NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
December 15, 2021, 7:30 PM
Northwest Educational Service District
1601 R Avenue, Anacortes, WA 98221
Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance
In compliance with Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 20-28.14 related to the Open Public Meetings Act, the regular meeting of the Northwest Educational Service District Board of Directors was held remotely and in-person on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Chair Mark Venn called the meeting to order at 7:15 PM. The public was provided the option to attend the meeting in-person or through videoconference access and all persons attending the meeting were able to hear each other at the same time.
Members present:
Cory Duskin (Zoom)
Susan Phillips (Zoom)
Jack Thompson
Mark Venn
Oscar Escalante (Zoom)
Merle Kirkley (Zoom)
Staff present:
Larry Francois
Fredrika Smith
David Forsyth
Jennifer Longchamps
Les Valsquier
Lisa Matthews
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the November 15, 2021, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Jack Thompson moved, and Sue Phillips seconded to approve the minutes of the November 15, 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 draft General Fund Report with the total net amount of $9,639,378.33; 5.e, Approval of the draft Labor and Industries Trust Financial Report with an ending net equity balance of $255,320.05; 5.g, Approval of the draft Unemployment Pool Financial Report with an ending net equity amount of $9,665,343.61; and 5.i, Approval of Personnel Report indicating terminations, hiring, and reclassification of NWESD employees.
Merle Kirkley moved to approve the agenda with the additions as noted, and Jack Thompson seconded to approve the agenda, as amended. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda
Approval of the General Fund Warrants
General Fund warrants #202145 through #202193 in the amount of $297,059.33, and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000041 in the amount of $3,958.89 and warrants #202213 through #202260 in the amount of $121,014.41 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000000050 through #9000000079 in the amount of $5,284.36 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 $9,639,378.33 was presented.
Approval of Payroll
November payroll #202195 through #202202 for salaries in the amount of $15,579.19, #202203 through #202212 to payroll vendors in the amount of $26,116.56, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $198,200.00, employee refund of overpayment in the amount of ($2,574.94), reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $16,473.77, an electronic transfer in the amount of $545,453.79 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $830,591.00 for a total of $1,629,839.37 were 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 $255,320.05 was presented.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants
Unemployment Pool warrants #202194 through #202195 in the amount of $76,242.37 were presented.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Report
Draft Unemployment Pool Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $9,665,343.61 was presented.
Approval of Out-of-State Travel
Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $2,575.60 was presented.
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 Sue Phillips to approve with additions and seconded by Merle Kirkley to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. Motion carried.
New and Pending Business
Policy Revision, 5411 Annual Leave/Vacation
Larry Francois noted that during the last review of salaries and other benefits it was noticed that the NWESD is behind in annual leave/vacation accrual regionally. In our efforts to further employee engagement and retention, and based on comparative data, we are recommending an increase from a maximum of 23 days annual leave/vacation accrual to 25 days for exempt staff after 10 years of service. Non-exempt staff will remain the same at a maximum of 23 days annual leave/vacation accrual as the data did not support an increase. The revised policy will also accelerate the rate at which employees accrue vacation.
It was moved by Jack Thompson and Merle Kirkley seconded to approve the policy revision 5411, Annual Leave/Vacation as presented. Motion carried.
Items for Inforamtion
Independent Contractor Agreements
Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.
Orcas Island and Meridian School Districts Technology Services/Contract
Larry Francois shared that we have been successfully providing technology director services to San Juan Island School District for a couple of years. Orcas Island School District has just signed a similar contract. Meridian School District is also requesting support and therefore with the additional service to districts it could be possible in the future to add staffing.
General Election Final Results
The final results from the November 2, 2021 election were presented. The election results were certified on November 23, 2021 and shared the results of two capital project levies and seven EP&O levies for Washington school districts. None of the districts included on this report are in the NWESD region. These election results could be telling for future elections, of which many of our regional districts will be partaking.
NWESD 189 Regional 10-Year Enrollment Analysis
The NWESD 189 Fall Enrollment report was shared. This report includes the October and annual enrollment average from the 1251 reports as of October 25, 2021. We are still down 3.75% in our region. This can greatly impact a district budget.
WSSDA Legislative Priorities
The 2022 WSSDA Legislative K-12 Priorities was presented. Larry Francois noted that some of the topics were health and safety, levy equalization, capital projects, and support for special education programs.
NWESD Region Three-Year Fund Balance Comparison
Larry Francois shared the NWESD region school district comparative data for three-year general fund balances as revenue and expenditure percentages. He noted that in general there has been significant growth in fund balances across the NWESD region.
NWESD Region September Enrollment Comparison
A report was presented showing the difference in enrollment in schools in the NWESD region from September 2020 versus September 2021 as well as the budgeted enrollment in each district compared to reported enrollment as of September 2021. Larry Francois noted that while the report does show twenty-three of the NWESD regions’ schools reporting a deficit in enrollment it does also provide a better picture of showing that most districts budgeted appropriately.
Superintendent’s Report
Meeting with Regional Legislators: Larry Francois noted that he has had seven meetings, all very positive and primarily talking about ESD’s staying in PEBB health plan.
Mid-Year Meetings with New Superintendents: Larry Francois has been working hard to visit the new superintendents in our region. A mid-year check-in can be timely as the new superintendents are now more settled into their positions and may have new questions or needs for support.
Dr. Tammy Campbell Work with NWESD Equity Team: Dr. Campbell met with the NWESD Equity Team to discuss where do we see ourselves as an organization and what are our next steps? How do we move towards visioning and then updating/implementing policy changes?
Director District Review: Sammamish Data Systems has provided our analysis. We will revisit in February.
Report-out from AESA Annual Conference: The conference was well attended. WA State ESD’s led breakout sessions. Attended a forum with a suburban district from Houston – 5 students, all students of color, they are part of an advisory council and spoke about their experience during COVID. All spoke how they felt they have grown closer to their teachers. Keynote was very motivational.
Items Originating with the Board
AESD/Legislative Report
2022 AESD Legislative Platform and Talking Points document was shared. The 2022 platform includes: consistent and equitable resources for school districts, funding for ESD support services for school districts, and equitable access to public healthcare for ESD employees.
AESD Behavioral Health Briefing to OSPI Cabinet: the PowerPoint presentation from the November 15, 2021 OSPI Cabinet meeting was shared. The presentation provides project details, progress to-date, and what’s ahead for the Behavioral Health COVID Response Project. It provides a wider perspective of what ESD’s do in general to operate in this space.
AESD Conference; April 27-29, 2022: The board discussed the upcoming conference and reviewed the planned topics for the conference. Hosted by ESD113 and PSESD. The April 27, 2022 NWESD Board meeting will need to be rescheduled.
AESD New Board Member Handbook: It is the desire of the AESD Executive Board to have a global ESD board member handbook. This book would be helpful for onboarding new ESD board members and be available virtually, similar to the Superintendent Handbook developed by AESD and WASA.
January 26, 2022 Meeting: Need to select new officers, interview new board director for position #7, and Larry’s mid-year evaluation. It was agreed that the meeting will be offered again in a hybrid format.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:59 PM.