NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
March 24, 2026; 6:30 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, March 24, 2026. Board Chair Cory Duskin called the meeting to order at 6:32 PM at the Northwest Educational Service District in Anacortes, WA.
Members present:
Cory Duskin
Sue Phillips
Mark Venn
Kelly Bashaw (Zoom)
Jack Thompson
Merle Kirkley
Ann McMurray
Alan Erickson
Staff present:
Dr. Ismael Vivanco
David Forsythe
Tamara Shoup
Jodie DesBiens
Jennifer Longchamps
Jenny Veltri
Vanessa Woo
Approval of Minutes
The minutes from the February 24, 2026, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Jack Thompson moved, and Mark Venn seconded, to approve the minutes of the February 24, 2026, regular board meeting. Motion carried.
Comments From the Public
No public comment was provided.
Approval of Agenda
Ann McMurray moved, Sue Phillips seconded, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda
Approval of the General Fund Warrants
Approval of General Fund warrants #210119 through #210185 in the amount of $648,054.54 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000101 in the amount of $4,153.53 and warrants #210206 through #210252 in the amount of $547,547.05 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000002994 through #9000003050 in the amount of $15,815.14 were presented for approval.
Approval of the General Fund Financial Reports
Approval of the General Fund Financial Reports with the total ending net position equity in the amounts of $20,971,004.93 (August 2025), $20,670,626.97 (September 2025), $21,660,212.23 (October 2025), $22,465,848.04 (November 2025), and $22,150,414.69 (February 2026) were presented for approval.
Approval of Payroll
Approval of February payroll warrants #210187 through #210195 for salaries in the amount of $19,067.93, #210196 through #210205 to payroll vendors in the amount of $80,083.17, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $387,866.00, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $19,854.27, an electronic transfer in the amount of $826,664.29 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $1,435,309.64 for a total of $2,768,845.30 were presented.
Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Financial Reports
Approval of the NW Workers Compensation Trust Financial Report with the total ending net position in the amounts of $562,645.73 (August 2025), $559,424.73 (September 2025), $563,302.03 (October 2025), $567,202.16 (November 2025), and $557,424.40 (February 2026) were presented for approval.
Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund Warrants
No NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund warrants were presented.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants
Approval of Unemployment Pool warrant #210186 in the amount of $2,614.23 and #210253 through #210254 in the amount of $351,154.40 were presented.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Reports
Approval of the Unemployment Pool Financial Reports with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $11,608,137.83 (August 2025), $11,620,379.20 (September 2025), $11,791,940.55 (October 2025), $11,739,505.66 (November 2025), and $11,638,906.45 (February 2026) were presented for approval.
Approval of Out-of-State Travel
Approval of Out-of-State Travel requests in the amount of $4,984.86 was presented.
Approval of Personnel Report
Personnel Report indicating separation from employment, hiring, and reclassification of NWESD employees was presented for approval.
Approval of Election of Certificated Staff
Election of Certificated Staff indicating hiring and separation from employment of certificated employees was presented for approval.
It was moved by Alan Erickson and seconded by Merle Kirkley to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried.
Board Report
Vanessa Woo, Workforce Diversification and Equity Administrator, presented an overview of the Educator Workforce Pathways program.
New and Pending Business
Approval of Resolution No. 2026-01 – Authorizing a Reduction in Force of Certificated Staff
Resolution No. 2026-01, Authorizing a Reduction in Force of Certificated Staff was presented for approval. This resolution provides Superintendent Vivanco the authority to notify certificated staff by May 15 if cooperative program funding assurances are not provided by then.
Mark Venn moved, and Sue Phillips seconded, to approve Resolution No. 2026-01, Authorizing a Reduction in Force of Certificated Staff, as presented. Motion carried.
Approval of the 2026-27 NWESD Official Calendar
The NWESD 2026-27 Official Calendar was presented for approval. The board discussed the option of adding a retreat. Dr. Vivanco will propose some dates and times for the addition of a retreat.
Ann McMurray moved, and Alan Erickson seconded, to approve the NWESD 2026-27 Official Calendar as presented. Motion carried.
Policy Revisions
Policy 5401- Sick Leave
Revisions to Policy 5401 – Sick Leave were presented to the board for approval. Dr. Vivanco noted that these revisions were made to align with the WSSDA Model Policy and reduce the need for frequent updates with leave laws change by referencing relevant laws.
Policy 5403 – Emergency Leaves
Revisions to Policy 5403 – Emergency Leaves were presented to the board for approval. Dr. Vivanco noted that these revisions remove references to legally required leaves to focus solely on discretionary leaves.
Policy 5404 – Family and Maternity Leave
Revisions to Policy 5404 – Family and Maternity Leave were presented to the board for approval. Dr. Vivanco noted that these revisions include referencing relevant laws thus reducing the need for frequent updates.
Ann McMurray moved, and Sue Phillips seconded, to approve revisions to Policy 5401- Sick Leave; Policy 5403 – Emergency Leaves; and Policy 5404 – Family and Maternity Leave as presented. Motion carried.
Policy 5412 – Discretionary Leave (rescinded)
Superintendent Vivanco shared that the revisions to Policy 5403 – Emergency Leaves now includes a section addressing leave without pay, therefore, Policy 5412 – Discretionary Leave is no longer needed.
Ann McMurray moved, and Alan Erickson seconded, to rescind Policy 5412 – Discretionary Leave as presented. Motion carried.
Approval of Resolution No. 2026-02 – Authorizing the Appointment of Investment Officers
Resolution No. 2026-02, Authorizing the Appointment of Investment Officers was presented for approval. This resolution appoints Lisa Matthews, Deputy Superintendent of Business and Operations, and Benjamin La Tray, Controller, as investment officers for the NWESD.
Sue Phillips moved, and Ann McMurray seconded, to approve Resolution No. 2026-02, Authorizing the Appointment of Investment Officers, as presented. Motion carried.
Items for Information
Independent Contractor Agreements
Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the Board for review.
Superintendent’s Report
Binding Conditions: Superintendent Vivanco shared there is a Binding Conditions check-in meeting with the Marysville team on March 30, 2026, and the Mount Baker School District continues to have quarterly check-in meetings with the next being on May 5, 2026.
Business Strategy Framework: Superintendent Vivanco shared the Business Strategy Framework training that took place in March. This event was facilitated by the AESA and attended by 4 ESD’s and WSIPC staff.
Superintendent Vacancies: Superintendent Vivanco shared that the Anacortes School District has hired Dr. James Everett as their new superintendent. Everett is currently serving as the Meridian School District superintendent. Dr. Kurt Harvill will serve as interim superintendent for the Meridian School District. The Sedro-Woolley School District has assigned Brent Greenwood as their interim superintendent. And the Index School District is currently doing their search.
Facility Update: Superintendent Vivanco shared an update on the NWESD Anacortes facility and noted that the HVAC replacement is projected to take place by early fall. He noted other larger maintenance projects that are on the horizon include parking lot repair and updates to the cathodic protection system. He provided the Board with an update on the WA Clean Buildings Initiative and the compliance requirements for the NWESD. The Board requested we revisit the McKinstry Study to re-evaluate upcoming needs.
District Visits: Superintendent Vivanco shared a summary including themes noted from the Cabinet Team district visits. The team visited 11 of the NWESD regional districts.
Accreditation: Dr. Vivanco shared that the third-year accreditation reviews that are planned for February 2027 will need to be two days given that there will be 13 districts presenting. Dr. Vivanco and Deputy Superintendent David Forsythe discussed possible scheduling options with the Board.
Items Originating with the Board
AESD Report
Merle Kirkley noted that information for the upcoming AESD Business Meeting was shared with the Board via email. Kirkley added that there are 5 recommendations for the AESD Award of Distinction. The NWESD Board will sponsor a gift basket for the AESD Conference.
Legislative Report
Kelly Bashaw shared the budget outcomes for Transition to Kindergarten programming. Superintendent Vivanco shared a summary from the 2026 legislative session including updates on SB 6346 – Millionaire’s Tax, the state operating budget, and capital and transportation investments.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:42 PM.
Minutes approved on April 28, 2026, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.