NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

March 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, March 27, 2023. Board Chair Charles Crabtree called the meeting to order at 6:58 PM at the NWESD office in Anacortes, WA.

Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance

Members present:

Charlie Crabtree
Cory Duskin
Susan Phillips
Merle Kirkley
Alan Erickson
Mark Venn

Staff present:

Larry Francois
David Forsythe
Jennifer Longchamps
Fran McCarthy
Andrea Downs

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the February 27, 2023, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Mark Venn moved, and Merle Kirkley seconded, to approve the minutes of the February 27, 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 Additional Out-of-State Travel. Sue Phillips moved, and Merle Kirkley seconded, to approve the agenda as amended.  Motion carried.

Consent Agenda

Approval of the General Fund Warrants

Approval of the General Fund warrants #204360 through #204425 in the amount of $739,583.74 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000061 in the amount of $1,382.78 and warrants #204443 through #204493 in the amount of $208,542.60 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000000617 through #9000000655 in the amount of $8,370.16 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 $13,876,923.85 was presented.

Approval of Payroll

Approval of February payroll warrants #204428 through #204431 for salaries in the amount of $13,354.10, #204432 through #204442 to payroll vendors in the amount of $33,847.50, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $247,139.67, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $12,617.24 an electronic transfer in the amount of $601,006.64 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $908,794.75 for a total of $1,816,759.90 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 $439,421.21 was presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants #204426 through $204427 in the amount of $219,729.39 and #204494 in the amount of $1,776.83 was 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 $11,673,894.17 was presented.

Approval of Out-of-State Travel

Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $23,339.80 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 by Sue Phillips and seconded by Alan Erickson to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. Motion carried.

Report to the Board

Fran McCarthy, Director of Special Programs and Services, and Andrea Downs, Assistant Director of Special Programs and Services provided a program update of the detention programs and institutional education. Highlights from the presentation included:

  • Overview of the Cooperative Model
  • Typical day for detention programming including some of the programs provided (GED program, IEP services, EL services, and transition support services)
  • Slide show sharing photos of the inside of the detention programs
  • Legislative funding – HB 1295

New and Pending Business

AESD Network and AESD Extraterritorial Interlocal Agreements

Superintended Francois shared the updated AESD foundational documents including the AESD Network Interlocal Agreement and the AESD Extraterritorial Interlocal Agreement (clean and redlined version). Francois noted that these updates create better alignment to current practice and our growth as a Network over the past 15 years. The outcome of this effort has been to separate the current single AESD Interlocal Agreement into two distinct interlocal agreements – one encompassing the structure and operation of the AESD Network, and a second interlocal agreement specifically addressing protocols and expectations for Extraterritorial Provision of Services. These agreements, if approved, would become effective for a 5-year, renewable term effective September 1, 2023.

Superintendent Francois requested approval from the board to sign these agreements on behalf of the NWESD.

Merle Kirkley moved, and Sue Phillips seconded, to authorize Larry Francois to sign the AESD Interlocal Agreement and the AESD Extraterritorial Interlocal Agreement on behalf of the NWESD as presented. Motion carried.

Second Reading – Policy 5521, Tuition Reimbursement

Policy 5521, Tuition Reimbursement was presented for a second reading.

Merle Kirkley moved, and Alan Erickson seconded, to approve Policy 5521 – Tuition Reimbursement as presented. Motion carried

Items for Information

Independent Contractor Agreements

Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.

NWESD Surplus Relocation Report

The NWESD Surplus Relocation Report from February 2023 was shared with the board.

Anticipated School District Bond/Levy Measures for April 25, 2023

Superintendent Francois shared the anticipated school district bond/levy measures for the upcoming April 25, 2023, election. South Whidbey School District has an $80,000 bond measure on the upcoming ballot.

NWESD District Staffing Trends

District staffing trend reports were shared with the board. These reports shared an overall look at the NWESD region and also by county. Superintendent Francois noted that given the current staffing conversations in many of the districts in our region, we thought this information may prove useful. These reports analyze student enrollment versus district staffing levels. Francois shared that the staff-per-student ratio is generally lower than it was 6 years ago. The intent of this information was to provide talking points for districts to have conversations with their staff and communities. Francois added that he has received a lot of positive feedback from districts. Each district received its regional, county, and district report.

First Reading – Policy 2145, Suicide Prevention

Policy 2145, Suicide Prevention, was presented for a first reading. Larry Francois noted that the new policy is based on WSSDA model policy. This is a required policy that we are required to adopt being that we serve students.

Superintendent’s Report

Snohomish County CARE Coalition Trauma Informed Care Designation: Larry Francois shared that the NWESD completed all of the staff training required of the Trauma Informed Care series. The NWESD is now officially a part of the Snohomish County CARE movement.

Regional Superintendent Vacancy Update: Larry Francois noted that Burlington-Edison School District has selected Dr. Chris Pearson to replace Laurel Browning. Dr. Rebecca Miner has been named as the permanent superintendent for the Edmonds School District. Shawn Woodward has been named superintendent for the Monroe School District. Lakewood and Index school districts are still looking to fill their upcoming vacancies.

Legislative Session Update: Superintendent Francois shared that funding for Special Education and Transportation services is still at the forefront of the current legislative session.

Francois added that the House and Senate proposals to rebase salary allocation regionalization and experience factor enhancement are also being reviewed. This process was a solution in response to McCleary. All school districts in the NWESD region currently receive some level of regionalization. Regionalization gives districts a higher percentage of funding to account for the higher cost of living in certain areas. The NWESD region is the most disrupted by these pending proposals. More districts stand to lose funding than gain. Districts are already struggling with budget challenges and reductions – this potential loss of revenue could have quite an impact.

The Senate budget proposal has reappropriated OSPI ESSER funds. They have redirected those funds in the budget even though OSPI has plans for that funding, which directly relates to several ESD contracts.

Government to Government Training: Larry Francois shared that he, Deka Smith, David Forsythe, and some other NWESD staff attended Government to Government Training. It’s about understanding the history of tribes in our region and their history as sovereign nations. The training was very informative and shared how an entity like the NWESD should partner with the tribal communities as a partner/equal.

Convening of School Directors and Tribal Leaders: Larry Francois shared that on Friday, April 21, 2023, there is a Convening of School Directors and Tribal Leaders. This training is in response to legislation with the goal to strengthen our government-to-government relationships and discuss matters to support native students.

ESD 112 ESD-U Partnership: Superintendent Francois shared that ESD 112 has a program, ESD-U, that is an alternative pathway that supports a “grow your own” partnership with school districts. ESD 112 has been approved by PESB to open its program up outside their ESD 112 region. We hope to make this opportunity available to our staff as well as people in our region who are wanting to get their teaching certificate.

Annual Superintendent Evaluation and Timeline: Larry Francois shared the process and timeline of his upcoming evaluation. He shared that a plus delta was sent to NWESD staff to collect their input about his performance. This input is due on April 7. The results from the staff input will be shared with the board at the April board meeting and it will also include end-of-year reflections. There will be the option of an executive session at the April board meeting to discuss the information that is presented. Individually, the board will complete electronic evaluations, which will be compiled and then the final evaluation will take place at the board meeting in May along with the review of the contract terms and action on the contract at the June meeting.

Items Originating with the Board

AESD Report: Revised AESD Constitution

The revised AESD Constitution was shared with the board. Merle Kirkley shared that board members will be asked to vote at the AESD business meeting held in conjunction with the AESD Conference in April.

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 8:04 PM

Minutes approved on April 24, 2023, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.