NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

January 27, 2025; 6:30 p.m.

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 27, 2025. Board Vice Chair Cory Duskin called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM at the Northwest Educational Service District in Anacortes, WA.

Members present:

Cory Duskin
Mark Venn
Jack Thompson
Ann McMurray (Zoom)
Oscar Escalante (Zoom)
Alan Erickson
Kelly Bashaw

Staff present:

Dr. Ismael Vivanco
David Forsythe
Fredrika Smith
Lisa Matthews
Jennifer Longchamps
Tamara Shoup
Les Valsquier

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the December 16, 2024, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Board member Mark Venn requested a correction to the Comments From the Public section. The presented minutes read “Jordan expressed concern about the potential school board applicant, Lindy Mullen-Doyle.” They were corrected to read “Jordan expressed concern about the active school board member, Lindy Mullen-Doyle.”

Jack Thompson moved, and Merle Kirkley seconded, to approve the corrected minutes of the December 16, 2024, regular board meeting.  Motion carried. Kelly Bashaw and Alan Erickson abstained due to their absence at the December 16, 2024, meeting.

Comments From the Public

No public comment was provided.

Approval of Agenda

Additions to the agenda were identified as:

  • 6.h Approval of Amended Out-of-State Travel Requests in the amount of $16,908.15
  • 8.b Appointment of Members to the Regional Committee on School District Organization

Ann McMurray moved, and Oscar Escalante seconded, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried.

Reorganization of Board

Mark Venn moved to elect Sue Phillips as chair, Cory Duskin as vice-chair, Merle Kirkley as AESD Representative, and Kelly Bashaw as AESD Legislative Representative. 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 Kelly Bashaw as the Legislative representative for the 2025 year.

Consent Agenda

Approval of the General Fund Warrants

Approval of the General Fund warrants #207893 through #207958 in the amount of $338,751.11 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000085 in the amount of $1,016.52 and warrants #207977 through #208025 in the amount of $850,712.66 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000001996 through #9000002062 in the amount of $17,618.72 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 amount of $19,246,011.75 (August 2024), $18,760,095.57 (September 2024), $19,830,172.86 (October 2024), $19,581,692.95 (November 2024), and $20,187,997.56 (December 2024) were presented.

Approval of Payroll

Approval of December payroll warrants #207960 through #207968 for salaries in the amount of $31,091.47, #207969 through #207976 to payroll vendors in the amount of $49,479.37, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $342,623.00, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $18,977.82, an electronic transfer in the amount of $874.734.86 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $1,391,600.26 for a total of $2,708,506.78 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 in the amount of $527,081.53 (August 2024), $523,956.53 (September 2024), $527,884.24 (October 2024), $531,855.57 (November 2024), and $534,351.62 (December 2024) were presented.

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund Warrant

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund warrant #207959 in the amount of $1,250.00 was presented.  

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrant

Approval of Unemployment Pool warrant #208026 in the amount of $2,301.20 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 $11,610,973.02 (August 2024), $11,625,868.08 (September 2024), $11,679,924.09 (October 2024), $11,631,388.19 (November 2024), and $11,697,391.06 (December 2024) were presented.

Approval of Out-of-State Travel

Approval of Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $16,908.15 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 indicating hiring of certificated employees was presented.

It was moved by Merle Kirkley and seconded by Jack Thompson 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 2023-24. Highlights from the presentation include:

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

New and Pending Business

Revision to Policy 5005 – Employment of Staff

Revisions to Policy 5005 – Employment of Staff were presented to the board for review. Dr. Vivanco shared that the changes are in response to WSSDA’s edits to their model policy. The specific changes provide definition and clarity around unsupervised access to children.

Kelly Bashaw moved, and Mark Venn seconded, to approve revisions to Policy 5005, Employment of Staff. Motioned carried.

Appointment of Members to the Regional Committee on School District Organization

Dr. Vivanco presented a Declaration of Candidacy form for Gary Noble, a candidate for Regional Committee member for District #7 to serve a 4-year term on the Regional Committee for School District Organization of NWESD.

Kelly Bashaw moved, and Alan Erickson seconded, to approve the appointment of Gary Noble to district #7. Motion carried.

Items for Information

Independent Contractor Agreements

Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.

NWESD Accreditation Third-Year Review Panels

The schedule for the NWESD Accreditation Third-Year Review Panels was shared with the board. Dr. Vivanco thanked those board members who volunteered to sit on the panel presentations. He added that thirteen schools will be presenting on February 26 and 27, 2025.

NWESD Anticipated School District Bond/Levy Measures

The NWESD Anticipated School District Bond/Levy Measures were shared with the board. Superintendent Vivanco noted that we have 4 districts running measures.

NWESD Workplace Environment & Engagement Survey

A summary from the NWESD Workplace Environment and Engagement Survey was shared with the board. Dr. Vivanco shared that this survey replaces the previous Employee Engagement Survey. Vivanco noted that work-life balance, professional learning, and equity are areas of growth. This data will help focus our efforts to make systemic and environmental growth and improvements.

Superintendent’s Report

Binding Conditions Update: Superintendent Vivanco shared an update on the two districts in our region that are currently in Binding Conditions. The Mount Baker School District had a quarterly Binding Conditions meeting on January 23, 2025, there were no concerns over their Binding Conditions agreement and the district believes they are on track with what they have budgeted.

Dr. Vivanco shared an update on the Marysville School District and noted that the Financial Oversight Committee (FOC) met on January 15, 2025. The FOC would like to develop a letter that would indicate progress toward binding conditions expectations. Cash flow is the concern. The FOC would like the district to make their projections for the remainder of the school year as well as the 2025-26 school year. The district recently announced that they will be closing some schools.

Business Strategy Framework 2.0: Dr. Vivanco shared that the team is developing an ideation funnel process. Tamara Shoup shared an update on future goals and implementation.

January 10, 2025, SAC Meeting; District Finance Health: Superintendent Vivanco shared that over 80 people attended the SAC meeting on January 10, 2025. The focus of this meeting was School District Financial Health. Districts appreciated having time to meet with their own team as well as with like-sized districts. This was a very successful event for NWESD regional superintendents, finance directors, and communication staff who attended.

Stanwood Camano School District Update: Superintendent Vivanco shared with the board that he recently met with Stanwood-Camano School District Interim Superintendent, Ryan Ovenell.

Sedro-Woolley School Board Vacancy – Dr. Vivanco shared with the board that we have begun the process for filling the Sedro-Woolley School District board vacancy. The application window is open until February 3, 2025. We have received 3 applications as of the date of this meeting. When all applications are received, they will be shared with the NWESD board for review.

Supporting Immigrant, Refugee, and Undocumented Students and Families: Superintendent Vivanco informed the board of the communication that was shared with our staff, NWESD regional superintendents, and our migrant education program contacts informing them of our support for our immigrant, refugee, and undocumented students and families. Board Member Venn suggested that the NWESD Board make a proclamation to support this messaging. Dr. Vivanco will draft a proclamation and share a draft with the board.

Items Originating with the Board

AESD/Legislative Report

Superintendent Vivanco shared an update to the Board from the recent AESD Executive Committee meeting and noted that the main topics were the district financial health, district transitions, superintendent vacancies, and the upcoming AI Summit. Dr. Vivanco also provided an update on the Accreditation program to the Executive Committee.

AESD Annual Conference

Information about the upcoming AESD Annual Conference was shared with the board. This year’s conference will take place in Spokane, WA, on April 16-18, 2025. Each ESD will need to provide a gift basket. The board will discuss basket ideas as well as potential nominations for the AESD Executive Board Award of Distinction at the February 24, 2025, board meeting.

Executive Session

Vice-Chair Duskin recessed the regular meeting to an Executive Session at 8:07 PM for the mid-year performance review of the Superintendent. Vice-Chair Duskin stated that the Executive Session would last for approximately 20 minutes and no action would be taken when the regular meeting was reconvened. At 8:27 PM, Vice-Chair Duskin reconvened the regular meeting and immediately moved to adjournment.

Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:28 PM.

Minutes approved on February 24,2025, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.