NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

January 23, 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 Monday, January 23, 2023. Board Chair Charles Crabtree called the meeting to order at 6:47 PM at the NWESD office in Anacortes, WA.

Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance

Members present:

Charlie Crabtree
Cory Duskin
Susan Phillips
Dr. Jack Thompson
Oscar Escalante (Zoom)
Mark Venn
Merle Kirkley (Zoom)
Alan Erickson
Ann McMurray

Staff present:

Larry Francois
Lisa Matthews
Deka Smith
Jennifer Longchamps

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the December 19, 2022, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Sue Phillips moved, and Jack Thompson seconded, to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2022, regular board meeting.  Ann McMurray abstained from voting. Motion carried.

Comments From the Public

No public comment was provided.

Approval of Agenda

Mark Venn moved, and Jack Thompson seconded, to approve the agenda as presented.  Motion carried.

Reorganization of Board

Mark Venn moved to re-elect all currently seated positions, those being, Charlie Crabtree as chair, Sue Phillips as vice chair, Merle Kirkley as the AESD representative, and Charlie Crabtree and Sue Phillips will share duties of AESD Legislative Representative. Jack Thompson seconded the motion. The motion to reappoint currently seated board positions carried unanimously electing Charlie Crabtree as the Board Chair, Sue Phillips as Board Vice Chair, Merle Kirkley as AESD Representative, and Charlie Crabtree and Sue Phillips serving jointly as Legislative Representatives for the 2023 year.

Consent Agenda

Approval of the General Fund Warrants

Approval of the General Fund Warrants #204064 through #204122 in the amount of $746,741.87 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000059 in the amount of $945.44 and warrants #204141 through #204193 in the amount of $157,054.44 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000000541 through #9000000579 in the amount of $8,109.75 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 $12,227,455.35 (August 2022); $11,992,818.32 (September 2022); $12,283,581.46 (October 2022); $12,967,740.22 (November 2022); $13,162,823.72 (December 2022) was presented.

Approval of Payroll

Approval of December Payroll Warrants #204124 through #204129 for salaries in the amount of $20,491.94, #204130 through #204140 to payroll vendors in the amount of $38,683.38, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $245,342.67, adjustment for uncollectible employee overpayments in the amount of $1,091.04, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $18,714.13 an electronic transfer in the amount of $594,742.47 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $896,259.16 for a total of $1,815,324.79 was presented.  

Approval of Labor and Industries Trust Financial Reports

net position equity in the amounts of $248,323.12 (August 2022); $245,823.12 (September 2022); $428,794.44 (October 2022); $430,274.12 (November 2022); and $434,803.96 (December 2022) was presented.

Approval of Labor and Industries Trust Warrants

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

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants #204123 in the amount of $1,776.83 and #204194 in the amount of $1,776.83 was presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Reports

Approval of the draft Unemployment Pool Financial Reports with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $11,633,927.66 (August 2022); $11,632,150.83 (September 2022); $11,708,546.23 (October 2022); $11,675,085.48 (November 2022); and $11,732,529.64 (December 2022) was presented.

Approval of Out-of-State Travel

Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $17,445.15 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 reports indicating hiring of certificated employees were presented.

It was moved by Ann McMurray and seconded by Sue Phillips to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried.

Report to the Board

Lisa Matthews, NWESD Assistant Superintendent for Finance, provided an annual fiscal review of the NWESD operating fund for 2021-22. Highlights from the presentation include:

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

New and Pending Business

Approval of Position Description

The new position of Migrant Health Nurse was shared with the board. Larry Francois shared that this position description was expanded from the existing School Nurse position description to include the duties and requirements necessary to serve the NWESD region’s migrant student population. The recommended salary placement is Certificated Salary Schedule IV.

Ann McMurray moved, and Jack Thompson seconded, to approve the new Migrant Health Nurse position as presented. Motion carried.

Items for Inforamtion

NWESD Board Recognition

Superintendent Larry Francois shared that the month of January is School Board Appreciation month. On behalf of the NWESD Leadership Team and staff, Francois expressed his appreciation to the NWESD Board of Directors and recognized their continued service to the NWESD.

Independent Contractor Agreements

Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.

School-Based Mental Health Service Grant Award

Superintendent Francois shared that the NWESD was awarded a school-based mental health services grant. This Department of Education grant has a five-year term with a total award amount of $11,000,000. With the NWESD financial match and district match this new grant will bring $14,000,000 in mental health services. This grant will allow the NWESD to increase the number of credentialed school-based mental health professionals to address the needs of students with complex mental health issues. The NWESD will recruit, place, support, and retain 20 additional mental health professionals.

Updated Safety Committee Guidelines

The updated NWESD Safety Committee Guidelines were shared with the Board. Larry Francois noted the revisions to define the Secretary role and update the membership section to reflect the growth of the Anacortes office.

SPI Reykdal Annual Education Update

Superintendent Francois shared the PowerPoint presentation from SPI Reykdal’s Annual Education Update. Francois noted that the student enrollment information is concerning as it is a good projection of future enrollment.

Superintendent’s Report

January 6, 2023, SAC Meeting – Budget Reduction Strategies and Messaging:  Larry Francois noted that J. Marie Riche joined the SAC meeting on January 6, 2023, to lead a discussion to help districts strategize their communications pertaining to upcoming budget reductions. Fiscal staff and communications staff were also invited to attend.

Accreditation Third Year Reviews: Larry Francois noted that the upcoming Accreditation Third Year Reviews are scheduled for March 1, 2023. Board members were invited to serve on the panel. There are 5 schools presenting and the presentations will take place on March 1, 2023.

WSIPC Executive Director Appointment: Larry Francois announced that Dana Anderson has been appointed the new WSIPC Executive Director. Dana Anderson is currently the superintendent for ESD 113. He will step into this new role effective July 1, 2023, when he’ll work alongside Marty Daybell, current WSIPC Executive Director, until September 30, 2023, when Daybell retires.

Items Originating with the Board

AESD Report

Merle Kirkley shared an update on ESD board member elections. The ESD board of director elections will now be managed by WSSDA. The election process will look different, more information will be forthcoming.

Kirkley shared that the AESD Annual Conference is taking place on April 12-14, 2023. It is happening at the Hyatt Regency on Lake Washington. Kirkley also noted that the revised AESD Constitution will be brought to the board at the April meeting.

AESD Legislative Report

Larry Francois shared that the WASA legislative report, This Week in Olympia (TWIO), is also summarized in a podcast hosted by Dan Steele. Francois noted that Special Education funding is a hot topic for this legislative session as well as recalculating the formula for transportation, principal collective bargaining rights, and pre-judgment interest legislation.

Executive Session

Chair Crabtree recessed the regular meeting to an Executive Session at 8:05 PM for the mid-year performance review of the Superintendent. Chair Crabtree stated that the Executive Session would last for approximately 15 minutes and no action would be taken when the regular meeting was reconvened. At 8:22 PM, Chair Crabtree reconvened the regular meeting and immediately moved to adjournment.

Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:22 PM.

Minutes approved on February 27, 2023, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.