NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

September 25, 2023; 8:30 a.m.

Chrysalis Inn | 801 10th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance

The regular meeting of the Northwest Educational Service District Board of Directors was held in person on Monday, September 25, 2023. Board Chair Charles Crabtree called the meeting to order at 8:27 AM at the Chrysalis Inn in Bellingham, WA.

Members present:

Charlie Crabtree
Merle Kirkley
Mark Venn
Jack Thompson
Sue Phillips
Cory Duskin

Staff present:

Larry Francois
Jennifer Longchamps

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the August 28, 2023, regular board meeting were presented for approval. Jack Thompson moved, and Merle Kirkley seconded, to approve the minutes of the August 28, 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;

Merle Kirkley moved, and Sue Phillips seconded, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda

Approval of the General Fund Warrants

Approval of the General Fund warrants #205337 through #205398 in the amount of $811,429.27 and accounts payable electronic wire transfer payment #000000069 in the amount of $1,559.83 and warrants #205416 through #205474 in the amount of $208,293.35 and accounts payable ACH payment #9000000930 through #9000000959 in the amount of $4,986.86 were presented.

Approval of the General Fund Financial Reports

No General Fund Balance Financial Reports were presented.

Approval of Payroll

Approval of August payroll warrants #205400 through #205404 for salaries in the amount of $13,190.21, #205405 through #205415 to payroll vendors in the amount of $38,482.97, repayment to accounts payable for health care authority costs in the amount of $262,204.33, reserve for compensated absence reimbursement in the amount of $12,874.15, an electronic transfer of employee direct deposits in the amount of $936,425.82 for a total of $1,892,279.19 was presented.  

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Financial Reports

No NW Workers Compensation Trust Financial reports were presented.  

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund Warrant

Approval of NW Washington Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund warrant numbered #205475 in the amount of $535.79 was presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Warrants

Approval of Unemployment Pool warrants #205399 in the amount of $120,634.16 and #205476 in through #205477 in the amount of $16,607.73 were presented.

Approval of Unemployment Pool Financial Reports

No Unemployment Pool Financial reports were presented.

Approval of Out-of-State Travel

Approval of Out-of-State Travel in the amount of $20,894.60 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 indicating hiring of certificated employees was presented.

It was moved by Sue Phillips and seconded by Cory Duskin to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. Motion carried.

New and Pending Business

Approval of Job Descriptions

The new position description for the Teacher for the Visually Diverse was presented to the board. Larry noted that this position will provide consultation to school districts and direct services to students in our region who have differing levels of visual functioning. This position is part of the Special Programs and Services Department. Salary is recommended at Schedule IV.

The new position descriptions for the Career Connected Learning (CCL) Program Manager and the Migrant Education Program Manager were presented to the board for approval. Larry Francois shared that these new positions are intended to provide the necessary management and supervision needed for program oversight in each of these areas to best serve the Teaching and Learning Department. These two positions will complete a rebalancing of the work between the CCL Program, the Migrant Education Program, and the Director of Teaching and Learning position. Salary is recommended at Schedule III, Range 14a.

The position description for the STEM Administrator position description was presented to the board for approval. Larry Francois noted that this revision more accurately describes the current needs in the support of STEM work with the Teaching and Learning Department, with no change in salary range recommended.

Mark Venn moved, and Jack Thompson seconded, to approve the position descriptions of the Teacher for the Visually Diverse, the Career Connected Learning Program Manager, the Migrant Education Program Manager, and the STEM Administrator positions as presented. Motion carried.

Items for Information

Independent Contractor Agreements

Independent Contractor Agreements were presented to the board for review.

Surplus Relocation Report

The Surplus Relocation report for August 2023, was shared with the board.

OSPI-AESD Statewide Initiatives, Funding Mechanisms, and Agreements

Superintendent Francois shared the 2022-23 AESD/OSPI Statewide Initiatives, Funding Mechanisms, Agreements which reports the annual totals of 2022-23 statewide funding, how the programs are funded, and the type of partnership agreement associated with each initiative.

2023-24 NWESD Departmental SMART Goals

The 2023-24 NWESD Department SMART Goal Reports were presented to the board for review.

2023-24 Board of Directors Representatives to the Equity Team

Superintendent Francois shared an update on the NWESD Equity Committee and invited the board members to participate. Currently, board member Sue Phillips is serving on the committee as one of the board representatives.

AESD Accreditation White Paper and FAQ

Superintendent Francois shared the AESD Accreditation FAQ and White Paper. Francois noted that this document was created to help schools who are considering having their schools accredited to guide their decision. The accreditation process is a facilitated school improvement plan and ensures that students won’t miss out on any future college opportunities. The FAQ document reflects some of the typical questions that the NWESD accreditation team receives.

Underfunding of Insurance and Utilities

The board reviewed the report of Underfunding of Insurance and Utilities. Larry Francois noted that this report shares the financial pressures that districts are experiencing in terms of insurance and utilities costs. The report represents a 3-year look at the issue (2019-20 through 2021-22). Rapidly rising insurance costs are significant drivers of this trend. The NWESD has been sharing this information with school districts so they can use it as talking points with their legislators to show how basic education costs are not funded appropriately.

Superintendent’s Report

Meeting with Index School District Superintendent: Larry Francois shared that he recently met with the new superintendent of Index School District, Allan Bredy.

Meeting with Lopez Island School District Superintendent: Larry Francois noted that he met with the Lopez Island School District interim superintendent, Dr. Martha Martin. Martin is currently the Lopez Island School District K-12 principal and will serve in both roles after the previous superintendent, Ed Murry, left the position.

Accreditation, Teacher of the Year, and Classified Employee of the Year Presentations: Superintendent Francois shared he has presented Accreditation plaques to the Anacortes High School, Sedro-Woolley High School, and State Street High School. Francois will be presenting accreditation plaques to AIM High School and Monroe High School in the next month. Francois noted that he will be presenting the award to the Classified Employee of the Year this evening and the Teacher of the Year award will be presented in October.

AESA Business Strategy Framework Presentations: Larry Francois shared that some NWESD staff will be attending the AESA Business Strategy Framework training. Part of this training includes panel presentations. The panel presentations are scheduled for December 7, 2023. Superintendent Francois extended an invitation to the board to serve as panelists.

District Leadership Team Visits: Larry Francois shared that the NWESD Leadership Team will be visiting a selection of regional school districts. These visits will be completed by mid-December.

Items Originating with the Board

AESD/Legislative Report

Merle Kirkley shared an update from AESD of their recent meeting. He noted that Melissa Gombosky reported that next year is an election year. Thus, not a lot of action will be taking place on initiatives in the upcoming year.

Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:16 AM

Minutes approved on October 23, 2023, in regular session of the NWESD Board of Directors.