NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
Noon Work/Study Session: NWESD 189 Directors’ Team presented an overview of the proposed 2024-25 budget. The work session commenced at 12:15 PM and concluded at 1:25 PM.
MINUTES
May 28, 2024; 1:30 PM
Northwest Educational Service District
1601 R Ave, Anacortes, WA 98221
Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance
The regular meeting of the Northwest Educational Service District Board of Directors was held in person on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Board Vice Chair Cory Duskin called the meeting to order at 1:33 PM at the Northwest Educational Service District in Anacortes, WA.
Members present:
Merle Kirkley
Ann McMurray (Zoom)
Mark Venn (Zoom)
Alan Erickson (Zoom)
Cory Duskin
Kelly Bashaw
Staff present:
Larry Francois
David Forsythe
Lisa Matthews
Deka Smith
Jennifer Longchamps
Fran McCarthy
Jodie DesBiens
Lynn Lynch
Les Valsquier
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the April 22, 2024, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Merle Kirkley moved, and Kelly Bashaw seconded, to approve the minutes of the April 22, 2024, regular board meeting. Motion carried.
Comments From the Public
No public comment was provided.
Approval of Agenda
Additions to the agenda were identified as:
- Corrections to 7.i Personnel Report
- Corrections to 7.j Election of Certificated Staff Report
- 8.c Approval of New Position Descriptions
Alan Erickson moved, and Mark Venn seconded, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried.
2024-25 Budget Hearing/Adoption
Vice Chair Cory Duskin convened the 2024-25 Budget Approval Hearing at 1:35 PM. Notice of the hearing was published in the Skagit Valley Herald on May 10 and 17, 2024.
Larry Francois noted for the record that the proposed 2024-25 NWESD Budget was reviewed and recommended for approval by both the Superintendents Executive Committee and the Superintendents Advisory Committee. In addition, the board received an overview in a work session before convening this meeting; the presentations by directors and staff were thorough with questions and discussion. Citizens were provided an opportunity to make comments for and against the budget proposal.
No citizens provided comment and the formal budget hearing was closed at 1:35 PM.
Approval of Resolution 2024-02, Adopting the General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25
Resolution 2024-02, Adopting the General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25, was presented.
Merle Kirkley moved and Ann McMurray seconded to approve Resolution 2024-02 adopting the 2024-25 NWESD General Fund Budget as presented. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda
Approval of the General Fund Warrants
Approval of the General Fund warrants #206510 through #206591 in the amount of $615,510.56 and warrant # 206592 in the amount of $3,518.50 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000077 in the amount of $3,284.30 and warrants #206614 through #206696 in the amount of $520,927.76 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000001395 through #9000001463 in the amount of $23,050.48 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 $17,818,903.58 was presented.
Approval of Payroll
Approval of April payroll warrants #206593 through #206603 for salaries in the amount of $26,365.01, #206604 through #206613 to payroll vendors in the amount of $45,455.80, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $294,737.00, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $14,752.22 an electronic transfer in the amount of $738,557.26 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $1,164,005.46 for a total of $2,283,872.75 were 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 $513,479.85 was presented.
Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund Warrant
No NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund warrants were presented.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants
Approval of Unemployment Pool warrants #206697 in the amount of $12,200.00 was presented.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Report
Approval of the Unemployment Pool Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $11,574,991.31 was presented.
Approval of Out-of-State Travel
Approval of Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $12,710.62 was presented.
Approval of Personnel Report
Personnel Report indicating terminations, hiring, and reclassification of NWESD employees was presented.
Approval of Election of Certificated Staff
Election of Certificated Staff indicating hiring of certificated employees was presented.
It was moved by Alan Erickson and seconded by Mark Venn to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. Motion carried.
New and Pending Business
Appointment of Members to the Regional Committee on School District Organization
Superintendent Francois shared that the redistricting of the NWESD director districts that was completed in June 2022, to adjust the districts based on the 2020 US Census data, necessitated a shift of some of the Regional Committee members to different director districts. Francois added that the Regional Committee members in director districts #2 and #3 switched places. The shift of the boundaries created vacancies in director districts #4 and #6. Ken Christiansen has submitted a Declaration of Candidacy form to serve as Regional Committee Member District #4. Anne Wendt has submitted a Declaration of Candidacy form to serve as Regional Committee Member District #6. Three other current members were overdue for reappointment. Those members were all contacted to confirm their continued interest and availability to serve on the Regional Committee.
Kelly Bashaw moved, and Alan Erickson seconded, to confirm the appointments to the NWESD Regional Committee including, Pam Estvold, Director District #2, Scott Smith, Director District #3, Ken Christiansen, Director District #4, Anne Wendt, Director District #6, and Doug Sheldon, Director District #8, as presented. Motion carried.
Request for Approval of 2024-25 Salary Schedule
The 2024-25 Salary Schedules were presented to the board for their approval. Francois noted that the recommendations are based on the most recent salary study where one-third of the agency’s positions were reviewed for market competitiveness. The 2024-25 budgets were prepared with a 3.7% cost of living increase for all positions. Some of the positions reviewed showed to be under current market value. Positions recommended for reclassification include: Assistant Superintendents move to Schedule III, range 25a; Certificated Positions (Teachers, Counselors, School Nurses, etc.) increase the base rate of Schedule V by 5%, and maintain current retention and regionalization rates; Computer Support Specialist move to Schedule II, range 9b; Fiscal Services Supervisor move to schedule III, range 15a; Migrant Health Nurse move to Schedule III, range 6b; Payroll/Personnel Administrator move to Schedule III, range 9; Program Administrators move to Schedule III, range 20a; and Substitute Paraeducators are recommended to move to $24.00 per hour.
Merle Kirkley moved, and Mark Venn seconded, to approve the 2024-25 Salary Schedules and reclassifications as presented. Motion carried.
Approval of New Position Descriptions
Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program Coordinator & Early Learning Specialist
The new position descriptions for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) Coordinator and the Early Learning Specialist were presented to the board for approval. Superintendent Francois noted that these positions will provide program support for the ECEAP services in Bellingham and Ferndale school districts. The ECEAP Coordinator will provide professional learning opportunities and technical support for the successful implementation of the ECEAP Performance Standards. Salary is recommended at Schedule III, Range 13b. The Early Learning Specialist position will conduct ongoing outreach, recruitment, and enrollment of children for ECEAP services, in addition to performing a variety of recordkeeping tasks to support compliance for the program’s data collection needs. Salary is recommended at Schedule II, Range 11.
Mark Venn moved, and Ann McMurray seconded, to approve the new positions of Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program Coordinator and the Early Learning Specialist as presented. Motion carried.
Items for Information
Independent Contractor Agreements
Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.
April 23, 2024, Special Election; Certified Ballot Results
The Certified Ballot Results from the April 23, 2024, Special Election were shared with the board. Superintendent Francois noted that the Mount Vernon School District and the Lakewood School District both successfully passed their levies.
Anticipated School District Bond/Levy Measures for August 6, 2024, Primary Election
The anticipated school district bond/levy measures for the August 6, 2024, primary election was shared with the board. Francois noted that the Lopez Island School District is running a Capital Project Levy and the Lynden School District is running a bond measure.
Surplus Disposal Report
The April 2024 Surplus Disposal Report was shared with the board.
Superintendent’s Report
Regional Superintendent Transitions: Superintendent Francois shared an update on the regional superintendent transitions. He noted that Dr. Victor Vergara was hired as the Mount Vernon School District superintendent. The La Conner School District has opted to go with an interim superintendent and has appointed Dave Cram, their current Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Operations as their interim superintendent for 2024-25. Phil Brockman has served as the interim superintendent of the Mount Baker School District. Brockman’s service will end on June 30, 2024, and Nick Perrigo, current Executive Director of Human Resources and Operations, will serve as interim superintendent for 2024-25. Francois also reported that Allan Bredy, Index School District Superintendent, passed away unexpectedly last week. Francois has reached out to the Board president to offer support.
Binding Conditions Update: Larry Francois shared an update on the districts currently in binding conditions. He noted that there was no change with the La Conner School District and they remain on track and should exit binding conditions next fall. The Mount Baker School District has a tentative agreement with their teachers that would be helpful to their current situation. The Marysville School District was required to submit a plan on April 15, 2024, and it was rejected by OSPI and the NWESD. The district submitted a revised plan that was accepted. Francois added that there is still some skepticism about the district’s ability to fully implement the plan. They will have strict accountability benchmarks that they will need to meet, some of which are quickly approaching. They will need to submit a comprehensive plan by June 30, 2024, for closing identified schools in their financial plan and provide monthly status reports to OSPI and the NWESD.
NWESD Superintendent Transition Update: Larry Francois shared that he and Dr. Vivanco are continuing to meet about every other week.
AESD Accreditation Panels: Superintendent Francois shared an update to the board on the recent AESD Accreditation Panels. He noted that forty-five schools presented during the 3-day panels on the west side of the state and eleven schools presented on the east side. Board member Kirkley highly recommended serving on the accreditation panels to those who haven’t had the opportunity..
Items Originating with the Board
AESD/Legislative Report
Board member Merle Kirkley recommended that the board members read the report from Melissa Gombosky that forecasts the upcoming legislative work this fall.
Adopted 2024-25 AESD Association & Network Budgets
Superintendent Francois shared the adopted 2024-25 AESD Network and Association Budgets and noted that the AESD budgets were divided into two sections last year, the Network budget and the AESD Association budget and shared the respective assessments for each.
Executive Session
Vice Chair Duskin announced that the Board would not hold an Executive Session and immediately adjourned.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:55 PM
Minutes approved on June 17, 2024, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.