NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

June 20, 2023; 7:00 p.m.

Northwest Educational Service District
1601 R Avenue, Anacortes, WA 98221

The regular meeting of the Northwest Educational Service District Board of Directors was held in person on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Board Chair Charles Crabtree called the meeting to order at 6:50 PM at the NWESD office in Anacortes, WA.

Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance

Members present:

Charlie Crabtree
Cory Duskin
Merle Kirkley
Alan Erickson
Mark Venn
Ann McMurray (Zoom)
Jack Thompson

Staff present:

Larry Francois
David Forsythe
Lisa Matthews
Deka Smith
Jennifer Longchamps
Elizabeth Hamming
Tina Mott
Brian MacNevin

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the May 22, 2023, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Merle Kirkley moved, and Jack Thompson seconded, to approve the minutes of the May 22, 2023, regular board meeting.  Motion carried.

Comments From the Public

No public comment was provided.

Approval of Agenda

Additions to the agenda were identified as:
• 5.i Approval of additional Personnel Report,
• 5.j Approval of additional Election of Certificated Staff,
• 5.k Approval of Retention Incentive Report,
• 7.d Policy Revision 2161 – Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students,
• 7.e Approval of Salary Schedule Changes, and
• 8.j Procedure Revision 2161-P Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students Procedures.
Jack Thompson moved, and Mark Venn seconded, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda

Approval of the General Fund Warrants

Approval of the General Fund warrants #204812 through #204885 in the amount of $831,012.04 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000066 in the amount of $1,684.13 and warrants #204903 through #204977 in the amount of $289,600.93 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000000769 through #9000000827 in the amount of $20,992.17 were presented.

Approval of the General Fund Financial Report

Approval of the General Fund Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $13,423,656.03 was presented.

Approval of Payroll

Approval of May payroll warrants #204886 through #204892 for salaries in the amount of $19,370.72, #204893 through #204902 to payroll vendors in the amount of $35,091.82, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $255,688.33, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $13,011.31 an electronic transfer in the amount of $626,393.32 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $932,893.17 for a total of $1,882,448.67 was presented.  

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Financial Report

Approval of the NW Workers Compensation Trust Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $449,816.48 was presented.  

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund Warrants

No NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund warrants were presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants #204811 in the amount of $167,662.90 and #204978 in the amount of $1,776.83 was presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Report

Approval of the draft Unemployment Pool Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $11,906,672.82 was presented.

Approval of Out-of-State Travel

No Out-of-State Travel was presented.

Approval of Personnel Report

Personnel Report indicating terminations, hiring, and reclassification of NWESD employees was presented.

Approval of Election of Certificated Staff

No Election of Certificated Staff was presented.

Approval of Retention Incentive Report

Election of Certificated Staff indicating hiring of certificated employees was presented.

It was moved by Jack Thompson and seconded by Alan Erickson to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. Motion carried.

Report to the Board

The NWESD content area coordinators, Elizabeth Hamming, Tina Mott, and Brian MacNevin share information about their work with English Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science. Some highlights from the presentation are:

• Update on Science standards and instruction including information on OpenSciEd resources.
• Update on Regional math work including state math initiatives and information about the WA State Standards for Mathematical Practices.
• ELA Initiatives both regionally and statewide, specifically highlighting the shift in student achievement through staff development.
• New professional development design that includes peer review and coaching/peer observation.

New and Pending Business

Second Reading – Policy 5161, Civility in the Workplace

Policy 5161 – Civility in the Workplace was presented for a second reading.

Jack Thompson moved, and Merle Kirkley seconded, to approve Policy 5161 – Civility in the Workplace as presented. Motion carried.

Approval of Job Descriptions

The new position description for the Workforce Diversification and Equity Administrator position was presented to the board. Larry Francois noted that this new position would work to diversify the educator workforce both internally and externally in school districts supporting and leading the College Spark Leaders in Education Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Racial Justice (LEADER) grant. The NWESD is positioned to receive a 5-year implementation grant that would help fund this position. This position will also support and lead the internal equity work which until now has been largely led by volunteer, non-compensated staff. Salary is recommended at Schedule III, Range 13a, in line with other administrative positions.

The position description revision for the Behavioral Health Navigator position was shared with the board. Superintendent Francois shared that this position has been unfilled for several years and that this revised description better reflects the current needs of the Behavioral Health Department. Salary is recommended at Schedule III, Range 5.

Alan Erickson moved, and Jack Thompson seconded, to approve the Workforce Diversification and Equity Administrator position as presented and the revisions to the Behavioral Health Navigator position as presented. Motion carried.

Approval of NWESD Superintendent Contract Renewal

The NWESD Superintendent contract for employment was presented for approval.

Alan Erickson moved, and Mark Venn seconded, to approve the Contract for Employment for Superintendent Francois commencing on July 1, 2023, and ending on June 30, 2026, as presented. Motion carried.

Revision to Policy 2161, Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students

Revisions to Policy 2161, Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students, was presented for review. Larry Francois noted that the proposed changes are in response to a citizen complaint regarding a student from the Whatcom Detention program. The complaint stated that our program did not meet the needs of a student as stated in their IEP. Upon OSPI’s review of the complaint it was determined to be unfounded, however, OSPI instructed the NWESD to update Policy 2161 to require an individual with a special education certificate be involved in designing and supervising the instruction to students with IEP’s that transfer into a detention facility. To comply with the OSPI corrective action plan, the NWESD is required to implement this policy and procedure addition by mid-July.

Jack Thompson moved, and Merle Kirkley seconded, to approve the revision to Policy 2161 – Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students as presented. Motion carried.

Approval of Salary Schedule Changes

Salary schedule changes for 2023-24 were presented to the board. One-third of the agency’s positions were reviewed for market competitiveness. Budgets were prepared with an additional 4% increase for the positions under review. Some of the positions reviewed showed to be under current market value. Positions recommended for reclassification include: Behavioral Health and Prevention Services Assistant Director to range 16b on Schedule III, Behavioral Health and Prevention Services Director to range 19b on Schedule III, Communications Specialist to range 5 on Schedule III, Comprehensive School Safety Coordinator to range 5 on Schedule III, Facility/Grounds Maintenance Custodian to range 21 on Schedule I, Fiscal Technician II to range 22a on Schedule I, Paraeducator to rage 18a on Schedule 1, Payroll Technician to range 23 on Schedule 1, Regional Transportation Coordinator to range 11a on Schedule III, School District Business Services Manager to range 16a on Schedule III, Science Kit Restock Clerk to range 10 on Schedule 1, Lead Science Kit Restock Clerk to range 12 on Schedule I, Special Programs and Services Assistant Director to range 15b on Schedule III, Special Programs and Services Director to range 18a on Schedule III, Technology Services Director to range 15a on Schedule III, Threat Assessment Coordinator to range 5 on Schedule III, Threat Assessment Program Manager to range 9 on Schedule III, and Transition Support Facilitator to range 18a on Schedule III.

Merle Kirkley moved, and Mark Venn seconded, to approve the 2023-24 Salary Schedules and reclassifications as presented. Motion carried.

Items for Information

Independent Contractor Agreements

Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.

Surplus Relocation Report

The Surplus Relocation report for April 1, 2023, through May 31, 2023, was shared with the board.

2023-24 Board Report Topics

A draft schedule of the 2023-24 Board Report Topics was shared with the board. The board endorsed the schedule as presented.

Out-of-Country Designee

Superintendent Francois shared written notification with the board indicating that Assistant Superintendent of Operations, David Forsythe, will act as the superintendent designee while Superintendent Francois is traveling outside of the country from July 7, 2023, through July 22, 2023.

2024 Teacher of the Year

Larry Francois shared that Madison Huscher from La Conner Middle School was named the NWESD Region 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Fiscal Year 2022 Audit Report

The Exit Conference Report from the Office of the Washington State Auditor’s Office was shared with the board. Larry Francois noted that there was one technical correction on the coding of a revenue source, and other than that there were no findings, management letters, or exit items. The board expressed their continued appreciation to Fiscal Services for another very clean audit.

NWESD Values Statements

The final version of the NWESD Values Statements were shared with the board. Superintendent Francois shared that this publication is replacing the traditional operating principles that the NWESD used in the past.

Northwest Workforce Development Council Donation

A letter of appreciation to the Northwest Work Force Development Council thanking them for their donation to support STEM activities in the NWESD region was shared with the board.

Superintendent’s Report

John Fotheringham Memorial: Larry Francois shared that he and Mark Venn attended the memorial of John Fotheringham, a longtime consultant with Northwest Leadership Associates.

Wayne Barrett Memorial: Larry Francois noted that he attended the memorial for Wayne Barrett with Mark Venn. The community created a nice memorial to Wayne in their community garden at the Concrete Elementary School.

AESA Business Strategy Framework Training: Superintendent Francois shared that the NWESD has contracted with the AESA to facilitate Business Strategy Framework Training for NWESD staff on October 5 and 6, 2023. This training is open to up to 50 NWESD staff members and will also support 3-5 teams to build a potential business model and provide additional coaching support to those teams to launch new services.

Implicit Bias Training: Larry Francois shared the NWESD staff were joined by Aneeka Ferrell on June 15, 2023, for Implicit Bias Training. About 45 staff participated. This training brought awareness of the biases people have when interviewing and hiring new staff.

2023-24 Equity Team Board Representative: Larry Francois shared that Sue Phillips has served as the board equity representative for the past 2 years. During the summer the Equity Team “resets” and extends invitations to others to join the team. Larry invited any board members who wanted to serve on this team to contact him.

Update on Communication Specialist Replacement: Superintendent Francois provided an update on the Communication Specialist vacancy. Interviews were completed last week. The position was offered to Brianna Lindquist, currently the main reporter for the Anacortes American Newspaper. She has accepted the role and will be starting in mid-August.

Stronger Connections Grant: Superintendent Francois shared that the NWESD was recently awarded a Stronger Connections Grant. This consortium-designed grant includes the Blaine, Concrete, and La Conner school districts. This is a 3-year grant and will provide MTSS Coordinators, Attendance/Re-engagement Specialists, Student Assistance Professionals, and licensed Mental Health Professionals according to the participating districts’ request. The goal of this grant is to support safe and healthy students through tailored safe, healthy, and supporting learning environments. The final amount of funding will be determined at a future date. The original request was $4.8 million over 3 years.

Procedure Revision

Revisions to procedure 2161-P Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students was presented to the board.

Items Originating with the Board

AESD/Legislative Report

Merle Kirkley shared that the AESD Leadership Council met last week. The Constitution is fully approved. The Council discussed the design of upcoming conferences. Merle shared that the 2023 AESD Conference did not make money.

Larry Francois added that the Council also discussed the Legislative platform for the upcoming year. Mental health will continue to be a request, but the AESD network will move away from P-3 Early Learning Navigators as they are unable to get traction on that initiative. It was recommended that the AESD Network request transportation funding in the upcoming “short” session in support of school district needs.

Merle Kirkley shared that he and Larry attended the NRLC graduation where 5 students graduated.

Legislative Report

Charlie shared he recently attended a Civility First forum in Coupeville. The forum included Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck and state Senator Ron Muzzall who discussed how to maintain relationships despite political disagreements.

NWESD Board Retreat

Larry Francois shared that the location of the NWESD Board Retreat will have to be in a different location due to the unavailability of The Channel Lodge. Jennifer Longchamps will investigate some other venues.

Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:14 PM

Minutes approved on August 28, 2023, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.