NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

January 22, 2024; 5:30 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 Monday, January 22, 2024. Board Chair Sue Phillips called the meeting to order at 5:31 PM at the Northwest Educational Service District in Anacortes, WA.

Members present:

Sue Phillips
Cory Duskin
Merle Kirkley
Alan Erickson
Mark Venn (Zoom)
Jack Thompson
Oscar Escalante (Zoom)
Ann McMurray

Staff present:

Larry Francois
David Forsythe
Lisa Matthews
Les Valsquier
Jennifer Longchamps
Rose Oliver

Oaths of Office

Board members Charlie Duskin, Oscar Escalante, Sue Phillips, and Jack Thompson were provided their Oaths of Office by Superintendent Francois.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the December 18, 2023, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Merle Kirkley moved, and Ann McMurray seconded, to approve the minutes of the December 18, 2023, regular board meeting.  Motion carried. Sue Phillips abstained due to her absence at the December 18, 2023, meeting.

Comments From the Public

No public comment was provided.

Approval of Agenda

Additions to the agenda were identified as:

  • 7.b Approval of General Fund Financial report for December 2023
  • 7.d Approval of NW Workers Compensation Trust Financial Report for December 2023
  • 7.g Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Report for December 2023
  • 7.h Approval of Additional Out-of-State Travel

Alan Erickson moved, and Merle Kirkley seconded, to approve the agenda as amended.  Motion carried.

Reorganization of the Board

Alan Erickson moved to elect Sue Phillips as chair, Merle Kirkley seconded the motion. Alan Erickson moved to elect Cory Duskin for vice chair, Merle Kirkley seconded the motion. Merle Kirkley agreed to continue serving as the AESD Representative and assume the duties of the AESD Legislative Representative for the 2024 year. All motions to appoint board positions carried unanimously electing Sue Phillips as the Board Chair, Cory Duskin as Board Vice Chair, Merle Kirkley as the AESD Representative and Legislative representative for the 2024 year.

Consent Agenda

Approval of the General Fund Warrants

Approval of the General Fund warrants #205955 through #206006 in the amount of $465,896.55 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000073 in the amount of $2,914.18 and warrants #206025 through #206074 in the amount of $527,880.19 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000001153 through #9000001221 in the amount of $20,669.77 were presented.

Approval of the General Fund Financial Reports

Approval of the General Fund Financial Reports with the total ending net position equity in the amounts of $14,944,466.19 (September 2023); $15,049,433.87 (October 2023); $16,890,903.85 (November 2023); and $17,300,412.20 (December 2023) were presented.

Approval of Payroll

Approval of December payroll warrants #206007 through #206012 for salaries in the amount of $15,584.04, #206013 through #206024 to payroll vendors in the amount of $51,190.06, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $289,572.30, refund of flexible spending account contributions in the amount of ($125.00), reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $14,298.52, an electronic transfer in the amount of $702,771.17 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $1,116,553.48 for a total of $2,189,844.57 were presented.

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Financial Reports

Approval of the NW Workers Compensation Trust Financial Reports with the total ending net position equity in the amounts of $476,404.09 (September 2023); $487,279.14 (October 2023); $491,136.42 (November 2023); $494,918.71 (December 2023) were 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 warrant #206075 in the amount of $2,694.17 was presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Reports

Approval of the Unemployment Pool Financial Reports with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $11,561,072.10 (September 2023); $11,682,275.84 (October 2023); $11,575,017.96 (November 2023); and $11,638,359.43 (December 2023) were presented.

Approval of Out-of-State Travel

Approval of Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $30,845.33 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 Ann McMurray and seconded by Mark Venn to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. Motion carried.

Board Report

Lisa Matthews, NWESD Assistant Superintendent for Finance, provided an annual fiscal review of the NWESD operating fund for 2022-23. Highlights from the presentation include:

  • Review year-end financial results
  • Review operating trends
  • Future plans

New and Pending Business

Policy Revision

Policy 1110 – Election

Revisions to Policy 1110 – Election were presented to the board for review. Superintendent Francois shared that the updates to this policy are in response to the transition of the ESD elections to WSSDA and the redistribution of districts based on the recent NWESD district reorganization.

Ann McMurray moved, and Jack Thompson seconded, to approve revisions to Policy 1110, Election as presented. Motion carried.

Items for Information

January School Board Appreciation Month

Superintendent Francois extended the utmost gratitude and thanks to the NWESD board on behalf of everyone at the NWESD.

Independent Contractor Agreements

Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.

NWESD Anticipated School District Bond/Levy Measures

NWESD Anticipated School District Bond/Levy Measures were shared with the board. Superintendent Francois noted that we have 16 districts running measures; including all of the  Whatcom County districts that are running EP&O levies. In summary, there are 13 EP&O Levies and 9 Capital Project Levies/Bond Levies.

2023 School Board Election Outcomes

Superintendent Francois shared the 2023 School Board Election Outcomes organized by each ESD region and noted the number of new board members in each district.

2024-25 NWESD Official Calendar -Draft

Larry Francois shared a draft of the 2024-25 NWESD Official Calendar and requested the board to review and note the dates of the board meetings.

NWESD 3rd Year Accreditation Reviews

Superintendent Francois shared with the board that the Accreditation 3rd Year Reviews will be taking place on February 22, 2024, and invited the board to participate on the panel. There will be 7 schools presenting.

Superintendent’s Report

Regional Superintendent Transitions: Larry Francois shared that three superintendents in the NWESD region are moving or retiring. Those districts are Granite Falls, Lake Stevens and Coupeville school districts. Francois added that the Mt. Baker superintendent is on medical leave for the balance of the year. Phil Brockman has stepped in as the Mt. Baker School District Interim Superintendent. He will fill in the rest of the 2023-24 school year and all of the 2024-25 school year. Lopez Island has hired Brady Smith as a part-time superintendent. His contract is through June 2024.

NWESD Leadership Team Meeting with OSPI Leadership: Superintendent Francois shared that the OSPI Leadership team visited the NWESD on January 5, 2024 to meet with regional superintendents and the NWESD Leadership Team. OSPI wanted to hear from superintendents about their 5-year and 10-year priorities. During the meeting with the NWESD Leadership Team they spoke a lot about binding conditions and regional priorities.

Update on Binding Conditions Meetings: Superintendent Francois shared an update on the binding conditions meetings.

NWESD Application for ECEAP Slots: Larry Francois shared that the NWESD has made an application to become an ECEAP Contractor. The NWESD has applied for 100 ECEAP slots. The current program design would include sub-contracting to Ferndale and Bellingham school districts for staffing. We have been approved to move on to the next level. The next steps include an interview with DCYF, we will know by the end of February if we will be awarded 100 slots. If awarded, we will start July 1, 2024.

Partner Profile Reports: Superintendent Francois informed the board that the NWESD Partner Profile reports are completed. These reports offer a snapshot of NWESD services available to the NWESD regional districts.

Items Originating with the Board

AESD/Legislative Report

Merle Kirkley reported that planning is still taking place for the AESD spring conference.

Larry Francois noted that he had a meeting with Melissa Gombosky and she noted that the AESD Network is making good progress on its initiatives (Behavioral Health & MTSS) moving through the Legislature.

NWESD Superintendent Review

Sue Phillips noted that normally during the January board meeting, there is an executive session to review the goals of the superintendent. It was agreed upon by the board to postpone this meeting and proceed with the superintendent evaluation in April as normally scheduled.

Executive Session

At 6:50 PM, Chair Phillips announced a brief break before the board recessed into an Executive Session for approximately 30 minutes to evaluate the qualifications of applicants for public employment. The Executive Session began at 6:55 PM.  At 7:16 PM, the board reconvened the regular meeting and immediately adjourned.

Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:16 PM

Minutes approved on February 26, 2024, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.