NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

August 28, 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, August 28, 2023. Board Chair Charles Crabtree called the meeting to order at 6:44 PM at the NWESD office in Anacortes, WA.

Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance

Members present:

Charlie Crabtree
Merle Kirkley (Zoom)
Alan Erickson
Mark Venn
Ann McMurray (Zoom)
Jack Thompson
Sue Phillips (Zoom)
Oscar Escalante

Staff present:

Larry Francois
David Forsythe
Lisa Matthews
Deka Smith
Jennifer Longchamps
Les Valsquier
Jack Avila

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the June 20, 2023, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Jack Thompson moved, and Alan Erickson seconded, to approve the minutes of the June 20, 2023, regular board meeting.  Motion carried.  Sue Philips abstained due to absence at the June 20, 2023, meeting.

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;
  • 5.i Approval of Personnel Report indicating additional terminations, hiring, and reclassification of NWESD employees;
  • 5.j Approval of Election of Certificated Staff indicating additional hiring of certificated employees.

Merle Kirkley moved, and Ann McMurray seconded, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda

Approval of the General Fund Warrants

Approval of the General Fund warrants #204979 through #205098 in the amount of $1,023,995.87 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000067 in the amount of $1,828.67 and warrants #205117 through #205182 in the amount of $167,474.97 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000000828 through #9000000877 in the amount of $16,561.98 and warrants #205185 through #205259 in the amount of $856,238.53 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000068 in the amount of $2,400.70 and warrants #206277 through #205333 in the amount of $241,240.07 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000000878 through #9000000929 in the amount of $17,890.01 were presented.

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 $13,962,596.01 (June) and $13,700,812.97 (July) were presented.

Approval of Payroll

Approval of June payroll warrants #205099 through #205105 for salaries in the amount of $22,631.09, #205106 through #205116 to payroll vendors in the amount of $37,163.21, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $255,493.33, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $12,978.00, an electronic transfer in the amount of $661,981.92 for payroll tax liability and DRS contributions, and an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $999,044.25 for a total of $1,989,291.80 was presented.

Approval of July payroll warrants #205260 through #205265 for salaries in the amount of $16,685.58, #205266 through #205276 to payroll vendors in the amount of $36,495.36, employee refund in the amount of ($5,872.51) for overpayment of wages, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $259,743.33, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $12,906.83, an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $936,356.92 for a total of $1,881,148.25 was presented.  

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Financial Reports

Approval of the NW Workers Compensation Trust Financial Reports with the total ending net position equity in the amount of $452,083.96 (June) and $451,682.61 (July) were presented.  

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund Warrants

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund warrants numbered #205184 in the amount of $7,876.12 and #205334 in the amount of $3,877.08 were presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants

Approval of Unemployment Pool warrants #205183 in the amount of $1,776.83 and #205336 in the amount of $1,776.83 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 $11,996,368.56 (June) and $12,090,086.18 (July) were presented.

Approval of Out-of-State Travel

Approval of Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $22,720.15 was presented.

Approval of Personnel Report

Personnel Report indicating terminations, hiring, and reclassification of NWESD employees was presented.

Approval of Election of Certificated Staff

No Election of Certificated Staff was presented.

Approval of Conditional Certificate Request

Conditional Teaching Certificates with Special Education endorsements on behalf of Robyn Nelson and Christine Crain were presented.

It was moved by Jack Thompson and seconded by Oscar Escalante to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. Motion carried.

Report to the Board

Les Valsquier, Director of Technology Services, and Jack Avila, Network Support Specialist, provided a presentation to the board on the topic of Cybersecurity. Some highlights from the presentation are:

  • Overview of Ransomware
  • How malicious activity happens: phishing and acquiring passwords, social engineering, password cracks, unpatched or old operating systems
  • Information on newer threats
  • Artificial Intelligence – nearly anyone can now write a script/program. ChatGPT is also being used to create better phishing emails.
  • Recommendations to keep your information protected.
  • How the NWESD is reducing the risk of a phishing attack.

New and Pending Business

Approval of Job Descriptions

The new position description for the Director of Teaching and Learning was presented to the board. Larry noted that the department is reorganizing the leadership structure this position will help provide expertise, supervision, and leadership for the growing Teaching and Learning Department. Salary is recommended at Schedule III, Range 15a.

The new position description for the Family Engagement and Service-Learning Specialist position was presented to the board. Superintendent Francois shared that this position will support educators and students by providing a consistent channel of communication and acting as a liaison and facilitator between the NWESD Snohomish Discovery and NRLC cooperative programs, school district partners, parents, and community service-learning partners. Salary is recommended at Schedule II, Range 11.

Jack Thompson moved, and Alan Erickson seconded, to approve the position descriptions of the Director of Teaching and Learning and the Family Engagement and Service-Learning Specialist as presented. Motion carried.

Approval of Policy Revisions

Revision to Policy 1610 – Conflict of Interest, was presented to the board for approval.  

Revision to Policy 3122 – Excused and Unexcused Absences, was presented to the board for approval.

Revision to Policy 3207 – Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying, was presented to the board for approval.

Revision to Policy 3225 – Program-Based Threat Assessment, was presented to the board for approval.

Revision to Policy 3231 – Student Records, was presented to the board for approval.

Revision to Policy 3241 – Student Discipline, was presented to the board for approval.

Revision to Policy 5010 – Nondiscrimination, was presented to the board for approval.

Revision to Policy 5225 – Telecommuting Agreements, was presented to the board for approval.

Mark Venn moved, and Oscar Escalante seconded, to approve Policy 1610 – Conflict of Interest, Policy 3122 – Excused and Unexcused Absences, Policy 3207 – Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying, Policy 3225 – Program-Based Threat Assessment, Policy 3231 – Student Records, Policy 3241 – Student Discipline, Policy 5010 – Nondiscrimination, and Policy 5225 – Telecommuting Agreements as presented. Motion carried.

Retirement Notification

Superintendent Francois provided formal notice of his intent to retire as NWESD Superintendent effective June 30, 2024.

With regret, Merle Kirkley moved, and Ann McMurray seconded, to accept the termination of Larry Francois’ NWESD Superintendent Contract for Employment for retirement as presented in the August 28, 2023, letter.

Items for Information

Independent Contractor Agreements

Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.

Procedure Revisions

The following procedures were presented to the board for review:

  • Revision to Procedure 3207-P – Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying of Students Procedure
  • Procedure 3241P, Student Discipline Procedure
  • Procedure 3246P, Restraint, Isolation, and Other Use of Reasonable Force Procedure
  • Procedure 4040P, Public Access to NWESD 189 Records Procedures
  • Procedure 5010P, Nondiscrimination Grievance Procedure

Surplus Relocation Report

The Surplus Relocation report for June 1, 2023, through July 30, 2023, was shared with the board.

November 5, 2023, Anticipated Ballot Measures

Superintendent Francois shared the anticipated school district ballot measure for the upcoming November 5, 2023, election. South Whidbey School District has a $79,800,000 bond measure on the upcoming ballot.

2022-23 NWESD Departmental SMART Goal Reports

The 2022-23 End-of-Year Department SMART Goal Reports were presented to the board for review. Larry Francois commented that the report represents a good overview of each department’s annual SMART goals and the activities associated with each goal. Each department is asked to include an equity commitment. This is a very comprehensive report that represents the work that is being done at the NWESD.

Superintendent’s Report

Regional Superintendent Updates: Larry Francois shared that he has met with the new superintendents from, Burlington-Edison, Lakewood, and Monroe school districts. He will be connecting with the new superintendent from the Index School District later this week. Superintendent Ed Murray will be leaving the Lopez Island School District at the end of August 2023. Their current K-12 principal will be assigned as interim superintendent until the superintendent search can be completed.

Update on Workforce Diversification and Equity Administrator Position: Larry Francois noted that the NWESD hired Britnee Harvey. He added that a majority of her work experience was with health initiatives and has a strong background in adult learning. Her first priority is workforce diversification and she will be managing the SPARK grant.

Boeing Grant Award: Superintendent Francois shared that the NWESD has been awarded a grant from Boeing for $50,000 to support STEM work in the NWESD.

August All Staff Advance: Larry Francois shared that the NWESD staff participated in the annual Staff Advance on August 23, 2023. Approximately 120 staff attended. We hosted the event at the Anacortes High School Commons.

Districts on Binding Conditions: Larry Francois shared that Mount Baker, La Conner, and Marysville school districts have binding conditions. This contractual relationship between a school district and OSPI happens when a school district cannot produce a budget with a positive fund balance. Superintendent Francois noted that the Mount Baker and La Conner school districts will exit binding conditions relatively soon. A school district can be in binding conditions for 2-3 years.

Construction Services Group Update – The Construction Services Group, managed by ESD112 was just awarded the contract for two schools in the Oak Harbor School District.

Items Originating with the Board

AESD/Legislative Report

Merle Kirkley shared that the AESD Executive Board is working to create more opportunities for ESD board members to network and learn together. The AESD Executive Board is requesting feedback from each ESD’s Board of Directors on what these opportunities might include. This survey will help design the annual conference next spring.

Upcoming Conferences

Superintendent Francois shared information about the upcoming WSSDA Annual Conference that is scheduled for November 16-18, 2023, and the AESA Annual Conference on November 29 – December 1, 2023.

NWESD Board Elections

Superintendent Francois noted that the upcoming NWESD board elections will be managed by WSSDA.

NWESD Board Retreat

Larry Francois shared that the location of the NWESD Board Retreat will be at the Chrysalis Inn and Spa on September 24-25, 2023. The Board discussed interest in learning more about the superintendent search process.

Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:06 PM

Minutes approved on September 25, 2023, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.