NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

February 23, 2022; 7:00 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, February 23, 2022. Chair Charles Crabtree called the meeting to order at 6:54 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:

Charlie Crabtree
Cory Duskin (zoom joined at 7:55 p.m.)
Alan Erickson (zoom)
Ann McMurray
Susan Phillips
Jack Thompson
Mark Venn
Oscar Escalante (zoom)
Merle Kirkley

Staff present:

Larry Francois
Fredrika Smith
David Forsyth
Lisa Matthews
Jennifer Longchamps
Les Valsquier

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the January 26, 2022, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Jack Thompson moved, and Mark Venn seconded, to approve the minutes of the January 26, 2022, 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.i. Approval of Personnel Report; 5.k. Approval of Annual Sick Leave Buyback; and 8.c. February 8, 2022 Validated Results for NWESD School District Ballot Measures. Merle Kirkley moved and Ann McMurray seconded to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda

Approval of the General Fund Warrants

General Fund warrants #202369 through #202435 in the amount of $688,115.53 and an electronic wire transfer payment #000000043 in the amount of $1,232.30 and #000000044 in the amount of $242.48 and warrants #202453 through #202499 in the amount of $104,453.54 and ACH payment #9000000103 through #9000000124 in the amount of $2,933.52 and an electronic wire transfer payment #000000045 in the amount of $380.26 were presented.

Approval of the General Fund Financial Report

General Fund Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $11,565,718.19 was presented.

Approval of Payroll

January payroll warrants #202436 through #202441 for salaries in the amount of $15,896.02, #202442 through #202452 to payroll vendors in the amount of $33,627.32, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $201,543.00, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $16,904.14, an electronic transfer in the amount of $547,559.40 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $820,913.88 for a total of $1,636,443.76 were presented.

Approval of Labor and Industries Trust Warrants

Northwest Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund warrants #202500 through #202501 in the amount of $1,752.69 were presented.

Approval of Labor and Industries Trust Financial Report

NW Workers Compensation Trust Financial report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $252,349.19 was presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrant

Unemployment Pool warrant #202502 in the amount of $1,776.83 was presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Report

Unemployment Pool Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $10,191,263.48 was presented.

Approval of Out-of-State Travel

Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $6,690.26 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 Merle Kirkley and seconded by Alan Erickson to approve the Consent Agenda, as presented. Motion carried.

Approval of Annual Sick Leave Buyback

Annual Sick Leave Buyback in the amount of $$9,720.97 was presented.

It was moved by Merle Kirkley and seconded by Susan Phillips to approve the Consent Agenda, as amended. Motion carried.

Report to the Board

Jodie DesBiens, Natalie Gustafson, and Erin Wood presented an update on Behavioral Health and Prevention Services. Highlights included:

• The expansion of Behavioral Health and Prevention programs
• School Safety Center including future expansion including crisis response
• Post-COVID Mental Health Support

New and Pending Business

Approval of Position Descriptions

Three new and one revised position descriptions were presented to the Board:  Human Resources Technician, Attendance and Reengagement Specialist, Computer Support Specialist, and Network Support Specialist II. Larry Francois noted that the Human Resource Technician is a needed addition due to our recent staffing expansion. The Computer Support Specialist position is another sign of our recent growth. This person will closely support the help desk. The Network Support Specialist II position has been unfilled for many years, and the position description has been updated to reflect current needs.

It was moved by Alan Erickson and seconded by Susan Phillips to approve the new positions of Human Resources Technician, Attendance and Reengagement Specialist, and Computer Support Specialist as presented to the board and the revised position description for the Network Support Specialist II. Motion carried.

Revisions to Policies

Policy 1400 – Meeting Conduct, Order of Business, and Quorum and Policy 6570 – Records Management and Retention Policy were presented for approval. Larry Francois noted that the revision to Policy 1400 was to capture the change to the NWESD Board of Director meetings to Mondays. The proposed revisions to Policy 6570 will allow the NWESD retention policies and practices to be more in line with the state retention schedules.

Sue Phillips moved, and Alan Erickson seconded to approve revisions to Policy 1400 – Meeting Conduct, Order of Business, and Quorum and Policy 6570 – Records Management and Retention Policy as presented. Motion carried.

Approval of Revised 2021-22 Official Calendar and the 2022-2023 Official Calendar

Revision to the NWESD 2021-22 Official Calendar capturing the changes in the Regular NWESD Board meetings was presented for approval.

The proposed 2022-2023 NWESD Official Calendar indicating staff holidays, board meeting dates, Executive Committee meeting dates and Superintendent Advisory Council meeting dates was presented for approval.

Merle Kirkley moved and Mark Venn seconded to approve the revised 2021-22 NWESD Official Calendar and the proposed 2022-23 NWESD Official Calendar as presented. Motion carried.

Review NWESD Re-Districting Proposal

The proposed re-districting proposal was reviewed for the NWESD region. The priority was to balance the population in each district and to minimize split districts. Currently, there are 2 split districts with this new proposed plan there are 3 additional districts that will be split. Discussion was had about the proposed plan. The official plan will be reviewed for approval at the May board meeting during a public hearing.

Items for Inforamtion

Independent Contractor Agreements

Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.

NWESD Employee Engagement Survey Numeric Averages 2018-2021

Larry Francois shared comparative results from the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 Employee Engagement surveys. He noted that, in general, we see the effects of the pandemic, and we have considerably less participation. The results are fairly positive and have been reviewed by multiple groups (i.e., Leadership Team, Directors Team, Administration Department and All Staff) to help them drive their work within the organization.

NWESD Region Initial February 8, 2022 Election Results & February 8, 2022 Validated Results for NWESD School District Ballot Measures
Larry Francois shared the initial and validated results for NWESD region school district levy and bond measures on the February 8, 2022 ballot. He noted that four districts in our region had EP&O levy failures. Granite Falls and Sultan school districts are going to run again in April. Monroe School District will delay their election until November. Marysville’s status is unknown.

Procedure Revision
Proposed revision to Procedure 6570-P Records Management and Retention was presented to the board. Larry Francois noted that the revised procedural changes reflect mainly how email retention will be managed.

New Procedure, 6881-P Disposal of Surplus Equipment and/or Materials Procedures
Larry Francois presented the proposed Procedure 6881-P; Disposal of Surplus Equipment and/or Materials Procedures. There are not currently procedures in place to accompany the policy, and the new procedure memorializes our current surplus practice.

Saturna Capital Corporation Donation
Larry Francois shared that a donation was made to the Whatcom Discovery Program in the amount of $2,000 from the Saturna Capital Corporation. These funds will be used directly to purchase reinforcers to encourage positive behavior and classroom achievement.

Superintendent’s Report

Update on K-12 COVID Mandates: Larry Francois shared that effective March 21, 2022, masks will no longer be required. Most likely districts will be performing much less asymptomatic COVID testing, and sanitation and physical distancing requirements will become recommendations only. He noted the public records request that are being sent to school districts have been very onerous and disruptive.

Update on ESD COVID Test Kit Distribution: Larry Francois shared that our role has been extended into the first week of March. We are waiting for Department of Health (DoH) to communicate their plan for future distribution. We have sent a plan to DoH proposing what would work for our region and are still awaiting a response.

Update on ESD Superintendent Search Process: Larry Francois shared that Steve McCullough is the new ESD123 Superintendent. ESD101 is interviewing on February 28, 2022. ESD114 interviewed today and will have a decision by the end of this week.

Update on Regional Superintendent Searches: Larry Francois shared that Ferndale and Lynden school districts are currently searching to fill their Superintendent positions. Marysville school district has two out-of-state finalists. Oak Harbor School District has their finalist interviews scheduled.

2020-21 NWESD Annual Report and District Partner Profiles: Larry Francois sent the Annual Report electronically. The district Partner Profiles are a companion to the Annual Report and were also sent to each of our school districts. The NWESD Leadership Team is very interested in feedback about how to be more visible to districts by sharing the NWESD services that districts are currently using; but also to highlight the services that districts may not be familiar with and could benefit from utilizing.

Items Originating with the Board

AESD/Legislative Report

Susan Phillips shared that HB1590 concerning enrollment stabilization funding to address enrollment declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic has passed its house of origin. HB 1942 concerning the provision of the paraeducator fundamental course of study training has also passed its house of origin. The legislation would require that all training be in person or synchronous, which could negatively impact district interest in the paraeducator training modules developed by the NWESD and used by an increasing number of districts.

AESD 2022-2023 Budget was presented. Larry Francois noted that the tremendous growth that ESDs have experienced in recent years are due in part to the work of Melissa Gombosky, AESD Legislative Liaison, and Jessica Vavrus, AESD Executive Director. The NWESD assessment will be the same for 2022-23 that it is in 2021-22.

AESD Conference/Annual Meeting
The AESD Annual Conference has been canceled. A 3-hour annual membership meeting will take place on April 27, 2022 from 11 AM to 2 PM. There will be the annual AESD board business meeting as well as a board development session offered during this meeting.

AESD Re-Design Update
Larry Francois noted that the AESD Re-Design plan includes four main actions one of which is to have a business model that supports the Network infrastructure. He continued that a cost allocation model has been designed but the particulars are still being determined. Another aspect of the re-design is to review the AESD Constitution and other foundational documents that need updating, such as the interlocal agreement that is used to establish the Network. Larry Francois added that the AESD re-design will also modify the current Champion model so that the role of Champion does not lie solely with the Assistant Superintendents of the Teaching and Learning departments. With the considerable addition of programs and initiatives, it has become increasingly difficult for Assistant Superintendents to manage the current volume.

Revised Board Member List
An updated board member list was provided that includes Ann McMurray in District 7.

Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM.

Minutes approved on March 28, 2022 in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.