NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
June 16, 2025; 6:30 p.m.
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 Monday, June 16, 2025. Board Chair Sue Phillips called the meeting to order at 6:28 PM at the Northwest Educational Service District in Anacortes, WA.
Members present:
Sue Phillips
Jack Thompson
Ann McMurray
Kelly Bashaw
Merle Kirkley
Alan Erickson
Staff present:
Dr. Ismael Vivanco
Lisa Matthews
Tamara Shoup
Jennifer Longchamps
Vanessa Woo
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the May 19, 2025, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Kelly Bashaw moved, and Ann McMurray seconded, to approve the minutes of the May 19, 2025, regular board meeting as presented. Motion carried.
Comments from the Public
No public comment was provided.
Approval of Agenda
Kelly Bashaw moved, and Ann McMurray seconded, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda
Approval of the General Fund Warrants
Approval of the General Fund warrants #208702 through #208791 in the amount of $290,162.12 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000091 in the amount of $1,475.64 and warrants #208809 through #208879 in the amount of $553,375.50 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000002380 through #9000002464 in the amount of $17,483.48 were presented for approval.
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 $22,152,287.83 was presented for approval.
Approval of Payroll
Approval of May payroll warrants #208793 through #208798 for salaries in the amount of $15,910.88, #208799 through #208807 to payroll vendors in the amount of $59,617.51, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $348,485.00, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $18,929.85, an electronic transfer in the amount of $870,283.90 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $1,385,413.02 for a total of $2,698,640.16 were presented for approval.
Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Financial Report
Approval of the NW Workers Compensation Trust Financial Report with the total ending net position in the amount of $552,289.98 was 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 warrants #208797 in the amount of $271,323.87 and #208808 in the amount of $2,301.20 were presented for approval.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Report
Approval of the Unemployment Pool Financial Report with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $11,719,956.44 was presented for approval.
Approval of Out-of-State Travel
Approval of Out-of-State Travel requests in the amount of $1,440.00 was presented for approval.
Approval of Personnel Report
Personnel Report indicating terminations, hiring, and reclassification of NWESD employees was presented for approval.
Approval of Election of Certificated Staff
Election of Certificated Staff indicating terminations, hiring , and reclassification of certificated employees was presented for approval.
Approval of Retention Incentive Report
Retention Incentives in the amount of $113,782.41 was presented for approval.
It was moved by Ann McMurray and seconded by Merle Kirkley to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried.
Board Report
Vanessa Woo, Workforce Diversification and Equity Administrator, presented to the board an updated on the NWESD equity work and impacts in the region. Highlights from the presentation are the work of the NWESD Equity Team, internal staff and external professional learning opportunities, summary of the grants associated with this work, and upcoming projects.
New and Pending Business
Approval of New Temporary Position – Laserfiche Project Coordinator
A new temporary position description for the Laserfiche Project Coordinator position was shared with the board. Assistant Superintendent Lisa Matthews shared that this temporary position was created to lead the implementation of the Laserfiche Enterprise Content Management System. The anticipated employment period for this position is 6 months. Salary is recommended on Schedule V, Range P alongside other temporary, on-call, and hourly roles at an hourly rate alighted with the current Project Coordinator role at step one of Schedule III, Range 9.
Merle Kirkley moved, and Kelly Bashaw seconded, to approve the new temporary position description for the Laserfiche Project Coordinator position as presented. Motion carried.
Approval of NWESD Superintendent Contract Renewal
The NWESD Superintendent contract for employment was presented for approval.
Merle Kirkley moved, and Ann McMurray seconded, to approve the Contract for Employment for Superintendent Vivanco commencing on July 1, 2025, and ending on June 30, 2028, as presented. Motion carried.
Approval of 2025-26 Salary Schedule
The 2025-26 Salary Schedule was presented to the board. One-third of the agency’s positions were reviewed for market competitiveness. Budgets were prepared with an additional 4% increase for the positions under review. Some of the positions reviewed showed to be under current market value. Positions recommended for reclassification include: Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Board and Facilities and Program Manager move to Schedule III, range 6a; Teaching and Learning Coordinators move to Schedule III, range 14b; Human Resources Technician move to Schedule II, range 9b; Program Specialist III move to Schedule III, range 12a; Receptionist will align with the Administrative Assistant I role and move to schedule 1, range 15b; School Nurse Corps Administrator move to Schedule III, range 11b; Site Assistant I move to Schedule I, range 17b; Site Assistant II move to Schedule I, range 21; and Technology Services Administrator move to Schedule III, range 11a.
Merle Kirkley moved, and Ann McMurray seconded, to approve the 2025-26 Salary Schedules and reclassifications as presented. Motion carried.
Items for Information
Independent Contractor Agreements
Independent Contractor Agreements and Interlocal Agreements were presented to the board for review.
Procedure Revisions
3424-P Opioid-Related Overdose Reversal
Procedure 3424P Opioid-Related Overdose Reversal was shared with the board. Superintendent Vivanco shared that these revisions are aligned to WSSDAs recommendations.
6210-P Purchasing: Authorization and Control Procedures
Procedure 6210-P Purchasing: Authorization and Control Procedures were shared with the board. Assistant Superintendent Lisa Matthews noted that the revisions to this procedure are for the future implementation of purchasing cards.
2025-26 Board Report Schedule
A draft schedule of the 2025-26 Board Report Schedule was shared with the board.
August 5, 2025, Anticipated School District Bond/Levy Measures
The anticipated school district bond/levy measures for the August 5, 2025, special election were shared with the board. Superintendent Vivanco noted that Lopez Island School District is the only district in our region running a capital project levy.
2024-25 Superintendent Performance Goal Report
Dr. Vivanco shared his End-of-Year Goal Report with the board. Next year this will be included in the April 2026 board meeting.
Business Strategy Framework Update
Tamara Shoup, Director of Development, Strategy, and Innovation, shared an update on the Business Strategy Framework and the work of the Resource Development Department. She noted there have been 22 new ideas submitted and summarized the status of these new ideas. She provided an update on the Menu of Services, and the status and tracking of grant submissions.
All Staff Advance, November 13, 2025
Superintendent Vivanco shared with the board that the All-Staff Advance will be taking place on November 13, 2025, at the Swinomish Casino & Lodge Conference Center. Staff will be required to attend. Sandy Zimmerman will be the keynote speaker. She was the keynote speaker at the last AESD Conference.
2026 Regional Teacher of the Year and 2025 Regional Classified Employee of the Year
Dr. Vivanco shared that the NWESD has selected fifth grade teacher Ruwani Brohier as the 2026 NWESD Regional Teacher of the Year. Brohier teaches at Cordata Elementary School in the Bellingham School District. Jim Logan was selected as the 2025 NWESD Regional Classified Employee of the Year. Logan is a programmer and database analyst with the Burlington-Edison School District.
Superintendent’s Report
Binding Conditions Update: Superintendent Vivanco shared that statewide there are seven districts on formal OSPI financial oversight, five districts on Binding Conditions (including Mount Baker), one district on Financial Oversight, and one district on Enhanced Financial Oversight (Marysville).
Regional Superintendent Transitions: Superintendent Vivanco announced that Dr. Justin Irish from Anacortes School District has resigned and moving to the Northshore School District.
Vivanco added that Dr. Balderas will be joining the PSESD as their superintendent effective July 1, 2026. He is currently from the Beaverton School District.
NWESD Funding Risk Analysis Work: Dr. Vivanco shared a summary of the funding risk analysis work that the Cabinet Team has been doing. The team has been very purposeful and thoughtful with the decision-making process by determining if a position can be reassigned, if we can use gap funding for a short duration of time while waiting for contracts to be finalized, or do we invest in the program for future growth or should there be a reduction in force. As of today, there were 2 RIF’s implemented. There will be more upcoming RIF’s, there will be some position reassignments as well as some potential investments. There were no reductions to certificated staff.
Vivanco shared that with the departure of the Assistant Superintendent of T&L the cabinet team disused the idea of restructuring the organization and redistributing resources. Vivanco shared a high-level draft of the updated organization chart that would allow the NWESD to work with the staffing that it currently has.
Items Originating with the Board
AESD Report
Merle Kirkley shared that Melissa Gombosky shared an updated on the legislative session and that they are already actively working on next year.
Dr. Vivanco shared that the core funding has been reduced by 14%. This, along with other reductions, is impacting agreements with other state agencies.
Legislative Report
No report
NWESD Board Elections
Superintendent Vivanco shared that the ESD board elections process is being managed by WSSDA. The candidate filing window will be open September 1-16, 2025. Board members Kelly Bashaw, Mark Venn, Alan Erickson, Ann McMurray, and Merle Kirkley are up for re-election.
Dr. Vivanco shared that Oscar Escalante will be resigning from the board and asked the process for reappointment. Letter of resignation forthcoming.
Board Conferences
Board Chair Sue Phillips opened the conversation about reducing the cost of the board considering the core funding reductions.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:44 PM.
Minutes approved on August 25, 2025, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.