NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
August 25, 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, August 25, 2025. Board Chair Sue Phillips called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM at the Northwest Educational Service District in Anacortes, WA.
Members present:
Sue Phillips
Cory Duskin
Mark Venn
Jack Thompson
Ann McMurray (Zoom)
Kelly Bashaw
Merle Kirkley
Alan Erickson
Staff present:
Dr. Ismael Vivanco
Lisa Matthews
David Forsythe
Tamara Shoup
Jennifer Longchamps
Jodie DesBiens
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the June 16, 2025, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Jack Thompson moved, and Kelly Bashaw seconded, to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2025, regular board meeting as presented. Motion carried. Mark Venn abstained due to his absence as the June 16, 2025, meeting.
Comments from the Public
No public comment was provided.
Approval of Agenda
Ann McMurray moved, and Kelly Bashaw 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 #208880 through #208987 in the amount of $1,121,457.94 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000092 in the amount of $1,488.10 and warrants #209003 through #209099 in the amount of $584,595.36 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000002465 through #9000002548 in the amount of $26,531.72 and warrants #209101 through #209176 in the amount of $770,075.80 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000093 in the amount of $4,178.00 and warrants #209198 through #209262 in the amount of $526,531.95 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000002549 through 9000002624 in the amount of $33,041.63 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 amount of $22,075,342.19 (June) and $21,498,931.62 (July) were presented for approval.
Approval of Payroll
Approval of
June payroll warrants #208989 through #208993 for salaries in the amount of $13,764.87, #208994 through #209002 to payroll vendors in the amount of $57,365.00, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $352,015.00, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $18,621.34, an electronic transfer in the amount of $917,327.08 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $1,474,235.76 for a total of $2,833,329.05 were presented for approval.
Approval of July payroll warrants #209178 through #209187 for salaries in the amount of $12,961.45, #209188 through #209197 to payroll vendors in the amount of $75,119.75, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $341,452.00, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $18,292.95, an electronic transfer in the amount of $866,695.23 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $1,394,564.60 for a total of $2,709,085.98 were presented for approval.
Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Financial Reports
Approval of the NW Workers Compensation Trust Financial Reports with the total ending net position in the amount of $554,946.27 (June) and $558,799.65 (July) were presented for approval.
Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund Warrants
Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund warrant #208988 in the amount of $1,250.00 was presented.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants
Approval of Unemployment Pool warrants #2209100 in the amount of $3,011.90 and #209177 in the amount of $2,775.00 were presented for approval.
Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Reports
Approval of the Unemployment Pool Financial Reports with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $11,801,718.41 (June) and $11,895,789.26 (July) were presented for approval.
Approval of Out-of-State Travel
Approval of Out-of-State Travel requests in the amount of $500.00 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 Conditional Certificate Request
Conditional Teaching Certificate with Special Education endorsements on behalf of Thomas Cruz-Spurling was presented for approval.
It was moved by Merle Kirkley and seconded by Cory Duskin to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried.
Board Report
Lisa Matthews presented an overview of the NWESD risk analysis work done in the spring and the re-organization of the NWESD.
New and Pending Business
Board Member Resignation
Effective August 25, 2025, Oscar Escalante resigned his position as a member of the NWESD Board of Directors serving District #4. The board discussed the resignation and actions needed to fill the vacancy.
Cory Duskin moved, and Alan Erickson seconded, to approve the resignation of board member Oscar Escalante and acknowledge the vacancy as presented. Motion carried.
Approval of Resolution 2025-03 – Public Access to Northwest Educational Service District #189 Records
Resolution #2025-03 – Public Access to Northwest Educational Service District 189 Records was shared with the board. Dr. Vivanco shared that this resolution compliments Policy 4040 – Public Access to NWESD 189 Records.
Kelly Bashaw moved, and Merle Kirkley seconded, to approve Resolution 2025-03 – Public Access to Northwest Educational Service District #189 Records as presented. Motion carried.
Approval of Policy Revisions
Revisions to policies 1111 – Oath of Office; 1310 – Policy Adoption, Administrative Procedures and Manuals; 3143 – Notification and Dissemination of Information About Student Offences and Notification of Threats of Violence or Harm; 3210 – Nondiscrimination; 3226 – Interviews and Interrogations of Students on Program Premises; 4260 – Use of NWESD 189 Facilities/Equipment; and 5010 – Nondiscrimination were shared with the board. Dr. Vivanco noted that these revisions are in response to the passage of HB 1296 – promoting a safe and supportive public education system.
Kelly Bashaw moved, and Alan Erickson seconded, to approve revisions to policies 1111 – Oath of Office; 1310 – Policy Adoption, Administrative Procedures and Manuals; 3143 – Notification and Dissemination of Information About Student Offences and Notification of Threats of Violence or Harm; 3210 – Nondiscrimination; 3226 – Interviews and Interrogations of Students on Program Premises; 4260 – Use of NWESD 189 Facilities/Equipment; and 5010 – Nondiscrimination as presented. Motion carried.
Revisions to policy 3414 – Infectious Disease policy was shared with the board. Dr. Vivanco shared that these revisions are proposed to align the policies with current practice.
Ann McMurray moved, and Merle Kirkley seconded, to approve revisions to Policy 3414 – Infectious Disease as presented. Motion carried.
Revisions to policy 5011 – Sexual Harassment of District Staff Prohibited was presented to the board for review. Dr. Vivanco shared that these revisions comply with the state law and align with the 2020 Title IX rules.
Kelly Bashaw moved, and Mark Venn seconded, to approve revisions to Policy 5011 – Sexual Harassment of District Staff Prohibited as presented. Motion carried.
Reinstatement of Policy 5012 – Parental, Family, or Marital Status, and Pregnancy or Related Conditions of Staff was shared with the board. Dr. Vivanco shared that this policy was rescinded on February 24, 2025. The policy is reinstated to reflect the current Title IX law.
Merle Kirkley moved, and Mark Venn seconded, to approve the reinstatement of Policy 5012 – Parental, Family, or Marital Status, and Pregnancy or Related Conditions of Staff. Motion carried.
Approval of Position Descriptions
The new job descriptions for the Deputy Superintendent for Business and Operations, the Deputy Superintendent of Student and Instructional Services, the Executive Director of Student Services and District Safety, and the Director of Human Resources were presented to the board. Dr. Vivanco shared that these descriptions were developed to support the reorganization of the NWESD and to reallocate the duties of the current Assistant Superintendent position descriptions.
Alan Erickson moved, and Jack Thompson seconded, to approve the new job descriptions for the Deputy Superintendent for Business and Operations, the Deputy Superintendent of Student and Instructional Services, the Executive Director of Student Services and District Safety, and the Director of Human Resources, as presented. Motion carried.
Items for Information
Independent Contractor Agreements
Independent Contractor Agreements and Interlocal Agreements were presented to the board for review.
Regional Committee Vacancy – District 5
Dr. Vivanco shared that Karen Madsen resigned her position on the Regional Committee for School District Organization. Madsen served in district #5 which serves Marysville and portions of Everett.
Procedure Revisions
The following procedure revisions were shared with the board: 3226-P, Interviews and Interrogations of students on Program Premises; 3414-P, Infection Disease Procedures; 3421-P, Child Abuse and Neglect Procedures; 5011-P, Sexual Harassment of Staff Prohibited Procedure; and 5012-P, Parental, Family, or Marital Status, and Pregnancy or Related Conditions of Staff Procedures (Reinstated).
New Policies – First Readings
Policy 1815 – Ethical Conduct for Board Members, Policy 1825 – Addressing NWESD 189 Board Director Violations, and Policy 3206 – Pregnant and Parenting Students, and corresponding 3206 procedures were presented to the board for a first reading.
Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health Response Plan
The Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health (SEBMH) Response Plan was presented to the board for review. Deputy Superintendent David Forsythe noted that this plan is associated with Policy 2145 – Suicide Prevention.
2024-25 NWESD Departmental SMART Goal Reports
The 2024-25 NWESD Departmental SMART Goal Reports were shared with the board.
Business Strategy Framework Update
Dr. Vivanco shared that a further study of the business strategy framework will take place at an upcoming board meeting.
Superintendent’s Report
Binding Conditions Update: Superintendent Vivanco shared that the Marysville School District is making great progress and may move out of Enhanced Financial Oversite by December 2025. The addition of Superintendent Rumbaugh, a new fiscal officer, and an HR Director has contributed to the strides they have made. The Mount Baker School District is continuing to make progress. There are currently seven districts on formal OSPI financial oversight
Regional Superintendent Transitions:Superintendent Vivanco provided an update to the board of the superintendent transitions in the NWESD region. Dr. Carl Bruner is serving as the interim superintendent for the Anacortes School District. Dr. Becky Clifford is the new superintendent for the South Whidbey School District. Jessica Schenck is the new superintendent for the Mount Baker School District, Dr. Chris Granger is the new superintendent for the Sultan School District, and Dan Chaplik is serving as the interim superintendent for the Blaine School District.
School Safety and Wellness Symposium: Dr. Vivanco shared the NWESD Safety Center facilitated a School Safety and Wellness Symposium, and it was a great success.
All Staff Advance: Dr. Vivanco invited the board to the November 13th All Staff Advance at the Swinomish Casino. The theme is connected through service.
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 updates.
Board Retreat
Board chair Sue Phillips shared the board retreat is scheduled for Sunday, September 21, 2025, with the business meeting taking place the morning of September 22, 2025. A number of board members have scheduling conflicts and are unable to attend the retreat and business meeting. It was decided to cancel the board retreat on September 21, 2025, and move the business meeting to the NWESD on September 22, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. The board will continue conversations about possible learning sessions or on-site retreat at a future meeting.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:57 PM.
Minutes approved on September 22, 2025, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.