NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
December 16, 2025; 1:30 PM
Northwest Educational Service District | 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 Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Board Chair Sue Phillips called the meeting to order at 1:30 PM at the Northwest Educational Service District in Anacortes, WA.
Members present:
Sue Phillips
Mark Venn
Kelly Bashaw
Jack Thompson
Merle Kirkley
Ann McMurray
Elizabeth Niemi
Staff present:
Dr. Ismael Vivanco
Lisa Matthews
David Forsythe
Tamara Shoup
Jodie DesBiens
Jennifer Longchamps
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the November 24, 2025, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Ann McMurray moved, and Kelly Bashaw seconded, to approve the minutes of the November 24, 2025, regular board meeting. Motion carried.
Comments From the Public
No public comment was provided.
Approval of Agenda
Mark Venn moved, Jack Thompson seconded, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda
Approval of the General Fund Warrants
Approval of General Fund warrants #209728 through #209777 in the amount of $278,613.13 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000098 in the amount of $5,575.09 and warrants #209803 through #209860 in the amount of $970,177.56 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000002785 through #9000002858 in the amount of $16,658.16 were presented for approval.
Approval of the General Fund Financial Reports
Approval of the General Fund Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $23,118,873.21 was presented for approval.
Approval of Payroll
Approval of November payroll warrants #209780 through #209785 for salaries in the amount of $15,857.06, #209786 through #209802 to payroll vendors in the amount of $81,438.32, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $380,836.00, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $19,429.60, an electronic transfer in the amount of $808,350.63 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $1,427,449.96 for a total of $2,733,361.57 were presented for approval.
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 $567,202.16 was presented for approval.
Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund Warrant
No NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund warrants were presented.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants
Approval of Unemployment Pool warrants #209778 through #209779 in the amount of $344,381.16 were presented for approvall.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Report
Approval of the Unemployment Pool Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $11,739,505.66 was presented for approval.
Approval of Out-of-State Travel
Approval of Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $4,747.40 was presented.
Approval of Personnel Report
Personnel Report indicating terminations, hiring, and reclassification of NWESD employees was presented for approval.
Approval of Election of Certificated Staff
Election of Certificated Staff indicating hiring and termination of certificated employees was presented for approval.
It was moved by Ann McMurray and seconded by Jack Thompson to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried.
New and Pending Business
Revision to Policy 5401, Sick Leave
Revisions to Policy 5401 – Sick Leave were presented to the board.
Ann McMurray moved, and Kelly Bashaw seconded, to approve revisions to Policy 5401 – Sick Leave.
Items for Information
Independent Contractor Agreements
Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.
Salary Review Schedule
The NWESD Salary Review Schedule for 2026-2029 was presented to the board. Superintendent Vivanco shared that the last approved salary review schedule included a three-year cycle with one-third of employee groups being reviewed annually.
NWESD Region 3-Year Fund Balance Comparison
Superintendent Vivanco shared a 3-year fund balance report representing NWESD regional school districts. Deputy Superintendent, Lisa Matthews shared that our fiscal support team is reviewing fifteen indicators that convey the financial health of a district. Preliminary numbers show five or six districts that the NWESD will be closely monitoring.
NWESD General Fund 4-Year Summary
The 4-year budget projections for the NWESD 189 regional school districts were presented to the Board. Deputy Superintendent Lisa Matthews provided a summary of the report and noted that school districts are required to project their finances for four years.
Certified November 4, 2025, General Election Results
The certified results from the November 4, 2025, election were shared with the Board. Superintendent Vivanco noted that the measures for Orcas Island School District and Bellingham Public Schools both passed, however the Lynden School District was unable to pass their bond and have chosen to not pursue a capital levy at this time.
Accreditation Panels
Superintendent Vivanco shared that the upcoming accreditation panels were scheduled for February 26th in Anacortes. And, on May 12 & 13, 2025, in Tumwater, WA. Board members were invited to participate and if interested should contact Dr. Vivanco.
Superintendent’s Report
Binding Conditions Update: Superintendent Vivanco shared that the Mount Baker School District continues to make progress. The Marysville School District was released from Enhanced Financial Oversight and is now in Binding Conditions. The Enhanced Financial Oversight Committee was dissolved.
Business Strategy Framework: A more comprehensive report will be provided in March. The NWESD is hosting a 2-day BSF 1.0 the end of January.
AESA Conference: Dr. Vivanco shared that he along with the Cabinet Team attended the AESA Conference in Colorado Springs earlier this month and shared highlights.
Flooding: Vivanco shared that OSPI has requested we survey our districts to assess the districts needs for waivers. No districts have stated they will need waivers as of yet.
Early Learning Update: Deputy Superintendent David Forsythe provided an update on the Early Learning program and the request to increase more Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program ECEAP seats. Current conversations with Bellingham and Ferndale about expanding and possibly adding Blaine. The slots are already available and hopefully will be available in February. DCYF has slots but hasn’t announced how many we will receive. The NWESD needs 100 slots to have a viable program.
Items Originating with the Board
AESD Report
Merle Kirkley reported an update from the last AESD Executive Committee meeting and noted most of the discussion was regarding the upcoming conference planning.
Legislative Report
Kelly Bashaw shared the AESD Legislative priorities include the reinstatement of essential core funding to ESDs as well as student-centered math support.
Dr. Vivanco will be sending an email to all staff to instruct staff if contacted by a legislator to forward those messages to the superintendent’s office so that we can centralize our responses.
Executive Session
At 2:11 PM, Chair Phillips announced that the Board would convene into executive session for approximately 30 minutes pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) to discuss with legal counsel potential litigation and stated that the executive session would last 30 minutes. The Executive Session began at 2:15 PM. At 2:45 PM, the board reconvened the regular meeting and immediately adjourned.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:45 PM.
Minutes approved on January 27, 2026, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.