minds it should should be enough for you know whatever you know and we could we could just move things around and pay for whatever we want.

And so that's obviously not the case.

And I just kind of wanted to I guess say out loud on the record that you know the biggest expenditure that we have is for staff.

And that is because education is not about a certain product or a certain commodity but it is about people.

It's about service to our students and there is no magic fix or you know quick solution to any of the things except for to further invest in in in people in service to students and the adults that do all of the work to support our students.

And I mean as a parent as a community member we all know that nothing can nothing can replace a really positive relationship between a student and their teacher or somebody in the building.

And So I think I just want kind of wanted to say that out loud that even as we go into looking at you know recovery from COVID and thinking about you know a lot of people want to talk about what was lost.

The most important thing and the biggest thing we can invest in and also hold all of ourselves accountable for is the investment in in the people and that there's just no replacement for for caring educators who are there for our students and then you know the central office that staff that that does what they can do to support what's happening in the buildings.

I don't really know my point was.

I think I just kind of wanted to say that out loud as a lot there's a lot of like wanting to commodify things or come up with some certain you know product that can that can fix what was broken or repair what was lost in the last year and before.

And I guess I just wanted to bring us back to the fact that it really is it really is people and how how important those dollars are and how important the people are in the lives of our kids and really you know make or break this for for students.

And so thank you to the budget office for all of your work and and responding to participatory budgeting.

desires and being willing to step into that because we we don't have a lot of a ton of flexibility in a seemingly large number.

There are certain things that just have to be paid for that's not really negotiable and it just all comes back to the people.

So thanks for all your work on that.

Okay Director Rivera-Smith.

There you go.

Yeah thank you.

Yeah speaking of people thank you to everybody who worked on this.

I look at the the budget book and it's beautiful.

It's colorful.

I love the artwork.

And I'm thinking though in this and also how we spoke earlier about the student handbook about the readability of it and the accessibility of it.

I'm wondering A what is the communications plan for this now.

Now that we're you know I know it's not approved yet.

We're going to that that comes later but as it's approved you know hopefully and we move on there.

I'm wondering what the communications plan is there.

And is this book translated into our top languages.

Are there opportunities to be in community and walk people through it.

I'm wondering what's going on there.

So thank you for those questions Director Rivera-Smith.

I'll have to get back to you on the translation part.

I'm not sure about that specifically.

We could translate it upon request.

We do take this out and talk to many PTAs as we work through the budget or the upcoming levy questions or just their school staffing questions.

So we do engagements all through the fall where we go out and talk to different sectors of the community and different PTAs and talk about the budget in that way.

So it is posted online.

It's shared broadly with our school principals.

So that that about covers it.

Okay well that's a little I don't know a little disappointing I guess because I do think of like non-Native English speakers trying to understand this.

First get a copy that they can read and then understand it because I feel like that's that's really a part we're always struggling with as a district is to make sure that we're communicating thoroughly with our our constituents and making things understandable readable accessible.

So you know I think that'll be something maybe hopefully we can we can go on there is how to get this out in the community.

that are least likely to take the time to find it and request that translated version and understand it better because you know we want to empower our families to understand what we're doing with the money.

Yeah and we could continue to offer.

We have offered in the past and we do go out with translators and talk about their questions or answer questions as well.

So those we will continue to make that available if that's something that people find helpful.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Director Dury.

Hi thanks.

Yeah I just wanted to say in the communication in the realm of communications especially to the community I think there are a couple of things that folks are continuously having questions about that maybe we could call out in some form.

Really around especially as we return the fall what the mental health services specifically will be at and and are they available at each school building.

And by mental health like just to be very clear on the word counselor like actual like mental health counselor not a guidance counselor for college and post-graduation readiness stuff like that.

And then also I I'm curious and I think I hope maybe other board members are how do the goals we're creating align with the budget and how does the budget support those specific goals that we're working on as they support the strategic plan.

So if we could just get call-outs on those couple of things I would.

I would appreciate that.

And we can put something together I think too with the new office that Carrie Campbell and Sarah Butcher are running as far as the mental health supports and what that looks like in our schools.

So putting together some information that we can share we can definitely do that.

And then we can put together some type of infographic maybe that talks more about how the strategic plan is embedded into the budget.

Is that kind of what you were thinking Director Dury.

Yep.

That'd be great.

Thank you.

Okay.

Other questions comments concerns.

Chief Berge I only have one new question that I found that I missed in a prior look at the budget book.

And I'm guessing this is one of these this is a category categorization thing but there was a time in 2019-20 when we had something called Academic Summer School under Schools into Continuous Improvement that was budgeted for at $5 million and now is it is at $9 million for 21-22.

Did that get recategorized elsewhere.

I don't know off the top of my head.

Are you on a certain page in the budget book or.

Yes page 45. Okay.

Can we get back to you.

Yes we can.

Linda and I will be able to come up with.

We need to source the actual numbers and figure out how the data moved.

Yeah I'm just thinking it must be somewhere.

It must be elsewhere because I know we spend more than that on summer school.

So so so.

Linda is here and she says she says two things.

Part of summer school costs are recognized in ESSER not in this program.

So this is a department budget that you're seeing on page 45. And so part of it's there.

The other part is going to be in so is in ESSER.

Okay.

For this year and next year.

That's why that's so.

For this year.

And then yes.

And then in 19-20 Yes.

As part of 19-20 we ran that really really large summer school program last year.

Yeah.

And we're not running summer staircase which this represents in the same way this year.

Okay.

Okay.

So I think that's that'll be a good one to make sure all of us are clear about.

And then are you planning on you know I'm a big fan of the ESSER's So I don't know if you're going to have that for when we take this to action but if it's if you think it's appropriate to include.

Yeah I can put it as a slide at the end or as additional information.

Okay.

Yeah I think it's well done and it and then we can you know when things like that come up in case somebody notices that then they would which I know they're not likely to pour through that budget book but it's important to know where that's sitting.

Okay that's it for me.

And with that if there's no other questions comments or concerns thank you to Chief Berge and Director Sebring and all of their staff.

And we will move now to Introduction Item Number 8. Approval of Purchase of New Computers for Certificated Staff.

This came through Operations on June 3rd for approval.

Director of Technology Infrastructure Nancy Peterson I believe you'll be briefing us.

Yes thank you.

So the purpose in bringing this board action report is to purchase new laptops for teachers for distribution starting in November.

We are bringing this as a not-to-exceed amount of 7.9 million dollars.

The estimated actual is actually a bit smaller but that's based on the current quote and model and number of teachers that we're estimating.

The funding is all in BEX V. Our last purchase for certificated staff was in 2017 and that was the first time that we provided teachers with laptops versus desktops.

The teachers liked the flexibility of the laptops as well as the mobility that it gives them in the classroom and as well as the increased flexibility for managing work and collaboration.

And it is also our opportunity to provide an equity of resources for our teachers.

This is in line with a four-year refresh cycle that we established in order to provide our educators with strong functional tools for their use in delivering the real critical work of our district.

The older models are starting to fail beyond their the repairability stage and need replacement.

batteries especially are beginning to fail and that directly impacts the ease of teaching in the classroom and that mobility that they prefer.

We spoke with or we've worked with the digital learning specialists and they have been testing the new model that we would like to provide to all of our teachers.

We have more demonstration units due to arrive in August so that we can do a little bit broader trials.

DOT staff are also using these to check out how robust they are and how flexible.

The digital learning specialists are certificated teachers themselves you may remember and they work directly with the teachers in their classrooms and in how they use technology in instruction.

And so they have the digital learning specialists have confirmed that.

The new models have the features that they want and that they see being used in the classrooms and needed going forward.

All the testers have reported that the new models have about twice the throughput of the old models.

The batteries have a much longer battery life.

And in fact these batteries that we're looking at come with a three replacement warranty which we've not had before.

And that's really great.

They have more memory bigger hard drives faster processors.

It's just a really nice machine that I think is going to really be valued and appreciated by our instructors our educators.

The ITAC committee Information Technology Advisory Committee saw the model shown by a digital learning specialist and they also reviewed the BAR on May 24th and were supportive of that work.

They also confirmed that.

Those those of the folks who are on the committee from other technology organizations in the area confirm that that is very much in line with the kind of life cycle that they would expect of devices in their businesses.

If there are no issues from the further testing that we're doing this summer then our plan is to place the order in September.

And we would expect delivery starting in November so that we would be able to replace our teachers laptops at that point.

The current teacher laptops that are less than four years old will be refurbished for use by instructional assistants and other groups that maybe aren't covered by this purchase.

Some of these are quite a few are newer.

because they've been bought for new teachers or to replace failing or lost or stolen devices.

So if the board has questions I would be happy to answer those.

Okay we'll start with Director Rankin a member of the Operations Committee.

I don't have any questions.

This is obviously a key need so I'm glad that we can respond quickly to it and get it going.

Okay.

Any other directors have comments questions or concerns.

Okay.

Thank you Fred.

That was very thorough actually Nancy.

Appreciate that.

Any questions I had were answered in your intro so probably hence the silence.

Thank you so much.

And with that we will move on to Introduction Item Number 9. BEX V authorize the superintendent to execute the guaranteed maximum price amendment for the Northgate Elementary School replacement project.

This came through Ops on June 3rd.

and is presented for approval.

Chief Podesta I believe you'll be briefing us.

Yes.

Thank you President Hampson.

As part of the BEX V capital program we're constructing a new school building at the Northgate site.

This project is being managed through an alternative public works process where we bring in a general contractor construction manager early in the process to help us get design and and manage the overall project.

There is an administrative requirement on the part of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction that because the contractor and that the actual contract was approved by the board nearly a year ago on July of last year And we worked with the contract in the intervening months.

We get to the part where we actually finalize the price.

So the board approved last July a contract not to exceed $60,461,530.

And we've continued to develop the project and now we'll amend the contract with a guaranteed maximum price which is slightly smaller.

Slightly lower at $60,181,530.

And again this is a requirement of the Public Works process that the board again approve this actual price now that it's been settled after bids have gone out and we've worked with the general contractor on how we're going to manage the project.

I'll be happy to take any questions you may have.

Okay and I will start with Director Rivera-Smith who is a member of the Operations Committee.

Yeah thanks.

Yeah I think Chief Podesta covered it pretty well.

I'm going to check my notes from that meeting and I have here that Leidig did the project.

Geothermal well installation began back the day before this meeting had so that's already happening.

will be issuance of a mini-MAC.

Do you want to know what the mini-MAC was Chief Podesta.

Mini-MAC is where we authorize a certain number of expenditures so things can get rolling but don't really kick off the project in earnest until this final approval is made.

Yep.

So we Talked about that and that we wouldn't see it again until full acceptance at this point now because this is getting the ball rolling.

I'm hearing a weird echo sorry.

But yeah and we talked a bit about communicating this out better about how the decision has been kind of made and we are getting as the directors all know a lot of emails about this project.

So having a communications plan to just be more clear with the communities about where we are at the statuses I think was was the ask at the committee meeting.

Chief Podesta does this sound familiar.

Yes that's all true.

And again because of the alternative public works process we're using here this this comes back twice.

I mean the decisions were made.

The contract was awarded a year ago.

We are doing you know put up a construction fence a little bit going on now.

This is a step where you approve again the price in case it had changed.

In this case it's a bit lower.

But this is not really the approval to proceed on this project.

This is again confirming that we are getting a project at the price that the contract was awarded for.

And in this case it's slightly less.

Thank you.

I don't have any other questions or comments to make from that.

Thank you.

Okay any other directors.

Yeah this is Director Rankin.

I just wanted to pipe in for a second.

I talked to Principal Deedy earlier this week or last week and if you're in the Northgate area or interested in construction there is some cool stuff that you can point your phone at and it will tell you what kind of jobs are involved in what's happening what you're looking at as construction happens.

And so I just kind of wanted to highlight that as a cool opportunity for education and not only once the building is completed but in the work that's happening right now families community members can go by and and just learn something about the industry and different jobs and and It's a it's a cool thing I haven't heard of happening yet at any of our other other sites.

So I just kind of wanted to put that out there.

Thank you for mentioning that Director Rankin.

This again this is one of our first projects where the construction is being done under the Student and Community Workforce Agreement.

So project teams and others are trying and our general contractor trying to be creative and thoughtful about workplace job site issues and how to recruit local staff and perhaps staff that you know construction teams that have affiliations with our students are what we're hoping to direct our capital program going forward.

So we should be seeing more more opportunities like that where we try to make sure that These are public dollars and that they're public benefits from an employment standpoint on our capital projects.

Okay.

Any other directors.

Thank you Chief Podesta.

We will move now to Introduction Item Number 10. Distressed School Grant Award Construction Contract P5177 Bid Number B10-2018 to form a construction company for the Madison Middle School 8 classroom addition project and budget transfer.

This came through Ops on June 3rd and is recommended for approval.

Back to you Chief Podesta.

Thank you.

Also as part of that capital program we are doing a remodel and modernization at Madison Middle School.

This will be an addition of eight classrooms.

It will relieve overcrowding at the school and allow us to remove portables that are at the site.

The project was bid in May and we had a healthy bid pool with five bidders.

Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and to be complete in the fall of 2022. And happy to entertain questions about this project.

Okay and back to you Director sorry starting with you Director Rankin as a member of operations.

Any comments questions or concerns.

No nothing nothing really.

I'm glad that we're able to do this as a classroom addition project and get some old portables out of there.

Is this the one that has the science classroom new science room.

You're muted Fred.

There are science classrooms at West Seattle Elementary.

I am not sure if there's science classrooms also as part of this project.

I may be mixing that up with something else.

I'm looking at my notes and I did see in here that that There was a recommendation that alternative 2 3 and 4 be accepted and there was a recommendation that money be taken out of the portfolio for application specifically for the creation of science.

So.

Sounds like.

Thank you for that reminder.

Yeah positive stuff.

And that also see that former was the quote no responsible bidder.

And so that's where we're going.

So thanks.

And also Director Rivera-Smith there's a fair amount of feedback on your line.

I don't know if you have any ability to fix that.

I'm trying to move stuff.

Sorry.

Yeah.

I'll look on it.

Okay.

Okay.

Let's move to Introduction Item Number 11. And this is distressed school grant approval of budget transfer for the Leschi Elementary School 4 classroom addition project.

This came through Ops on June 3rd for approval.

Chief Podesta I believe you'll be briefing us.

Yes thank you.

This is another classroom addition at Leschi also to address allows for enrollment increases and the return of a preschool program to the school.

There's been some enhancements to the project's scope.

The construction of a secure entry vestibule at the main entrance to the school and replacement of an outdated fire alarm system that is present throughout the building.

This is a you know while those are separate bodies of work while we have the other construction going on it it makes project efficiencies and also a little bit less disruption to the school to try to get this all done at once.

So this budget transfer will support that.

And again this is a project that's starting this summer to be complete by next fall.

Thank you.

Any comments questions or concerns from directors.

Okay let's move on to Introduction Item Number 12. This is BEX V School Construction Assistance Program and Distressed School Grant Award Construction Contract P5179 bid number B102017 to blank for the Viewlands Elementary School Replacement Project.

This came through operations on June 3rd for approval.

Back to Chief Podesta.

Thank you.

BEX V does include a replacement of the Buelands building for Buelands Elementary.

We have a very busy construction schedule given the size of the BEX V levy and occasionally we'll bring we'll introduce actions to the board before the bid just so we can keep the projects moving and try to use at least the tail end of the construction season if we This project is we can only bid so many projects at once as a practical matter and we actually don't want to be competing with ourselves for contractors by having too many bids on the street at the same time.

So this project will be in August 10th.

There's a construction estimate on the order of 58.7 million dollars and the construction would start late summer for completion in July 2023. You'll see a couple more board actions in this state where we're bringing that we're introducing them at least before the bid is done.

Bids will be complete by the time the board votes.

We discussed this in a good amount of detail with the Operations Committee at their May meeting and this is this happens to us occasionally in the summer given that There are fewer opportunities to meet with the committee and the board and there are more projects.

So occasionally we find ourselves in this state that we need to kind of jumpstart things by bringing approvals to the board at least for introduction before the bid process is complete.

And I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Any comments questions or concerns from directors.

My sound is working better.

Nope there isn't feedback huh.

I just wanted to make a note about the blanks about how we will have those at the time we vote for these and so I think just for the public just don't get any fears that we're approving things we don't even know what we're approving yet.

By the time we do approve it those will I understand be filled in.

We have several like this so thank you for that reassurance.

Okay.

If there are no other comments questions or concerns let's move on to Introduction Item Number 13. BEX V School Construction Assistance Program Award Construction Contract P5-180 Grid Number B10-2029 to blank for the Kimball Elementary School replacement replacement to Phase 2. This came through operations on June 3rd and is recommended for approval.

Chief Podesta back to you.

Likewise just as with the previous item this is a complete school replacement that's in the BEX V capital program.

We are bringing this item for introduction ahead of the bid which is scheduled for July 27th.

And the maximum allowable construction cost estimate is $54.4 million.

We expect bids so far bids have been conforming pretty well to our estimates and we would expect to bring this back once the bids are complete to the board in August.

And construction will begin in very late summer and go through August of 2023.

Directors any comments questions or concerns.

Just just a quick appreciation that I understand there will be no fossil fuels used for this school.

So it's going to be built in compliance with our recent energy resolution.

So a big thumbs up for that.

Thank you.

That's true of these major projects that we're discussing this evening.

Fantastic.

Let's now move to Introduction Item Number 14. BEX V and K-3 Class Size Reduction Grant Award Construction Contract P5-170 Bid Number B10-2028 to Jody Miller Construction Inc. for the West Seattle Elementary School Addition Project.

This came through operations on June 3rd and is presented for approval.

Chief Podesta back to you.

Again this is a classroom addition.

for West Seattle Elementary School to mitigate capacity issues at the school.

Allow us to remove portables as well.

There'll be an addition of 12 classrooms and associated learning commons areas and some modernization of the existing building.

In this case we have completed the bid.

The bid was done in May and we had a good again healthy bid pool with six bidders.

Construction is beginning this summer and should be completed in September of 2022.

Comments questions concerns from directors.

Okay.

And then with the permission of our Chief Legal Counsel I believe we can go through 15 16 and 17 all in one batch.

Correct.

The three final acceptances can be intro'd together.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

Go ahead.

So 15 16 and 17 final acceptances for Contract let me just say BEX V playground improvements Beacon Hill Dearborn Park Dunlap Green Lake Hawthorne Lowell Maple McGill Vermont Lake and Olympic View as well as number 16 which is the final acceptance of the Musco Sports Lighting LLC work for the athletic field lighting at Franklin High School.

And finally the acceptance of contract K5078 with Forma Construction and budget transfer for the Magnolia Elementary School renovation and addition project.

All three of these came through operations on June 3rd for and are presented for approval.

Back to you Chief Podesta.

Thank you President Hampson.

We discussed at a recent board meeting some playground improvements at Green Lake.

And then we had some discussion at that time about the equity issues related to playground funding and how we relied because we were accepting a gift in that instance and we had a thoughtful discussion about that.

We are trying to take steps by funding more playground improvements in our capital program where past the district really relied on schools and PTSA's to Find funding to make improvements.

And this is we're happy to report that we've made improvements at the list of schools associated with this action.

I won't read that list again.

And those projects have gone well and are in service and so this is an acceptance of the contract for those various projects.

Item 16 is final acceptance for lighting improvements.

At Franklin High School we've had a program we brought several of these to the board.

Over the past couple of years we've had a program of increasing lighting at our athletic fields.

This was really a requirement as a result of changing bell times and later start times and end times for schools so we could continue to have community access on our projects.

We rely heavily on our partnership with Seattle Parks to use the their athletic fields athletic fields owned by the City of Seattle for some of our athletic programs.

And also in exchange we give access to the community to our fields.

Student use is given first priority and is used immediately after the end of the school day which pushes community use to later in the day.

And as we had changed the schedule we added lighting so that we those schools athletic fields can be available for community use a bit later.

And again we're we're growing the city is growing.

There is really demand on athletic fields in general by for our uses for other youth community uses and adult recreational uses.

And it's important to try to maximize access to these public assets and projects like this allow that to happen.

Project's completed and we're at a point where we can accept the final work from the contractor.

And the last final acceptance I'm really happy about it it's final acceptance from Magnolia Elementary School which was there was a renovation and a modernization of a landmark building.

We added four classrooms and a gymnasium.

Upgrades to mechanical and electrical systems.

Seismic improvements and other building system improvements.

and demolition of portables that were located at the site.

Our contractor FORMA completed the work.

I'm sure many directors have been there.

It really is a was a beautiful project and had a lot of respect for the existing building and really created a great asset.

Working in historical buildings can be unpredictable particularly one that was closed.

It was both landmark and had long been closed as for use as a regular school.

So the project was over budget by about 3 percent which given the uncertainty associated with this kind of project I think we feel that overall this project was a great success and are glad to have the school open again and happy to present it for final acceptance to the board.

Okay any comments questions or concerns from directors on these three items.

Okay great.

Thank you so much Chief Podesta as always for your focused and thorough presentations of so many good capital projects.

And thank you to our voters and taxpayers for allowing us to do this good work for our students.

And with that we will move to board comments.

And I'm going to be ask folks to keep it As close to two minutes as possible.

It's most if your houses are like mine they're heating up at this hour and be nice to give staff the evening.

So I am going to start with Director Hersey.

Thank you so much for all the work this year.

Have a wonderful summer and I hope everybody out there listening get some opportunity to get some good rest and spend it with your family.

Thank you so much.

We'll see you next time.

Director Dury.

Yeah I'm just reiterating what Director Hersey just said.

Thanks to the staff teachers building leaders families students.

It's been a year and I appreciate the work and effort everybody's put in and hope everybody gets some downtime to rest and relax and come back at it next year rejuvenated.

Thanks.

Director Rivera-Smith.

Okay there we go.

Hopefully you can hear me without feedback.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I feel like I've talked a lot in this meeting so I'll try to be short.

I want to say though going back to Head Start one thing that I didn't mention then but want to go ahead and mention now is Head Start has a few key staff members and so want to give a really big shout out and heartfelt thank you to Family Services Supervisor Abby Myers who has worked with the district for the past five years and she's moving on.

to go to home employment but we really appreciate her work and she's been a joy to meet with monthly and a strong asset to the Early Learning Head Start team.

She leads the policy council meetings and she's truly missed.

So thank you to her.

Also we're losing Micaela Mullinson I'm probably butchering the name I'm sorry.

Our West Area Supervisor who has worked with the district for 12 years.

actually started by volunteering for community service in high school.

So we're moving on also.

So just want to give a shout out to those people.

Thank you for your time with us.

And be well.

I'll just mention I'm having in lieu of an online community meeting this month I'm going to be doing a walk at Green Lake which is right in the middle of my district so it's perfect.

On Sunday June 27th.

I'm trying to start early.

I know it's supposed to be a hot day.

So you know I'll see who shows but it's 10 a.m.

Hopefully not too early but not too late to not burn up.

But I do a walk and hop and just I'm looking forward to seeing who comes out.

So everyone's welcome to that.

And I also will just share that I am reaching out.

I reached out to my my I have 13 schools now because Licton Springs is now part of District 4. I reached out to my 13 schools to To just share some feedback I think but to share that I've been speaking with families of color at our schools specifically at Hamilton for a recent sort of shakeup that was going on there.

Anyhow before the pandemic we all knew that racism and inequity existed in our in our district and COVID-19 just eliminated those injustices in a broader shinier light.

And here in the North End Our families of color have felt the effects of you know just the legacy of patiently restrictive neighborhood covenants and redlining and families of color continue to feel just oppressed and erased in our schools very often.

So as we set a path towards full-time enrollment in the fall there's no time to waste in hearing from these families.

I want I'm making a more effort to do that especially because like I said we're getting ready to come back in.

So I want to hear the stories and experiences that will hopefully shape the work that we're doing as a as a board as a district to to end the harm that racism causes in our schools and classrooms.

Just one step in that work is going to be like I said trying to engage with the families more our families of color our students of color which I know is going to be a little more difficult being summer.

And that they're not historically the ones that are on PTSA memberships and mailing lists.

So but I'm going to be trying to work with the PTSA's in my district and any other entities that I can bring on board to to put together some conversations with the families of color.

And again use that you know put a spotlight on those experiences because that's what's going to help us get where we need to be as a district to know where there's where the challenges are and help us live up to our values and missions and goals.

Sorry a lot of words but thank you again for everybody.

I guess we're up till I don't know when we're getting those but stay safe stay cool and I'll see you next time.

Thank you.

Director Rankin.

I'm going to keep it super short.

Drink lots of water.

Don't leave pets or kids in the car.

It feels like it's the end of the year and you know Taking off on a break and in some ways that's true but in a lot of ways we're just we're just keeping on going.

Keeping on going and getting ready to come back better in the fall.

So everybody take a breath.

Get a little rest and be ready to jump back in for our kids.

Thank you.

Yes.

And thank you to Dr. Jones and his staff for for keeping count on the days till school starts.

Sorry this is Director Hampson.

I would also say that while this is a definitely as far as my kids are concerned you know all havoc should reign at this moment with with no structure and no accountability.

And yet this is the time when we get to quietly do some some work to make sure that we can deliver what our students need so that we can better provide opportunities for them to learn and know and succeed in their hopes and dreams.

And to find joy in their in their classrooms.

And yes I'm very concerned about all of our families and the heat that is about to come.

We know that most folks in Western Washington do not have air conditioning and so This is a pretty extreme time that we have coming so find ways to communicate with folks in your community about how to stay safe particularly as people may be entering the water that that don't necessarily have swimming skills.

And then I also just wanted to take a moment to mark and acknowledge we've had a possibly quiet but absolutely critical shift in the history of the U.S.

As the Department of the Interior will now formally investigate the impact of federal Indian boarding schools thanks to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland which was announced on yesterday Tuesday.

And this will result in a result in a detailed report compiled by the Interior and will include historical records of boarding schools burial sites and enrollment logs of children's names and tribal affiliations which up until this point have been scattered and difficult to find and only through our own individual efforts as the descendants of the survivors of those boarding schools of which I am one.

And I can't express how meaningful this is as the president of a public school board and also the descendant of the survivors of boarding schools in which the express purpose was the federal government's stated attempt to wipe out tribal identity language and culture and the extent to which that past has continued to manifest itself through long-standing trauma cycles of violence and abuse premature deaths mental disorders and substance abuse.

I can barely speak to that without getting tremendously emotional.

But I have great hope in our Secretary.

I'm so grateful for her appointment and just want to quickly read something that she said that I think we can all look to in our own leadership roles.

I don't see it as my role to be the voice for all Native people but rather to amplify your voices so the American Indian Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities have a seat at the table to speak for themselves.

Holland said.

By sitting at this table together we can build a better relationship for future generations that is not rooted in the worst in the worst parts of our past.

And so with that I will say Pįnagigi thank you.

Stay cool.

And as there is no further business on the agenda this meeting stands adjourned at 641 p.m.

Thank you all so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.