NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

December 19, 2022, 2:00 p.m.

Northwest Educational Service District
1601 R Avenue, Anacortes, WA 98221

The regular meeting of the Northwest Educational Service District Board of Directors was held in person on Monday, December 19, 2022. Due to inclement weather some board members attended via Zoom connection. Vice Chair Sue Phillips called the meeting to order at 1:33 PM at the NWESD office in Anacortes, WA.

Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance

Members present:

Susan Phillips (Zoom)
Dr. Jack Thompson
Oscar Escalante (Zoom)
Mark Venn
Merle Kirkley

Staff present:

Larry Francois
Lisa Matthews
David Forsythe
Jennifer Longchamps

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the November 28, 2022, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Jack Thompson moved, and Merle Kirkley seconded, to approve the minutes of the November 28, 2022, regular board meeting.  Motion carried.

Comments From the Public

No public comment was provided.

Approval of Agenda

Jack Thompson moved, and Merle Kirley seconded, to approve the agenda as presented.  Motion carried.

Consent Agenda

Approval of the General Fund Warrants

Approval of the General Fund warrants #203924 through #203986 in the amount of $727,230.86 and #000000058 in the amount of $1,154.28 and #204011 through #204060 in the amount of $144,884.65 and #204063 in the amount of $63.75 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000000486 through #9000000540 in the amount of $12,335.59 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 $12,774,444.99 was presented.

Approval of Payroll

Approval of November payroll warrants #203990 through #203998 for salaries in the amount of $33,409.59, #203999 through #204010 to payroll vendors in the amount of $44,049.97, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $242,562.67, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $18,605.33, an electronic transfer in the amount of $605,649.20 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $891,906.37 for a total of $1,836,183.13 was presented.  

Approval of Labor and Industries Trust Financial Report

Approval of the Labor and Industries Trust Financial Report with the total ending net position in the amount of $430,274.12 was presented.

Approval of Labor and Industries Trust Warrants

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund warrant #203987 in the amount of $147.31 was presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants

Approval of Unemployment Pool warrants #203988 through #203989 in the amount of $194,452.73 and #204061 through #204062 in the amount of $3,396.00 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 $11,675,085.48 was presented.

Approval of Out-of-State Travel

Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $2,548.20 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 reports indicating hiring of certificated employees were presented.

It was moved to approve by Merle Kirkley and seconded by Jack Thompson to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried.

New and Pending Business

Approval of Position Description

The new position of Online Learning Coordinator was shared with the board. Larry Francois shared that this position was created to support the growth of online professional development and the need for clock hours by teachers, paraeducators, and other certificated staff. The recommended salary placement is Schedule III, Range 8.

Jack Thompson moved, and Merle Kirkley seconded, to approve the new Online Learning Coordinator position as presented. Motion carried.

Out-of-Area Endorsement Plan

Out-of-Area Endorsement Plan for Brianne Swanson was presented for approval. Superintendent Francois noted that Brianne Swanson is a current employee assigned to Whatcom Discovery as a Paraeducator, and it is intended that she serve in the unfilled teaching position at Whatcom Discovery for the remainder of the 2022-23 school year. Ms. Swanson holds an initial teaching certificate with an endorsement in elementary education. Brianne plans to enroll in a special education endorsement program this year.

Mark Venn moved, and Jack Thompson seconded, to approve the Out of Area Endorsement Plan for Brianne Swanson as presented. Motion carried.

Defer 2023 Board Organization/Officer Elections

Larry Francois shared that pursuant to Policy 1210 – Annual Organizational Meeting, Election of Officers, the reorganization of the board shall take place at the December board meeting in the years when board elections are not held. Due to the absence of four of the board members, it was suggested to defer the reorganization to the January 23, 2023 board meeting.

Jack Thompson moved, and Mark Venn seconded, to approve the deferment of the 2022-23 Board Organization and Officer Elections as presented. Motion carried.

Items for Inforamtion

Independent Contractor Agreements

Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.

Surplus Disposal – November 2022

A report of surplus items was shared with the board describing indicating either their relocation or disposal action.

November 8, 2022, Election Certified/Validated Results

Larry Francois shared the validated election results from the November 8, 2022, election. Monroe School District ran a replacement School Program and Operations Levy that passed. Superintendent Francois also shared the certified results from the statewide elections including bonds.

NWESD Three-Year Fund Balance Comparison

Larry Francois shared the Three-Year Fund Balance Comparison report for the NWESD region and noted that the report shows the fund balance as a percentage of revenues and also as the percentage of expenditures. Superintendent Francois commented that the fund balance is historically still high but is coming down. He added that the NWESD is keeping an eye on districts where the fund balance is reducing quickly and focusing where we’re seeing 20-30% declines. The fluctuations mainly have to do with the federal money that is still in the system. The NWESD is specifically monitoring 7-8 districts in our region.

K-12 Associations’ Letter of Support for OSPI Core Operations Request

Superintendent Francois shared a letter of support from K-12 Associations in support of OSPI’s request to increase funding for core agency operations to increase capacity for statewide supports.

Superintendent’s Report

WSIPC Executive Director retiring – Larry Francois shared that Marty Daybell, the current Executive Director of WSIPC, will be retiring at the end of September 2023. There is a current ESD Superintendent who has stepped forward with interest in stepping into the role of WSIPC Executive Director. Given the current status of the Qmlative migration, the WSIPC Board will move forward in that direction and plans to appoint that role in January 2023.

Items Originating with the Board

AESD/Legislative Report

No AESD Report

The WSBO/WASA/WSSDA Legislative Conference is happening in February. Larry Francois, Charlie Crabtree, and Sue Phillips will attend.

Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:50 PM.

Minutes approved on January 23, 2023, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.