NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
December 16, 2024; 1:30 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, December 16, 2024. Board Chair Susan Phillips called the meeting to order at 1:30 PM at the Northwest Educational Service District in Anacortes, WA.
Members present:
Sue Phillips
Cory Duskin
Mark Venn
Jack Thompson
Ann McMurray
Oscar Escalante
Staff present:
Dr. Ismael Vivanco
David Forsythe
Fredrika Smith
Lisa Matthews
Jennifer Longchamps
Tamara Shoup
Vanessa Woo
Chelsie Taresh-Ciscell
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the November 25, 2024, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Jack Thompson moved, and Ann McMurray seconded, to approve the minutes of the November 25, 2024, regular board meeting. Motion carried.
Comments From the Public
Linden Jordan, representing PFLAG Skagit/SWSD, addressed the Board regarding the appointment process for the vacant school director position for the Sedro-Woolley School District. Jordan expressed concern about the active school board member, Lindy Mullen-Doyle.
Steve Gary, a concerned Sedro-Woolley citizen, addressed the Board regarding the Sedro-Woolley School District board vacancy. Gary believes there are current sitting board members who have a radical right-winged agenda that is being developed nationally.
Dorothy de Fremery, a concerned Sedro-Woolley citizen, addressed the Board regarding the Sedro-Woolley School District board vacancy and noted the considerable time taken at the board meetings for the Moms for Liberty agenda.
Arthur Nakis, a concerned Sedro-Woolley citizen, addressed the Board regarding the Sedro-Woolley School District board vacancy. Nakis shared that he would like to bring balance back to the Sedro-Wooley School Board to allow them to focus on the major issues that districts should be focused on.
Approval of Agenda
Additions to the agenda were identified as:
- b Approval of resolution No. 2024-10, Authorizing the Appointment of Investment Officers
Mark Venn moved, and Jack Thompson seconded, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda
Approval of the General Fund Warrants
Approval of the General Fund warrants #207756 through #207813 in the amount of $709,687.90 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000084 in the amount of $1,509.70 and warrants #207836 through #207891 in the amount of $701,924.91 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000001915 through #9000001995 in the amount of $24,710.54 were presented.
Approval of the General Fund Financial Report
Approval of the General Fund Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $19,128,041.07 was presented.
Approval of Payroll
Approval of November payroll warrants #207755 and #207815 through #207825 for salaries in the amount of $38,185.20, #207826 through #207835 to payroll vendors in the amount of $60,421.18, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $335,508.00, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $18,812.30, an electronic transfer in the amount of $873,615.99 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $1,379,747.81 for a total of $2,706,290.48 were presented.
Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Financial Report
Approval of the NW Workers Compensation Trust Financial Report with the total ending net position in the amount of $531,855.57 was presented.
Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund Warrant
No NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund warrants were presented.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrant
Approval of Unemployment Pool warrant #207814 in the amount of $412,863.57 was presented.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Report
Approval of the Unemployment Pool Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $11,345,317.19 was presented.
Approval of Out-of-State Travel
Approval of Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $12,307.00 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 Kelly Bashaw to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried.
New and Pending Business
Appointment of Members to the Regional Committee on School District Organization
Dr. Vivanco provided an overview of the purpose and function of the Regional Committee on School District Organization and noted that candidates in regional committee member district numbers 1, 3, 5, and 9 submitted applications for reappointments to their positions. There is a vacancy in district #7 that will need to be filled.
Ann McMurray moved, and Mark Venn seconded, to approve reappointment of Rob Horgen to district #1, Scott Smith to district #3, Karen Madsen to district #5, and Michael Edwards to district #9. Motion carried.
Approval of Resolution No. 2024-10, Authorizing the Appointment of Investment Officers
The Resolution was presented to the board, giving authorization to Lisa Matthews and Terri Johnson to invest with the county treasurer.
Jack Thompson moved, and Ann McMurray seconded, to approve Resolution No. 2024-10, Authorizing the Appointment of Investment Officers. Motioned carried.
Items for Information
Independent Contractor Agreements
Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review. Discussion ensued regarding the contract with Dynamic Education Solutions to provide intensive technical special education support to the Marysville School District.
November 5, 2024, Certified Statewide Election Results
The certified statewide election results from the November 5, 2024, election were presented to the board for review.
NWESD 3-Year Fund Balance Comparison
The 3-year fund balance report representing NWESD regional school districts was shared with the board. Dr. Vivanco noted that this report was shared with regional district superintendents and will be shared again at the January 10, 2025, SAC meeting where fiscal officers and communications staff will be invited to join their superintendents.
Superintendent’s Report
Sedro-Woolley School Board Vacancy – Dr. Vivanco shared with the board that he received official notice from the Sedro-Woolley School District that they have not been successful in filling a vacant board member position. Per statute, the NWESD will now interview candidates and select a candidate. Vivanco will consult with the attorney and then we will make plans to interview the candidates at either a regular or special board meeting.
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 is continuing to make progress. They could still potentially exit Binding Conditions in the 2025-26 school year.
Dr. Vivanco shared an update on the Marysville School District and noted that the Financial Oversight Committee had a positive meeting last week. Marysville is making progress on getting the right staff on board to improve their systems. There is a sense of optimism that they are headed in the right direction. They still have a long way to go. In the upcoming weeks they will be working with their new Human Resource Director, Special Education Director, and Fiscal staff to come up with a plan in February.
Business Strategy Framework 2.0: Dr. Vivanco shared that the Leadership Team was joined by 3 board members at the Business Strategy Framework 2.0 training earlier this month. The NWESD will now continue towards operationalizing the work. The Leadership Team has discussed possible next steps, including having Tamara Shoup facilitate a board work study on the process. Vivanco added that we need to learn what are cost services and what are benevolent services. There will be ongoing board reports monthly and then quarterly.
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 group heard about district financial health updates, Legislative updates and AESD priorities. Registration will open soon for the annual conference and the AI Innovation Summit Collaboration has been rescheduled for February 13, 2025.
De-brief AESA Annual Conference
Board members Sue Phillips, Oscar Escalante, and Mark Venn shared highlights from the conference, mainly focusing on AI innovations and efficiencies. There were multiple presentation for board members, one of which was hosted by Board member Sue Phillips on the topic of supporting a newly hired superintendent.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 PM.
Minutes approved on January 27,2025, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.