Good morning.
This is Director DeWolf.
Thank you for being here.
And now calling the board special meeting to order at 831 a.m.
on Tuesday August 25th.
I will be chairing today's 2020 reopening update work session as chair of the executive committee.
Following today's work session we will move into an executive session to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation and or potential litigation per RCW 42.30.1101I.
For the record this morning I will call roll and I will begin with Director Hampson.
Okay next we will move to Director Harris.
Thank you.
Good morning Director Hersey.
Here.
Thank you.
Good morning.
Director Mack.
Here.
Thank you.
Director Rankin.
Good morning.
Here.
Thank you.
Director Rivera-Smith.
Present.
Okay.
And that leaves me.
That's Director DeWolf.
I would like to note that the superintendent is also present as well as staff who will be presenting as we move through the agenda.
So just a little bit here for housekeeping.
The meeting this meeting is being held remotely consistent with the governor's proclamation prohibiting meetings such as this one from being held in person.
The public is being provided remote access today by phone and through SPS-TV by broadcast and streaming on YouTube.
To facilitate this remote meeting I will ask all participants to ensure you are muted when you are not speaking.
There is not a public comment opportunity this morning and we will not be using the chat feature in Teams today.
Staff will be working to administer the meeting and may be muting participants to address feedback and ensure we can hear from directors and staff.
For directors or staff on the phone if you feel that you may have been muted please press star-6 to unmute.
We have two topics to cover today to during today's work session.
First will be revision to the 2020-2021 school year calendar.
The second topic will be revisions to the 2020-2021 transportation service standards.
ridership eligibility.
These changes relate to school start day and end times.
Both of these topics are the subject of a board action report that is included on tomorrow's regular board meeting agenda for introduction and action.
And so I'm grateful to the staff for pulling this meeting together so shortly.
I wanted to make sure we could have all directors engaging with the content prior to tomorrow's meeting so I appreciate everybody pulling this together.
After the short the staff presentation on each topic today I'll move into directors questions and comments and that should be it.
So with that Dr. Codd I will now hand it over to Chief of Human Resources Dr. Clover Codd to begin the presentations on revisions to the 2020-2021 school year calendar.
Hello this is Clover Codd Chief Human Resource Officer.
Good morning everybody.
We are here to present to you a proposed calendar for 2021 school year.
Seattle Education Association and Seattle Public Schools have been bargaining over the summer and we've reached a tentative agreement on what would be a new school year calendar.
The original start date of school was set for September 2nd 2020 with an end school year date of June 18th 2021. This new proposed calendar provides two full additional waiver days which means that school would now start on Friday September 4th.
These two waiver days are for staff professional development.
This is district-directed professional development to ensure that we are ready for a remote start to the school year.
The end of the school year remains the same on June 18th 2021. And we do have built in three days for snow slash emergencies at the throughout the school year that has remained the same.
So with that I'll open it up for questions.
Thank you Dr. Codd.
We will start with Director we'll go backwards.
We'll start with Director Rivera-Smith.
Thank you.
Good morning.
Thank you Dr. Codd for the information you shared here.
I feel like this went through obviously some really robust bargaining negotiations with the union and I know that it's not it's not I feel like I feel like it's already been announced.
This has already been shared with the public.
I honestly feel like you know there's not a whole lot of movement allowed at this point or room for it because of the bargaining and because of the announcements.
But do we feel I guess I can ask as far as there are so many unknowns.
Let's say that we get students in for like a special ed to come into classes and then we have a weather day severe weather day.
Could it be that we end up still going extra days past the school year as we make room as we have to adjust for those or do we have one of the built-ins.
I'm looking at the calendar but it's really tiny on my screen.
Do we have built-in snow makeup days I take it.
I think there's one in January I'm trying to.
There's one in January.
The day between semesters.
And then we also got two at the end of the year.
Yeah.
So again can you just speak to you know the reasoning behind the date.
We've had a lot of emails about Friday being a weird start of school day.
Can you just speak to the need for that.
Yes so we worked really hard to figure out how many full days of professional development we could add in for staff so that they would be ready.
And recognizing that we still need to meet the minimum instructional hours average of 1,027 throughout the school year.
We were not able to get to a third full day and still meet those minimum instructional hours.
Thus we had to start start school on the 4th of September as opposed to I know some people want it to be the 8th.
We just we can't get there with instructional minutes instructional hours.
And so this was the best compromise we had.
It still allows for two additional full days of district-directed professional development.
And this is the tentative agreement that we reached with Seattle Education Association.
Thank you.
No other questions or comments.
Thank you.
Thank you Director Rivera-Smith.
Director Rankin.
Hi.
Yeah I have a couple of questions.
I am wondering what the barrier is to applying for waivers of instructional hours.
We've been talking about waiving instruct — I know we have to have 180 instructional days and 1,027 instructional hours within those days.
And so we're asking for days but I'm wondering why we can't also ask for a waiver of hours.
And related to that I would like to better understand what the strong start is and how what it actually means when we say that September 4th is the first day of school.
I'm assuming it doesn't mean we're just jumping right into starting classes you know starting formal instruction but it will still count as instructional hours.
So what that first week looks like what families can expect and then connected to both of those things how we are providing those instructional hours and what that first week looks like knowing that not all students will have devices and be connected.
Okay so that was three questions.
Let me try to answer them if I can and I might need a little bit of help from my colleagues but here I go.
So first and foremost we are asking OSPI for a waiver of 2 of the 180 days.
So that would make the student school year 178 days not 180 days.
However when we ask for those waiver days we are still able to meet the instructional hours Even though we've taken two days away because we had a little bit extra to play with if that makes any sense whatsoever.
But when we go to ask if we were to ask for a third day we would now then fall under the 10-27 hours.
I do not know the answer to why we can't waive instructional hours.
I do know you can waive instructional days as long as you can meet your instructional hours.
I do not know the second part of your question.
Maybe we can come back to that at the end.
The second question was okay well what can families expect on September 4th through 11th.
What will that look like.
So the purpose of the September 4th through the 11th we're calling a strong start is so that we can really focus educator efforts around creating a warm welcoming environment for our students really focusing in on the social emotional well-being student connections family connections Making sure that our students are able to access the technology the platforms really kind of the nuts and bolts of how do you log on and access your asynchronous assignments.
Where will I post the the assignments for the week.
What will that look like.
Really trying to set the students up and the families up really for success when we go in full force with you know our core content.
So.
This is kind of typical when you are starting school pre-COVID and brick and mortar.
The first few days of school have always kind of focused in on this effort.
You know you're learning your new routines.
You're learning about who's in your classroom.
You're creating a classroom environment.
But now more so than ever when we're in a virtual world we really are going to have to focus intently on what that looks like and how do I build those connections virtually.
So students will still log on the first day of school.
They will meet their teacher.
They will meet their classmates.
They will begin to understand how we work in a remote environment and they will learn new routines.
And that is what the first you know first week of school looks like normally.
One of the things that will happen is in order to meet our instructional minutes we will also have asynchronous lessons posted for students to access.
But they will be focused in on social emotional well-being culture climate making sure maybe students are practicing accessing the platforms.
And so it's it's that's why we're calling it a strong start.
And I think yeah so that is how we provide the instructional hours as we will also have to have some asynchronous activities posted for that week.
Thank you.
Wait no.
My third question was what about not all students having devices.
So I would have to have somebody else on this call answer because I know that they are working around the clock to get devices in student hands.
So I don't know if Chief Berge is on the line who could help with that.
Probably bargaining.
Yeah.
So this is you know I believe that our goal is still to have devices out.
We are still waiting for the iPads to arrive but I believe that the other devices the laptops that we'll send out and distribute to grades elementary grades that aren't getting iPads are in and getting imaged and we'll have a distribution plan but we are continuing to work with the vendor for the iPads.
But hopefully they will arrive in time.
Hi it's JoLynn.
Hi JoLynn.
We only have about 20 we have about 2,200 iPads so I'm going to answer the question that came in.
I'm just waiting to get confirmation.
We have 2,200 iPads that were a little are not going to make it the week of September 8th at this current time.
Everything else is going everything else we have commitments for or we already have.
So we're in good shape there.
It's just those last 2,300 iPads that we're still working.
Thank you.
Next we'll move to Director Mack.
Hi I want to build on Director Rankin's questions.
Because I think that we are all anxiously awaiting more information about what exactly is going to be happening and what's the schedule for learning.
What does that first week look like and then what does the following weeks look like.
Families are kind of scrambling to figure out how we're going to manage this remote learning environment.
And so one question I have is exactly when will schools be communicating out this plan and the schedule that the I guess you know at schools we call it the master schedule.
When will students get the information about when to log in how to log in what time they're expected to be there.
on the 4th and the 8th and the 9th.
When are we going to get that information from schools.
And direct and Dr. Codd if that doesn't feel like it's school year calendar and the person's not here we can also hold that until the start time if that whatever you need.
Yeah I feel like that's more about a start time issue as opposed to this.
this school year calendar around days.
Okay.
So the other question then is on the related to technology.
The answer the question about when exactly those are going to be delivered.
Will will those be delivered before the 4th so students are ready or are they going to be delivered the week of the 8th.
I was kind of confused about that because if students don't actually have their devices in hand can
Can you clarify for Director Mack what we do have going out because I think I'm I'm also I also want to get a better understanding of the landscape to add to Director Mack of like what's out and what's not because it just feels like jumbled.
Director DeWolf this is Sherri Kokx.
Chief Berge is no longer on the line.
I don't see her on the list of participants.
We can definitely get you that list of what's been distributed what is soon to be distributed and then what is lagging due to getting getting into the United States from China.
I think I think the question that I'm asking Director Kokx I appreciate you popping in is that Families including myself have gotten zero information about when and how technology is going to be distributed before the first day of school.
And so I'm just trying to get clarity on what the distribution plan actually is.
If we're expecting to start school on the 4th how are when are students going to be accessing their devices the ones that have not gotten them yet.
If that's not something we have clear yet then maybe that that's the.
That's my.
Yeah I will do my best to chase down that information today Director Mack because I as a parent myself am wondering about that and in conversations I've had I think the middle and the high schools are each doing their own distributions.
But I'm not sure on the communication plan to families because I can speak to as a family member myself that I have not received any communication from my student's school about that.
So I will chase down both kind of what's been distributed what's soon to be distributed what is likely not to be distributed before the first day of school and then what is the communication plan to families to get the information about when I get my device and how do I get my device and all of that.
Yes you appreciate that.
You're welcome.
My next we'll go to Director Hersey.
Yeah I don't have any questions at this point.
Thank you.
Director Harris.
My questions have been answered.
My deepest concern about the communication plans and for those children and students that do not have devices what does their first day or week of school look like.
In the past what we have done is we have had packets for students.
We have made phone calls.
We have had connections.
I mean I guess that's kind of what happened in the spring but I would need maybe the teaching and learning side of the house to talk about what that will look like.
If we could hear back on that much appreciated.
Thank you.
Yeah this is Wyatt Jesse Chief Chief of Schools and Continuous Improvement.
And so to answer that question Director Harris they are working feverishly to get devices in every student's hands.
We're working waiting for the distributors to give us all the computers.
We have have a DOTS has teed up a communication out to families and staff about how to use their use a phone to call in to Teams to join the lessons.
Plus we do have packets so that that is until we can get all those devices distributed that's the plan that has been developed and is teed up to be sent out.
And when would that be sent out because we're hearing a great deal of anxiety from our families.
I hear that too.
I don't have a direct answer on the exact date for when that is going to be sent out.
Director Harris this is Sherri again.
I'm happy to include that in the information that I chased down today as to what are the timelines that you can expect from us.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Thank you Director Harris and Director Hampson I think is not yes confirming.
And.
Director Hampson.
Yeah.
I've been here.
Hi.
Sorry go ahead.
I've been here the whole time.
Cool I couldn't see you on the Teams but I think you're.
I'm on the phone so you got to give me a couple minutes to unmute.
Exactly.
Okay cool.
Yes any questions or comments from you.
I guess I'm a little confused because I thought this was the session where we would be presented with the detail that we're asking for around expectations with respect to if we are starting on the 4th what that means given that we are pre any level of confidence that we'll have devices rolled out and this is a quote unquote strong start for quote unquote remote learning.
And as such my question is why two things.
One why we're not being more clear and honest and transparent about what we do what we can confirm what we can be confident about And then and going with that so if we it sounds right now given that we have a BAR to approve tomorrow that we don't know what that we will have devices rolled out for K-5 by that first week the 4th through 11th.
And as such that that week shouldn't have anything to do with I I'm not going to ask parents to call in on it on a Teams call.
I'm I'm trying to do that right now and it's difficult.
So it's my question is why we haven't just been more upfront about where we are and where we're going to be and plan based on that.
And then at the same time why if we need more time we don't just ask for an additional waiver of both if necessary instructional days or get rid of the snow days and ask for use those days and ask for a time when and if those things happen.
It feels really like we're adding to the the level of anxiety and ambiguity for parents at this point.
Muting now.
Okay thank you Director Hampson.
I don't have any questions for you at this time Dr. Codd.
My questions have been asked.
Can I actually get can somebody get time to answer my questions please.
Director Mack can you ask your question about this calendar again please.
No this is Director Hampson.
Sorry Director Hampson.
Okay so you're asking about devices and what we do if students really don't have devices what will that look like and how could we move the calendar days around to account for that.
That's what you're getting at.
I see two potential paths.
One is we acknowledge that we that we do not know which as of this call which is the time when we as a board would have needed to be presented with that information in order to vote tomorrow.
And we create in the first week starting on the 4th is something that has nothing to do with any kind of device-related activity because we can't confirm that we have them for K-5.
And maybe we can do it for for 6 through 12 but not K-5 so what does that then look like.
And that that's what we should plan for.
And the other option is that we ask for additional waivers.
Those are and why we aren't considering either of those things at this point.
That's my question.
Okay.
My understanding is that you're not allowed to waive the instructional minutes.
You're only allowed to waive the instructional days if you can meet the minimum requirements of the minutes and hours.
But I will take that back and consult with legal Angel and Berge.
And we have our quote unquote snow days still right.
Meaning we could push off waiver through that time.
Correct.
Yeah.
So we do bargain when the snow days are.
So I'll need to take that back to the negotiations table as well.
And the other question.
IY Jesse Chief.
IY Jesse Chief of Schools and Community Improvement.
Director Hampson your question is if we have set snow days in the calendar.
And so when we have those snow days we still have to file for another waiver with OSPI if in the event they do happen.
They're just set up days to try to provide the release.
But at the same time.
Yep.
I'm saying that that's another waiver.
But the other part of the question is why are we not preparing now for starting school without devices given that we have no confidence that between the 4th and the 11th that we will have rolled out devices to K-5 families which it seems like that's where we are.
This Director Hampson this is Sherri Chief of Staff again.
My understanding is that the devices that are that are possibly not going to arrive on time are the devices for our K-3 students.
Our 4 or 5 students I believe will have their devices.
And then just a reminder for everyone on the call that our kindergarten students start 3 days later than our 1st through 12th grade students.
And so I will check.
I know JoLynn Berge just got this information from the Apple vendor yesterday.
So the information is coming to us and we're putting pressure on the vendor to to try to get it through over from China as soon as possible.
So Mike that doesn't answer my question which is that today is the day today and tomorrow that we need to know these things with confidence and not knowing them with confidence means we have to make a different decision not based on what we hope without actual knowledge or confidence.
And as somebody who has a K-5 student I haven't gotten a single word about laptops as everyone else has stated.
So there's no expectation that those things will arrive.
And there are families scrambling thinking that they're going to have to provide their own and we haven't communicated with them at all.
So I'm I'm I'm still not seeing why we don't be make an honest assessment of what we do know by the time we need to know it which is you're asking us to make a decision tomorrow based on a start date without information.
And I'll just leave it at that.
Thank you Director Hampson.
Dr. Codd I don't have any more questions for you so I will I think we can move to our next portion of the presentation which is around the 2020-2021 Transportation Service Standards.
So I'll hand it over to Chief Operations Officer Fred Podesta to begin the presentations on revisions to the 2020-2021 Transportation Service Standards.
Thank you.
Thank you Director DeWolf.
Again this is Fred Podesta Chief Operations Officer.
Annually the Board of Directors passes Transportation Service Standards which are primarily eligibility standards that describe how and when the district provides transportation to and from school.
One aspect of the standards are an appendix that lists start and end times for schools through the whole district mainly to show how the transportation schedule relates to the schedule at each school for the start and end of the school day.
Given that we're in primarily a remote start environment this fall we had feedback from families that you know a consistent Start and end times that were more at the top of the hour at a half hour kind of more round times would be better and a somewhat later start than had been the case given our on-site learning model would be beneficial.
So the remote learning start and end times have been tuned to that.
And so we're requesting that the board adopt a revised set of transportation service standards removing that appendix that had a more detailed bell times for every school and just acknowledge that our start and end times are different this year and that transportation when it is provided Around those start and end times will follow the typical model of a 15-minute window arrival time 15 a window that's 15 minutes prior to the start of the school day and a departure time that's 10 minutes after.
This is a little confusing because we're talking about transportation that by and large won't occur at the start of school since we're in remote learning but this is where the district codifies these start and end times so we thought it was appropriate to revise them to reflect the school schedules we will have.
The rest of the standards if we do provide transportation at this point don't need to change.
There is lots of flexibility for special education transportation and we may be providing some of that but that will conform to the standards as they are which are either tied to the school start and end times or specifically tailored to a student's individual education plan or 504 plan.
So this is primarily a housekeeping issue but it's it's good that this policy this document does reflect the reality of school start and end times in the coming school year.
I will note the early departure times which usually aren't reflected in this document but we did list them in a table in the board action report for K-5 is not reflected accurately.
It should read 145 p.m.
and we'll correct that in the BAR that comes to the board tomorrow.
So with that I'll open this up for questions.
Thank you Chief Podesta.
I will start alphabetical with Director Hampson.
So in terms of engagement can I just I'm going to sorry Chief Podesta I'm going to kind of combine this engagement on the two topics.
There is a statement made under the racial equity analysis about the survey that was done in May which was you know pretty limited.
And then there's also some comments about there being with community-based organizations our Research and Evaluation Department at the University of Washington conducted focus groups and other small group convenings to gather opinions and information on remote learning during the spring planning for the 20-21 school year.
Where is that.
data.
I'm going to ask if any of my colleagues can help answer that question.
I know Dr. Scarlett and her team and others work to on engagement after the initial engagement teams and as well the engagement teams that started when we began planning the start of school to see what data might be available from those processes.
Director Hampson you sort of really speedily read through that excerpt and so I didn't catch every part of it.
Would you mind reading the excerpt again for me.
I'm just reading what's in the BAR on the racial equity analysis on the equity analysis the second paragraph.
Yeah I'm sorry I'm on my phone I don't have availability to it right now so I apologize.
Would you mind reading that again to me.
As a result of missing these critical family voices SPS in partnership with community-based organizations our research and evaluation department and the University of Washington so this is actually the research and EVAL department apparently conducted focus groups and other small group convenings to gather opinions and information on remote learning during the spring and planning for the 20-21 school year.
So if there was racial equity analysis done through research and evaluation I haven't seen it and it's being cited here and I would like to see it because I'm not aware of any of that.
equity analysis processes we did with my team did in a partnership that we've had a long-term partnership with University of Washington College of Education.
We're all part of a what's called a research practice partnership and so our research and evaluation team members like Dr. Anderson are a part of it.
Also curriculum instruction.
Some folks all together on the SPSN plus Seattle Education Association Center for Racial Equity along with University of Washington.
So one of the things that we did was try to purr also some additional feedback from the school board after the June 30th presentation or excuse me I can't remember which day was the work session presentation.
We did conduct focus groups.
We worked with families of color some community leaders also in order to get additional feedback particularly from families of African-American males and other students of color in order to get additional feedback about the interests and values and priorities and what was happening for their students in connection to digital learning.
So where is that all compiled.
And if it's cited here it needs to be presented to the board.
So where is all that.
I do have some data transcripts from and high-level overview also from each of those as well.
So I'd be happy to forward that information.
We also took some information from the State of Black Child Genius and so I'd be happy to forward that information to the board.
I would like for it to be actually attached to the BAR please.
Noted.
Thank you.
Thank you Director Hampson.
Director Harris.
I would second the attachment to the BAR on meeting the race and equity outreach.
And the more we can have information prior to not one day but prior to our vote it would be much appreciated.
It's our fiduciary duty.
We're not trying to be difficult with y'all but Please understand the situation that we're in with hundreds of people asking us questions that we don't know the answers to.
Thank you.
Thank you Director Harris.
I think the pace is pretty I think we're all going through an intense pace right now.
Director Hersey.
Yeah I'm still reading through some pieces.
I'll let you know if I have any questions on the back end.
Awesome.
I can circle back to Director Mack.
Yeah hi.
Can we have the section of the BAR that provides for the times because I it would be helpful I think to the public and to ourselves to just see that information.
We're talking specifically about.
Page 2 you think is it has the little the four boxes with start and time is that the one you're referring to page 2.
Yeah I don't know.
I you know 58 pages of stuff that was attached here.
And the transportation service standards that we approved previously were extensively redlined.
The ones that are the one that is in front of us today is only redlined with one paragraph.
Is that correct Mr. Podesta.
Yes.
The so both.
versions are attached one for reference and one for approval because since the board did adopt a version those were accepted and the red line for what's in approval now is the change that this action causes which is to delete Appendix B which had a per-school set of bell times and replace it with language that is a little bit more general that that just describes the practice that the bell the transportation standards will be adjusted to the bell times per the normal practice.
No if you.
Oh yeah.
Thank you.
I do appreciate you're scrolling and you're showing that part.
That's the one red line change.
And then it.
The statement.
If I could if I could just mention for the audience that on March 11th we approved Just for the audience on the phone on March 11th the day we announced closures was the day we approved this the last time.
So that's how recently we've worked on this.
Right.
The transportation service standards are approved every year prior to the start of the school and typically around March.
And they they set the bell times.
They also set who gets transportation and how etc.
Just and just you know for clarity here the strikethrough on the actual document is just saying that the bus arrival times exist but the times are not being they're in the BAR but they're not in the actual Transportation Service Standards.
Correct.
We're deleting we're deleting that.
Yes.
I'm sorry I'm just procedurally trying to understand exactly what's happening here.
So can you scroll back to the BAR that just I want to go back to the time so that the public actually can see this is the this is what we're voting on.
Start times of 830 a.m.
to 3 and then Wednesday.
And then you said that on the 6-12 Wednesday that's actually supposed to be 145 not 245. For K-5.
That Wednesday early release should read 145 p.m.
And for 6 through 12 it's 245. So okay.
So that needs to be stricken through.
Now can I appreciate whoever's working the computer right now.
Can you scroll up to the actual motion.
Does is it in the motion that we actually spoke on the that the bell times.
And it says the 830 because procedurally this is it's only in the BAR.
It's not actually in the document anymore.
And it doesn't get moved.
So I'm a little confused about just procedurally this feels really odd because we're deleting the appendix where the bill times are approved so there isn't it's not in here.
It's in the BAR but it's not actually in the Transportation Service Standards.
Okay.
So I'll just leave that for a second because I just I just from a legal perspective I this isn't I think the motion is going to need to be changed or something because this is not what we what we're actually approving here only in the Transportation Service Standards is different start times and end times.
So we'll revise the language in the motion to acknowledge the table that's in the board action report.
Okay.
Thank you.
I think that that helps with clarity.
The other the other piece that is not I actually I want to go back and I know Mr. Podesta this isn't entirely your area however I I share deeply the concern that is being raised about the fact that we don't have the clarity around what exactly school is going to be looking like for students.
We don't have communication from schools about what the potential schedule will be like.
We don't have information in this presentation about what's going to be happening between 830 and 145 on Wednesdays.
on that first week of school families don't know what that looks like.
We're approving a start and end time but we're not we don't have the information about what happens in the middle.
And additionally my I raise the strong concern that Director Hampson was raising is that you know without without the plan for having devices in students hands And sharing with them the plan for actually engaging them.
We have so we all have so many questions that aren't being answered.
And so I guess I as Director Hampson had asked for the detailed information about who was consulted in the racial equity analysis and what was the results from those focus groups.
and that data and information that they shared.
My request would be in order to approve the start and end times in the calendar I think that it would be appropriate and helpful to have included in the BAR the synopsis of information of what exactly is happening.
in that first week how students are going to engage and how they're going to be getting their devices.
Director Mack this is Sherri again.
A couple of things I want to note is that we will have a work session and I realize it's not before the vote tomorrow on schedules and the transportation standards but it will be Week 3 of these weekly meetings will be about the actual daily schedules.
I hear your request and I will get you along with the distribution plan and our communication plan to families regarding the tech devices et cetera.
I can put I can also include the schedules as we know to date.
Okay thank you.
I appreciate that.
My my second question is directly related to the Transportation Service Standards and Whether or not we're in an odd situation here whether or not transportation may be provided to students that are in child care programs in our buildings.
We were not funded to do that or funded for to and from school And at this point we we have not had that discussion.
And it's not provided for in the transportation service standards.
No.
Only only to the extent that it's alternative transportation to or from school.
The transportation to a program instead of to a student's residence we sometimes provide for but not As part of to from home to programs.
And at this point there's no expectation that that would be provided.
We haven't raised that expectation.
There has been some discussion about would there be funding for other transportation services that might support students.
with regards to meals or other things I think that's speculative at this point and might come at the expense of other things.
So we haven't you know we're really focusing on providing being ready to provide to and from transportation to special ed students who do need services in our buildings.
And so that's the primary expectation at the start of school that the transportation will be available for the special education students that do.
require in-person instruction and essentially no other students.
Correct.
Okay.
Thank you.
Thank you Director Mack.
Director Rankin.
Thank you.
Yeah I have questions specific to the bell times.
Well first I have a comment I guess.
Which is kind of frustration confusion with the order in which decisions were made.
So the calendar and the start times were all decided in bargaining without any family or community engagement or input.
And that seems to me to be backwards that the board and the district and and the larger community including educators should have been able to participate in a conversation about what start and end times looked like and then it goes to bargaining.
So that it's hard to explain to families what's going on when it feels like they're not part of the conversation which because they weren't.
That being said I the the start the proposed changes to the start and end times being 8 30 and 9 That's in this right.
Yeah the bell times are in this.
Are proposed to be aligned in terms of you know K-5 K-8 and secondary.
But that's not how the bell times are currently.
So of our 10 K-8's 8 of them now start at the secondary time.
So we're proposing that they move earlier which doesn't seem it seems to me like they should stay with the 8 you know I would propose or ask why and there's also five elementary schools that currently start at 855 and one middle school that starts at 755. So I'm just wondering why we broke up the start times by K-5 K-8 secondary instead of schools that currently start at 755 will start at 830 remotely and schools that currently start at 855 will start at 9 o'clock remotely.
As people may you know that's already sort of worked into their their daily lives and schedules of how they operate throughout the school year.
And then I guess a second question would be why can't everybody start at 9. But that's not as as as I'm not wondering about that as much as I'm wondering about you know how do we know that we're doing what's going to work for families and with the alignment of the times.
to their current time.
Director Rankin I may be misunderstanding your question but I believe the new scheme and one of my colleagues should virtually kick me under the table if I'm misstating this but the new scheme is consistent across the system.
This table isn't meant to convey by school if it's an elementary school what time it starts versus a K-8 it's is consistent across grade levels across the system.
So that's why we wanted to represent it in a way that was not school-based but.
So that is my question is.
Grade-level based.
But that is my question is if we have you know like the K-8's especially all but two of them start on the secondary time.
So we're asking them to start earlier than they normally would which is kind of confusing and a bit disruptive for.
for those families who are are you know organized their day during the school year around a later time.
I believe there was an interest in consistency you know across the system and they needed to pick one time or the other.
Was that but since we're remote and I'm not challenging you on this Fred so forgive me just in general since we're remote kind of if it doesn't kind of nothing matters.
And was the desire for consistency to make it easier for central offices.
or or in accordance with what these communities want because we're going in opposition to what they currently.
Director Rankin this is Sherri.
Part of the consistency especially with the K-5 and K-8 schools was to support the ask of our child care providers so that they could when they are with the children during the day that they would know what to expect and the students would all start and end at the same time.
Okay so so just to reiterate it was not not due to the desires of the communities themselves or even in consultation with.
I can't answer where the data came from from our child care providers.
I just know that that was an ask that they had of us.
If you don't mind this is Dr. Scarlett.
I'd just like to interject about that.
We I just want to highlight the fact that our child care providers are the MVP of this entire situation.
They never stopped.
They're the ones who had likely the most contact with our families.
So I do believe that community-based organizations that are accountable to students and families do have contact with families and do represent also the interests of families as well.
So I do believe particularly I've been on child care calls each week for the most part.
And as child care providers and their leadership are sharing about the needs of families they are speaking about the conversations that they've been having with families as well.
So I do just want to highlight that point of I think knowledgeability of our child care providers.
Yeah no no no shade to child care providers.
They they are some of have been some of the most consistent communicators and we're relying on them a ton right now.
And yeah but I just still would say that this choice wasn't was no choice or or opportunity for input was given to families themselves at all.
So just.
Yeah and they're the ones that we are serving.
Everything should be everything we should do everything we do should be student student-centered first and then we figure out the adult needs around it.
And we're not making this any easier on families right now.
An already very challenging situation.
So before I vote on this tomorrow I want to know that I'm doing my best for for for students and their families first.
And I don't feel that way right now.
Thank you Director Rankin.
Director Rivera-Smith.
Hi thank you.
Actually I have a question for Director Rankin because can you show me where are you finding a K-8 start and end time.
The table doesn't specify K-8's And I want to just follow what you I'm trying to.
Yeah it's in the packet.
There's a whole table of the start and end time the current bell times in the transportation standards from last year.
So none of that's being changed right.
That's the only change in here is that is that one page with the red line.
What is this page.
Page 9 of the packet.
I don't know what page what of the what but and it's the time schedule and it doesn't I'm not trying to argue with you I'm just trying to figure out like where the K-8 is specified because I don't see any like in the BAR we have that one little table that only goes K-5 K-5 K-12 I'm sorry 6-12 6-12.
So I I'm I'm feeling for K-8 families because I'm seeing a lack of clarity on where they would land on this.
So that's what I was trying to find where you found them landing somewhere.
So the the I'm now I can't I can't find the table that you're looking at.
Directors.
Director Rivera-Smith on page 31 of the packet 31 out of 55 it illustrates the times that we approved on March 11th 2020. And that larger is K-8.
I think what Liza is saying is why doesn't the what we're we're voting on tomorrow take into account some of the K-8 I think that's what she's asking.
She's not saying it's already there.
She's saying why isn't it go down to that granular level of specificity.
Yes.
I'm asking why.
We're not changing.
The times are across grade levels instead of across you know we already didn't have consistency and some.
And you know and 8 out of the 10 K-8's start at the secondary time and we're asking them all to start at the elementary time now.
So I just.
Okay.
No I understand.
Okay.
I think so.
Yeah they were specified previously when we were approved and what things are not being here so I'm not even seeing where they are being asked to start early because they're not clarified.
So there's a question for Chief Podesta where where are we asking K-8 to come in like the start and end times.
These start and end times will be by grade level not by school.
So the school itself a K-8 will have two different start and end times.
Yes.
Okay.
Oh.
That's that's different.
Okay.
This is why Jesse Chief of School is a continuous improvement.
They did not have different start and end times for K-8's.
I'm sorry.
I have to.
It's not accurate.
Accuracy is that all of the K-8's are going along with the elementary schedule.
And so that was that's the work.
Yes.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Chief Jessee to respectfully disagree.
The document says that South Shore and Broadview Thompson started at 740 and the other K-3's started at 840.
Right.
That's my question because the current proposal is what Chief Jessee just said which is that K-8's in the remote setting all start at the same time as K-5's.
And for 8 out of 10 of them that's actually earlier than their current start time.
Yes.
And as Chief Podesta clarified it's by grade level not by the school.
No except for for K-8's which is what Chief Jessee just said.
K-8's and K-5's the proposal is K-8's and K-5's Start at 830. 6 through 12 or middle schools and high schools start at 9 remotely.
And my question is why when most K-8's currently start with the secondary times why we're having them start with the primary times.
And then there are a couple other exceptions.
There are five elementary schools that currently start with secondary times and we're asking them to start earlier.
And Denny currently starts with the elementary school time because it's co-located with a high school.
So my question is why have we done it by grade level instead of by the schedule that those populations those buildings are already used to.
And if not it doesn't make sense like it seems to me like the K most of the K-8's start at 855 so they should start with the secondary time.
But we didn't ask anybody is my point.
So this is YHSC Chiefs of Schools Continuous Improvement.
So the the schedules in the past so you're Director Rankin you're bringing up things that were done in the past.
Some of that was around the alignment for transportation so that the transportation could be provided across different parts of the city.
I know why.
I know why.
That's all because of busing I get it.
Right.
But that's still the sort of schedule that families are used to.
So the feedback that we have gotten is that people you know people balked at the 755 time because without transportation there's no reason to start that early.
And in general what I've heard from families is they don't want to start any earlier than they already have been.
That's that's right and so that's why the times got moved to 830 and some of the schools as you know started did start at the 750. And then the other part of the feedback that we have been receiving is the consistency.
Teresa understands schedules.
As you know some families have students across different school sites and so one particular.
Okay but we're asking almost all of the K-8's all but two to start earlier than they currently start.
I'm sorry I didn't understand that question Director Rankin.
The K-8's most of them start at 855 now.
So instead of having them start at 9 we're asking them to start at 830. And I am wondering.
if there was feedback from those communities about that because that's the bulk that's the majority of the K-8's.
So it does not make sense to me that we're aligning them with the K-5's instead of the secondary.
But we didn't ask anybody what they would prefer.
And then the bigger picture is this doesn't matter because nobody's leaving their houses.
So why can't we all just start at 9. But again we didn't ask anybody.
We did not engage with individual school sites for this work.
It was more around the engagement teams and the focus groups that we've had across the city with different stakeholder groups.
And again Director Rankin I hear you that yes we did not engage but again this comes from the child care and supporting the child care providers needs to have the elementary school-age children start at a consistent time.
So President DeWolf can we put back up the actual schedule that we're looking at because what I what I heard confusion on and what I'm what I'm still confused on by the responses from staff they seem conflicting is this is grade level starts and so therefore based on this schedule students that are in K-8 schools will have two different start times based on this schedule from my unders — from what we're voting on.
So if they are in 6th grade at Blaine Elementary which — No.
That is what Chief Jessee just said that the K-8's do not have two different start times the K-8's The whole school will start at the same time as the K-5's.
But Director Rankin what I'm what I'm actually trying to get clarity here is that this table specifically does not say that.
It says very specifically K-5 K-5 612 612. So therefore what we're voting on is this table and therefore K-8's will have two different start times within their schools.
And I just I just want clarity.
on what we are voting on.
Are we approving a split within the school communities that have that are K-8's two different start times.
K-8's can't have two separate start times because they need to have they have shared staff who have within the contract a set amount of work hours.
So the K-8's need to have the same start and end time.
If the board wants to have that moved that to the secondary schedule we could do that or to keep it with the elementary one that is here.
So it's either 830 or 3 or from 9 to 350's on the Mondays Tuesdays Thursdays and Fridays.
And then additionally to the Wednesdays that are posted here with the 145 being the end time as Chief Podesta had pointed out.
The reason again is just on the contractual side for the shared staff that are at K-8's.
So I I don't I would agree that it would make sense to set K-8's at the 9 o'clock time frame because that is it primarily what they are.
There's a few exceptions but it's not in this table and we're not voting on that.
What we'd be voting on.
is a split in schools so the table doesn't reflect what we're being asked to vote on.
And I just if what you just said I'd like to have the clarity.
I think if we can make sure that the request that Director Mack is asking for for tomorrow specifically what we're about to vote on needs to be reflective of of what you've just described because as the table stands it doesn't say that.
So if we can make sure that the table is clear about what you've just described Chief Jessee That would be helpful for us because there is some nuance and it is not provided in the current document.
Director Mack I want to just roll back to Director Rivera-Smith really quick before I do one last final round of questions.
So if I could just make sure to hear from Director Rivera-Smith if she had any final questions before I do one one last pass of directors before we close out.
Thank you.
No.
Thank you so much for all this clarity.
I'm glad we could all kind of talk about this because I was very lost with where K-8 was landing with this graph here.
And I definitely wanted to be responsive to those families.
So I will save my final my comments I guess for our last round now.
Thank you.
Director DeWolf this is Sherri.
Can I answer one of Director Rankin's questions about why we didn't choose to start everybody at one start time.
Sure.
So the reasoning behind not starting at one start time was As you know we are in hopes of someday returning students to the school buildings.
And we knew that if we kept one time we would then should there come the day where we can have students in the classrooms again it would be really difficult because we would have to switch start times for those schools.
And so we chose to go with two times with our fingers crossed that we would someday be returning to the schoolhouse and transportation could not get all of our kids to schools if we had one start time.
Thank you.
That makes sense.
Okay.
Director DeWolf Chief Berge's back on too if you guys want a technology update.
Thank you.
But we're still at questions and I'll see if directors do have questions.
Thank you Superintendent Juneau.
Director Rankin I'm going to just make sure that this is the last round.
Director Rivera-Smith.
This is the last round.
Director Rivera-Smith if you have any final questions share them now.
I'm going to go backwards.
Oh sure.
Okay.
Thank you.
Yeah I'm I'm just definitely concerned as Director Rivera-Smith shared about the lack of engagement that's been done on these start times.
I did a very informal Facebook kind of poll on parents and where they wanted to start.
And granted I don't give any like I don't say that that's representative of our district at all.
That's why I didn't like prepare it in some big document and present it to anybody because It was a feelers it was just not feelers and definitely there was a desire for closer to the night.
Night cam.
Do you feel comfortable sharing it.
It sounds like there's a lot of factors that.
Say again.
Do you feel comfortable sharing it.
It sounds like it has a lot of factors that don't.
Sure.
I mean I can I I'm happy.
I'm happy to scan it and I make a paper.
I don't know if it's I don't know if it's if it's if it's something that we can count as a as a poll or something.
I just want to be thoughtful about it.
Yeah.
And that's why I just I'm just speaking to it as in my engagement that I was that I did there at least it was heavily into the 9 a.m.
start times for almost all grades.
There were a few outliers and if anything it leaned more towards 930 but I know that's a question probably but.
Either way I just feel like you know that was just my short very limited reach out there on that.
Was it English and was it only on your page and would people have to have internet.
That's what I'm trying to say as well.
Yeah it was not on my personal page it was on a one of the COVID family pages.
Has probably like 8,000 or 5,000 members at TOPS.
And then again like it was it was informal.
I totally I'm saying that straight out.
My point is that you know there has to be some sort I can at least present that I can show you guys hey this is what I did.
So I would really appreciate seeing from staff you know what they did towards start time engagement because it sounds like there might not have really been much.
I know that in the engagement that was done with the Families of Color Seattle that engagement was primarily around the hybrid model because that's back when we're talking about that.
Granted I haven't seen the data.
I look forward to seeing this because you said we can see it to see if there was something about start times in there more specifically.
But I really just feel it was a huge gap that we didn't engage families on as the other directors have spoken to.
I'm happy to try to do it but it's not representative.
I get that.
It's just my point was that you know we we need to have this done and we don't see it now.
So those are just my concerns.
I'll stop.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay we have 19 minutes so burning questions please directors.
Director Rankin.
No no new burning questions.
The K-8 question I would seriously would like to know if at least the principals can be engaged on if they have a preference of starting at which time.
Apologies there's a dog in the background whining at me.
There that that seems yeah.
8 out of 10 K-8's already having a later start time.
It seems pretty important that we ask them that that's what they want to continue you know if they wanted to earlier.
Thank you Director Rankin.
That that is part of why I wanted to make sure we had a session before tomorrow was that some of these questions getting asked hopefully have information tomorrow.
Director Mack finally back to you.
Yes thank you.
I just I do want to reiterate that the clarity around K-8 start times needs to be provided.
And from a family perspective You know this is all incredibly challenging.
I do have concerns around everybody expecting to get online at one time and whether or not the entire setup can handle that.
Our infrastructure.
And and again coming back to the missing information that families don't have.
Even if we are voting on a start time tomorrow we still don't have clear information on when technology will be distributed and what daily schedules for families look like.
And that missing information is is you know is creating anxiety including myself.
And I would like since Chief Berge is back on the line if she has any additional information about the proposed rollout and distribution for devices will it happen in the week prior to the 4th or or not.
What's the general plan for that.
This is Chief Berge.
Should I respond Director DeWolf now.
Please do.
Please do.
Yes.
Okay.
So laptops for 3-5 will be out next week.
Right.
So they'll be they should all be rolled out by the 4th the start of school date.
Schools are scheduling their own time for supplies devices.
iPads will be going out the week of September 8th.
We have an email coming to you with more specifics.
We have about 2,700 iPads that we know are going to be delayed but there are three mitigating factors for that.
Overall enrollment is down for which we have a budget reserve to cover before I get so there's that.
Second.
We had quite a few kids 30 percent of our elementary students were participating in summer school so they do have devices and we have the 9,000 Chromebooks that are out from Amazon.
So we feel like it won't be perfect but there are enough devices out there that we should have coverage for everyone to be able to start.
So we will have to provide the school some guidance to make sure about how they roll those out to make sure they're getting to the kids who need them first.
In particular you know our kindergarten enrollment is down so that is a big chunk of that 2,700.
Okay.
Thank you.
Director Harris.
I share the concerns of my colleagues regarding K-8.
I woke up when we talked about enrollment being down and I'd like to know when we will see those numbers.
And I appreciate getting information but I think getting information in a bullet point fashion out to our communities as soon as possible to relieve the anxiety is job number one.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Director Hersey.
Hey so yeah my question was going to be what is the you said it was a big chunk JoLynn so what I really wanted to know is what are the actual numbers around that.
And that can be answered in a Friday memo.
But I would like to know kind of what is what is our deficit that we're looking at in terms of making sure that we are getting the devices that we promised our students in their hands.
Yeah I think we're in good shape and that's coming to you in an email today.
Great.
Thank you.
Thank you Director Hersey.
Director Hampson.
Can you hear me.
Yes we can.
So I find it I think one of the things that that is continues to be troubling and why we're having to hold these weekly work sessions is because of the lack of forthcoming information from staff which continues to be problematic at a time when we need as much information and as timely a capacity as possible.
It's well within our roles and and rights and obligations as school board directors to request and be given information as is necessary to to make these very difficult decisions that we know we need to make and that we're being asked to make and it's fascinating to me that at a time when I've specifically been asking for information about how our buildings are going to be used and the risk that we're taking on a really important risk with many child care providers that are stepping up in a major way wanting to make sure that they're supported that we're using all of a sudden at this point the input of child care providers without collaborating with building principals and families around scheduling when we have not been able to get information about what we need to do to support child care providers in a timely fashion.
I'm very happy to support their willingness to take on this massive transfer of risk in our buildings but I want to make sure that we're supporting them effectively and equitably And yet at the same time I'm not going to say that our families and our building leadership doesn't play a role in that at the same time.
And I'm feeling very unsupported in making good decisions tomorrow about these things.
And if we can't get broken through some of these information blocks you know we're going to continue where things are going to get more difficult in terms of the decision making because the unintended consequences that we're facing right now are pretty major.
So I hope more information will be forthcoming and that it will be provided transparently and it will not be just summary information in a Friday memo but as we need it in order to make these decisions.
That's all for me.
Thanks.
Thank you Director Hampson.
And my only remaining question is just about what we should expect to see tomorrow and kind of given our questions some of the clarifications if somebody just wants to speak in these last few moments here before we head into executive session about what we can expect to see tomorrow.
Obviously I wanted to give our board an opportunity to engage with this conversation before the vote or before being given the information tomorrow so.
Can you clarify what you expect to see added changed or answered or information clarified to directors between now and tomorrow.
Dr. Codd Chief Berge Podesta Cherry Cox Superintendent Juneau anybody.
Director DeWolf this is Sherri Kokx.
My my understanding is like the the chart that is up on the screen right now you've asked and we should have included the K-8's with the elementary start times so that that is super clear to you as well as to families.
You have asked Dr. Scarlett to send the or include the engagement data on the on the BAR itself.
You have also asked and I've committed to getting you a distribution plan about what's been as far as the technology.
Director Mack has asked not necessarily in the BAR but so for communication to also include what we're looking at as far as daily schedules are concerned.
That is my understanding to date.
This is this is Clover Codd.
I also heard a question about whether or not we can ask for a waiver of instructional minutes in addition to days and I do not know the answer to that so I think we will find the answer to that.
I also heard a suggestion about potentially trying to move the start date to a different date other than the 4th.
I do not think that is possible at this point given that we have a TA with SEA we can bring it back to the table but that will take negotiation.
So that's what I heard I need to try to find answers to.
This is Greg Narver Chief Legal Counsel.
Ronald Boy I think is usually our expert on the waiver question.
My understanding is that days can be waived but hours cannot.
That's at least the way the state law is written but we'll nail that down.
But I believe the answer is no on the hours.
The other thing I had heard from Director Mack was to modify the motion language to affirmatively include the change in bell times.
Normally that's not something the board votes on unlike the school calendar that it has to vote on but obviously These are unusual circumstances and the the usual way of having the bell times live in the transportation standards is obviously different this year so we'll modify the motion language as well.
This is Director Rivera-Smith.
Can I add something I think I also heard hasn't been spoken to.
Is that okay President DeWolf.
I believe Director Rankin requested and I do support that when you do clarify the K-8 start times that they be slotted in with the 9 a.m.
start time to be more consistent with the majority of what they already experience.
And if that's something that can be considered I don't know if that's a renegotiation that's out of the question at this point but that is something that I think we would like to see.
I think we can certainly let staff figure out how to determine that and then send information back for sure.
Thank you very much.
Okay is there anything else we should expect to see tomorrow given today's conversation.
It sounds like Cherry Cox I know you covered some.
Dr. Codd you covered some.
And I'm not thinking I have any more on my notes that you need to cover.
So with that.
I'm going to actually move us into executive session a little early.
Is that okay if I do that Greg.
Yes yes it is.
The public obviously isn't invited to the executive session so starting that early is is is fine.
Okay cool.
Sure Director Harris why don't we just start on time at 10 a.m.
That'll give you seven minutes.
Give people a chance to stretch and bio breaks and then I will see you at 10 a.m.
at the Executive Session.
So we'll just take a small recess before 10 before we head into Executive Session.
So if you're on on this call as a director please log out of this call and log in to the Executive Session Teams meeting and I'll see you in 7.
And Director DeWolf you could make the official Executive Session announcements at this point and note that you'll be calling the Executive Session to order at 10 a.m.
so that you don't have to come back to this meeting.
Okay.
Okay.
The board is now immediately recessing the board special meeting into executive session in six minutes to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation and or potential litigation per RCW 42.30.1101I with the session scheduled for 30 minutes with an anticipated end time of 1030 a.m.
Directors will be leaving this present remote meeting now for the duration of the executive session after the recess and I'll return to the same remote meeting to make announcements should the executive session run past its scheduled end time and to adjourn the board special meeting at the conclusion of the executive session.
Again directors you have been provided that separate call-in teams information for executive session so please leave that now.
Please leave this team's meeting now and meet me in the executive session separate teams remote meeting in six minutes at 10 a.m.
Add some additional time here.
So the executive session to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation and or potential litigation per RCW 42.30.1101I was originally scheduled for approximately 30 minutes.
We are running long and this session is now expected to go an additional 15 minutes with an anticipated end time of 1047 a.m.
Thank you.
representing the agency litigation and or potential litigation per RCW 42.30.1101 I was originally scheduled for approximately 30 minutes.
We are running long and the session is now expected to go an additional 15 minutes excuse me 10 minutes with an anticipated end time of 1057 a.m.
Thank you.
session and the board special meeting is now reconvened at 1049 a.m.
And there being no further business before the board the board special meeting is now adjourned at 1049 a.m.
Thank you all for attending.
Thank you.
Have a good day everybody.