NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

February 27, 2023; 7:00 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, February 27, 2023. Board Chair Charles Crabtree called the meeting to order at 6:45 PM at the NWESD office in Anacortes, WA.

Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance

Members present:

Charlie Crabtree
Cory Duskin
Susan Phillips
Dr. Jack Thompson
Merle Kirkley
Alan Erickson
Ann McMurray (Zoom)

Staff present:

Larry Francois
Lisa Matthews
Deka Smith
Jennifer Longchamps
Les Valsquier

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the January 23, 2023, regular board meeting were presented for approval. It was noted that Charles Crabtree was omitted from the listed members present and Ann McMurray had abstained from voting to approve the December 19, 2022, meeting minutes. With those corrections made, Jack Thompson moved, and Merle Kirkley seconded, to approve the minutes of the January 23, 2023, regular board meeting.  Motion carried.

Comments From the Public

No public comment was provided.

Approval of Agenda

Additions to the agenda were identified as 5.h Approval of Out-of-State Travel. Jack Thompson moved, and Alan Erickson seconded, to approve the agenda as amended.  Motion carried.

Consent Agenda

Approval of the General Fund Warrants

Approval of the General Fund warrants #204195 through #204258 in the amount of $764,176.48 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000060 in the amount of $1,510.14 and warrants #204276 through #204359 in the amount of $155,537.50 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000000580 through #9000000616 in the amount of $9,101.20 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 $13,282,018.06 was presented.

Approval of Payroll

Approval of January payroll warrants #204259 through #204265 for salaries in the amount of $29,365.00, #204266 through #204275 to payroll vendors in the amount of $30,405.08, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $241,452.67, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $18,791.40 an electronic transfer in the amount of $596,227.54 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $885,374.88 for a total of $1,801,616.57 was presented.  

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund Warrants

No NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund warrants were presented.  

Approval of Labor and Industries Financial Report

Approval of the NW Workers Compensation Trust Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $437,066 was presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants

No Unemployment Pool warrants were presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Report

Approval of the draft Unemployment Pool Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $11,811,092 was presented.

Approval of Out-of-State Travel

Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $25,079.00 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 reports indicating hiring of certificated employees were presented.

Approval of Annual Sick Leave Buyback

Annual Sick Leave Buyback in the amount of $8,920.28 was presented.

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

Report to the Board

Deka Smith, NWESD Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, provided a presentation about COVID learning loss and recovery efforts. Highlights from the presentation included:

  • Required Recovery Plans
  • State Test Scores: ELA, Math, Science
  • Attendance Trends
  • Attendance Solutions
  • Upcoming SAO Audit

New and Pending Business

Approval of Revised Position Description and Salary Range Adjustments

An updated position description for the Mental Health Professional position was shared with the board. Larry Francois noted that the position description was amended from the existing description to include the duties and functions necessary to fulfill the requirements of the Department of Education grant. It is recommended that a tiered salary placement accompany this position to allow for the varied licensure that may be encountered. Interns are recommended at Schedule III, Range 2, those with associate licensure at Schedule III, Range 9, and those who are fully licensed at Schedule III, Range 14b.

Superintendent Francois shared that in addition to the adjustments to the Mental Health Professional salary ranges, it is recommended that additional adjustments be made to positions that are affected by the increased responsibility and clinical supervision necessary for additional staff, medical billing, and overall workload that comes with running a sizeable mental health agency. It is recommended that the Behavioral Health Program Manager move to Schedule III, Range 9, and the Behavioral Health Administrator move to Schedule III, Range 11a.

Sue Phillips moved, and Alan Erickson seconded, to approve the revised Mental Health Professional position description along with the recommended salary schedule placement and the recommended salary adjustments to the Behavioral Health Program Manager as presented. Motion carried.

Policy Revisions

Revisions to the following policies were presented for approval:

  • Policy 3230, Student Privacy and Searches
  • Policy 3421, Child Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Prevention

Larry Francois noted that both policies were revised fairly significantly by WSSDA. There was some legal changes that prompted the updates and in turn the policies became more consolidated.

Merle Kirkley moved, and Sue Phillips seconded, to approve revisions to Policy 3230, Student Privacy and Searches, and Policy 3421, Child Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Prevention, as presented. Motion carried

Items for Inforamtion

Independent Contractor Agreements

Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.

AESD Accreditation Panelist Recruitment

Superintendent Francois shared that the AESD is seeking ESD board members to serve as school accreditation review panelists at ESD 113 in Tumwater on May 15-17, 2023. There are 58 schools going through accreditation across the state.

Draft 2023-24 Official Calendar

Larry Francois shared a draft of the 2023-24 NWESD Official Calendar and requested the board to review and note the dates of the board meetings.

Press Release: Mental Health Grant Award

Superintendent Francois shared the press release that was posted to announce that the NWESD was the recipient of an $11.4 million federal Department of Education grant to expand school-based mental health services.

First Reading – Policy 5521, Tuition Reimbursement

Policy 5521, Tuition Reimbursement was presented for a first reading. The NWESD Leadership Team presented this new policy with the intention to promote employee retention, employee engagement, and to attract potential new employees. This tuition reimbursement program is for eligible employees seeking a recognized certification, endorsement, or degree in an education/NWESD 189 agency-related field from an accredited college or university.

Procedure Revisions

The following procedures were presented to the board for review:

  • Procedure 3230-P, Searches of Students and Their Property
  • Procedure 3246-P, Procedure for Restraint, Isolation, and Other Use of Reasonable Force – Larry Francois noted that this procedure was revised to remove the chemical restraint language.
  • Procedure 3421-P, Child Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Prevention Procedures

Convening of School Directors and Tribal Leaders

Superintendent Francois shared information about the regional convening of school directors and tribal leaders that is being co-hosted by The Office of Native Education and WSSDA. The convening in the NWESD region is scheduled for April 21, 2023.

Superintendent’s Report

Report on WASA/WSSDA/WASBO Legislative Conference: Larry Francois joined board members, Sue Phillips and Charlie Crabtree, at the WSSDA Legislative Conference. Charlie Crabtree noted that special education and transportation funding is a big concern for many districts. He also shared that 140 school boards have student representatives, and it was very effective to hear student voices during the conference.

Update on 2023 Legislative Session Priorities: Larry Francois noted that during the current legislative session, the focus is on special education and transportation funding. The bills associated with that funding took a little bit of a hit last week. Likely one program will get more than the other. The AESD priorities are all budget items, therefore the outcome won’t be known until budgets are released in late March.

New Regional Superintendents: Larry Francois announced that there are new superintendents selected for the Edmonds and Monroe school districts. Shawn Woodward is the new superintendent for the Monroe School District. He will start on July 1, 2023. Rebecca Minor is serving as the interim superintendent for the Edmonds School District was recently named as their permanent superintendent. Burlington-Edison, Lakewood, and Index school districts will all be looking for new superintendents.

Marysville EPO Levy Outcome: Superintendent Francois shared that the Marysville EPO Levy has passed.

AESA Business Strategy Framework Training: Larry Francois provided an overview and synopsis of the takeaways from the NWESD team’s attendance at the AESA Business Strategy Framework training. This training was specific to ESD-type organizations.

Partner Profiles: Larry Francois noted that the NWESD Partner Profiles have been sent to each school district in the NWESD region. The profiles were upgraded this year to be customized to each district and provide recommendations for services that may not be currently utilized. Mr. Francois noted that the NWESD Annual Report will be available soon.

Claudia Buxton’s Memorial: Superintendent Francois shared that retired NWESD Board Member, Claudia Buxton, had passed away. Her memorial service is on March 24, 2023.

Items Originating with the Board

AESD Report

Merle Kirkley shared information about the AESD Award of Distinction is now receiving nominations through March 9, 2023. The AESD is hoping to get nominations from each ESD. Merle made a recommendation to nominate previous NWESD board member, Claudia Talmage, on behalf of the NWESD. The board unanimously agreed to support that nomination.

2023 AESD Annual Conference

Travel logistics for the 2023 AESD Conference in Seattle were discussed.

Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:08 PM.

Minutes approved on March 27, 2023, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.