NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

November 15, 2021, 7:00 PM
Northwest Educational Service District
1601 R Avenue, Anacortes, WA 98221

Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance

The regular meeting of the Northwest Educational Service District Board of Directors was called to order by Chair Mark Venn on Monday, November 15, 2021 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. The public was provided the option to attend the meeting through telephone access and all persons attending the meeting were able to hear each other at the same time.

Members present:

Charlie Crabtree
Cory Duskin
Alan Erickson
Susan Phillips
Jack Thompson
Mark Venn
Oscar Escalante

Staff present:

Larry Francois
Fredrika Smith
Jennifer Longchamps
Les Valsquier
Lisa Matthews

Guests:

Ann McMurray

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the October 27, 2021, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Charlie Crabtree moved, and Jack Thompson seconded to approve the minutes of the October 27, 2021 regular board meeting as presented. Motion carried.

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

No public comment was provided.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Additions to the agenda were identified as: 5.b. Approval of the General Fund Report with the total net amount of $8,283,192.99; 5.e. Approval of the Labor and Industries Trust Financial Report with an ending net equity balance of $241,111.75; 5.g. Approval of the Unemployment Pool Financial Report with an ending net equity amount of $9,718,895.56; and a correction to 7.a. Policy Revision 1822 Training and Development for Board Members.

Jack Thompson moved, and Sue Philips seconded, to approve the agenda, as amended. Motion carried.

Approval of the General Fund Warrants

General Fund warrants ACH payment #9000000024 through #9000000049 in the amount of $4,894.36 and warrants #202089 through #202142 in the amount of $126,375.92 and #202003 through #202066 in the amount of $670,411.37 and Accounts Payable wire transfer payment #000000039 in the amount of $3,067.46 and #000000040 in the amount of $138.95 were presented.

Approval of the General Fund Financial Report

Draft General Fund Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $8,283,192.99 was presented.

Approval of Payroll

October payroll #202069 through #202076 for salaries in the amount of $15,762.94, #202077 through #202088 to payroll vendors in the amount of $54,684.63, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $196,165.00, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $24,187.68, an electronic transfer in the amount of $543,574.48 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $826,756.40 for a total of $1,661,131.13 were presented.

Approval of Labor and Industries Trust Warrants

Labor and Industries Trust warrant #202143 in the amount of $3,750.00 was presented.

Approval of Labor and Industries Trust Financial Report

Draft Labor and Industries Trust Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $241,111.75 was presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants

Unemployment Pool warrants #202067 through #202068 in the amount of $457.00 and #202144 in the amount of $1,776.83 were presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Report

Draft Unemployment Pool Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $9,718,895.56 was presented.

Approval of Out-of-State Travel

No Out-of-State Travel

Approval of Personnel Reports

Personnel Reports indicating terminations, hiring, and reclassification of NWESD employees were presented.

Approval of Election of Certificated Staff

Election of Certificated Staff reports indicating hiring of certificated employees were presented.

It was moved by Jack Thompson and seconded by Charlie Crabtree to approve the Consent Agenda, as amended. Motion carried.

REPORT TO THE BOARD

COVID Updates: Transitioning Back to Post-Pandemic Operations, presented by Larry Francois, Fredrika Smith, and Lisa Matthews.

NEW AND PENDING BUSINESS

Policy Revision, 1822 Training and Development for Board Members

Larry Francois noted that the main provision is the added section that includes the Open Government Training requirement.

Alan Erickson moved, and Jack Thompson seconded, to approve the policy revision 1822 as presented. Motion carried.

Considerations for Re-Districting Following 2020 Census

The NWESD Board of Directors is required to review the 2020 US Census Data to determine whether adjustments to the current director district boundaries should be considered to meet statutory and policy guidelines for population distribution. According to the new census data the NWESD region grew by 146,581 residents. The Sammamish Data Systems consultant is recommending that the Board proceed with Stage 2 of their boundary review services where the consultant would recommend director district boundary adjustments to distribute the population more equally.

The board reviewed the documents provided and upon discussion they authorized proceeding with Stage 2 of the redistricting process with Sammamish Data Systems. The board would like to see what options may exist that would narrow the current population range across director districts without causing significant disruption or change. The board requests that Sammamish Data Systems reviews the NWESD 189 data and prioritizes in the following way:

  1. Maximize the number of school districts represented entirely within a single NWESD director district.
  2. Minimize the number of school districts split across more than one NWESD director district.
  3. Maintain continuity of current NWESD board members and any known prospective board members.

Appointment of Director District 9 representative to the NWESD 189 Regional Boundary Committee

Larry Francois shared the signed Declaration of Candidacy for Michael Edwards who has agreed to serve as the representative of Director District 9 of the NWESD 189 Regional Boundary Committee.

Alan Erickson moved, and Oscar Escalante seconded, to approve Michael Edwards as the representative to Director District 9 of the NWESD 189 Regional Boundary Committee. Motion carried.

Approval of Position Description

A new position description for a Substitute Program Administrator was presented for approval with the recommended salary placement on Schedule V, Range N, with a regionalization factor applied based on work location, similar to other certificated substitute positions on this salary schedule. This description was adapted from the current Program Administrator position description, with modified duties to better fit the role of a temporary leave replacement or substitute employee.

Charlie Crabtree moved, and Alan Erickson seconded, to approve Substitute Program Administrator position description and recommended salary placement as presented. Motion carried.

ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

Independent Contractor Agreements

Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.

Disposal of High-Density Shelving

Larry Francois shared that due to the potential need for more office space, the NWESD has investigated the option of removing some high-density shelving that is currently located on the first floor of the Anacortes office. A bid was received for the removal of the shelving in the amount of approximately $15,000. Per Policy 6881, Larry Francois notified the board of his intent to declare the shelving system surplus and to make it available to entities within our region who serve pre-K through 12th grade students in exchange for such entity paying the cost of removal from the NWESD 189 Anacortes office and reassembly at their location.

Procedure Revision, 3416-P Student Medication Procedures

Revision to procedure 3416-P, Student Medication Procedures was presented for approval. Larry Francois shared that some of the change in in the procedures was that in the previous version it was stated that EMS needed to be called for any prescription nasal medication. The updated procedure allows for 911 to be called only if the prescribed medication is a controlled substance.

Updated OSPI Guidelines for Changing School District Boundaries

OSPI published an updated version of the Guidelines for Changing School District Boundaries. Copies of the revised document were sent to the NWESD 189 Regional Committee members and to the NWESD Board of Directors.

WASA Communications Audit and Management Review

Larry Francois shared that WASA is conducting a review of our communications program. December 14 and 15, 2021 WASA will be convening focus groups and the board is invited to participate.

Legislative Priorities

Larry Francois shared the AESD 2022 Legislative Platform draft, the WASA 2022 Legislative Platform, and the School Funding Coalition 2022 Legislative Priorities.

Superintendent’s Report

Meeting with Ferndale School District Interim Superintendent: Larry Francois noted that he met with Mark Deebach.

Snohomish County CARES Trauma Informed Care Training: Larry Francois along with Marie Holloman and Katie Groth completed the training.

Pre-session Meetings with Legislatures:  Larry has been meeting with legislators to talk about district issues as well as ESD legislative priorities.

ITEMS ORIGINATING WITH THE BOARD

AESD/Legislative Report

Nothing to report

Revised Board Member List

The NWESD Board Member list was revised and shared with the board.

AESD re-design update: Larry Francois shared version 3.0 of the Next Generation Design of the Washington AESD Network, authored by Susan Leddick and Joan Wade. Superintendents and the AESD Executive Board are still working to operationalize the work moving forward.

Dr. Tammy Campbell is scheduled to work with the Board on December 15, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Tammy will be facilitating remotely. Business meeting at 7:30 p.m. Staff reception at 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:33 PM.