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[1. REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ORDER - 5:30 PM]
WELCOME TO OUR FEBRUARY 27TH BOARD MEETING.THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WHILE WE SWITCHED OVER TO ZOOM, WITH SCHOOL BEING CLOSED TODAY AND ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS BEING CLOSED, WE ARE REQUIRED TO MOVE IT TO ZOOM AS WELL.
HOPE EVERYBODY IS STAYING WARM SAY AND SAFE AND WE'RE HOPING FOR SOME NO MORE FREEZING WEATHER.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE READY TO GET GOING HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND THAT WILL BE LED BY CONNIE HENNESSY.
>> THANK YOU. YOU'RE GOING TO STAND UP HERE.
>> THANK YOU. CONNIE, NEXT IS OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT, AND THAT'LL BE RECITED BY ERICA COX.
>> THANK YOU, ERICA. MOVING ON TO OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS HERE,
[2. OATH OF OFFICE]
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE SWEARING IN OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER, AND WE'RE JUST SO SORRY THAT IT HAS TO BE DONE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO STICK ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BOMB ANY POKEMON OFTEN WE REALLY ARE EXCITED TO GET TO WORK WITH YOU AND WE THANK YOU FOR STEPPING FORWARD AND SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY.WE ARE JUST REALLY EXCITED TO GET THE NEW TEAM TOGETHER HERE SOON.
WITH THAT, DR. JOHN ACELONE WILL BE ADMINISTERING THE OATH OF OFFICE, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO BOTH OF YOU.
>> WELL, GOOD EVENING AND CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME VOMITING.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD AND TO GIVE THIS OATH. SO ARE YOU READY?
>> GO AHEAD AND PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND UP AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
>> THAT I'M A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> THAT I'M A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> AND OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
>> AND THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
>> AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
>> AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT.
>> AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT.
>> TRULY, FAITHFUL, DILIGENTLY.
>> TRULY, FAITHFUL, DILIGENTLY.
>> PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE.
>> PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE.
>> OF CANVAS SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 117.
>> OF CANVAS SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 117.
>> SCHOOL DIRECTOR, DISTRICT NUMBER 4.
>> SCHOOL DIRECTOR, DISTRICT NUMBER 4.
>> IN AND FOR CLARK COUNTY, WASHINGTON.
>> IN AND FOR CLARK COUNTY, WASHINGTON.
>> AS SUCH, DUTIES ARE PRESCRIBED BY LAW.
>> AS SUCH DUTIES ARE PRESCRIBED BY LAW.
>> CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME.
>> I'LL PASS IT BACK OFF TO YOU, COREY.
>> I SAID, SO ANTICLIMACTIC, BUT WE KNOW IT'S THERE.
GOOD JOB ON THAT AND WELCOME ABOARD.
WE ARE EXCITED TO GET GOING WITH YOU.
NEXT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 3A ON OUR AGENDA,
[3. STUDENT/COMMITTEE REPORTS]
WHICH IS ITEM 3A ON OUR AGENDA WAS A STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT.CAITLIN IS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT MOVES US DOWN TO ITEM 3B OUR CITIZENS ADVISORY REPORT.
>> GO AHEAD WHENEVER YOU ARE READY.
>> I'M KELLEN. I DON'T KNOW THAT MY VIDEO SHOWING.
THAT'S OKAY. YOU CAN HEAR YOU.
HI. I HAD SOME NOTES THEN UNFORTUNATELY, JUST DO THE STOLEN CHAOS OF THE WEEK.
I DON'T HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF ME, BUT JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ABOUT THE CAC CANVAS COMMUNITY CITIZENS COMMITTEE.
THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING REALLY WELL.
WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING A COUPLE OF TRENDS AND THEMES.
THIS IS ACTUALLY MY FIRST SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, SO I APOLOGIZE.
I WILL TRY TO FIND MY NOTES, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS OR MEETINGS.
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>> REALLY, I'LL LET OTHER BOARD MEMBERS JUMP IN IF YOU WANT ANYTHING, BUT BASICALLY JUST AN UPDATE ON WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON IN THE LAST MONTH OR TWO SINCE WE LAST HEARD FROM CAC.
>> FOR SURE AND I APOLOGIZE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PRIOR UPDATE WAS, BUT WE'VE REALLY BEEN LOOKING AT A FEW DIFFERENT TRENDS IN RESEARCH, SPECIFICALLY AROUND BALANCED CALENDARS AND INTERCESSION SCHEDULES.
WE'VE BEEN REVIEWING A COUPLE OF PEER-REVIEWED STUDIES.
WE'VE BROKEN INTO VARIOUS GROUPS AND DISCUSS SOME TRENDS AND THEMES.
NOW WE ARE READING A BOOK THAT EXPLORES VARIOUS SUMMERS IN LENGTH.
THAT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING TO JUST SEE AND COMPARE WHAT SOME OTHER DISTRICTS AND PERSPECTIVES HAVE BEEN ON THE MATTER.
BUT WE'RE STILL VERY MUCH EXPLORING A NUMBER OF TOPICS AROUND THAT.
DID ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THANKS FOR THE UPDATE AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR FIRST ONE VIA ZOOM.
I WAS AT THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAST TIME AND I HADN'T ATTENDED A WHILE, SO GREAT UPDATE ON THE BALANCED CALENDAR.
I KNOW YOU SAID, THE BOOK WAS PASSED AROUND AND SOME PEOPLE ARE DOING A BOOK STUDY ON IT AND SUPPOSED TO REPORT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING? I BELIEVE SO. GREAT JOB.
>> OF COURSE. I FEEL, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SNOW DAYS AND THE MAKEUP DAYS.
I WAS PERSONALLY WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT VARIOUS CALENDARS, JUST THINKING, MAKEUP DAYS, THAT'S FUNNY.
BUT HERE WE ARE LIVING THEM IN REAL TIME.
I UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS ARE HAVE TO BE SOMEWHAT DYNAMIC AS WELL AS YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO ADJUST.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE BOARD?
>> MAY I JUST ASK THE NAME OF THE BOOK? I'M SURE IT'S SOMEWHERE IN SOME.
>> YEAH, THE BOOK WE'RE READING IS CALLED SUMMER VERSUS SCHOOL, THE POSSIBILITIES OF URINE SCHOOL.
SHE IS A PRINCIPAL AND TALKED ABOUT WAYS TO ADDRESS PRIMARILY ABOUT ADDRESSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND LET THE SUMMER SLIDE THAT HAPPENS.
HE'S JUST LOOKING AT THE LENGTH OF SUMMER VACATIONS.
CANVAS SCHOOLS OR OUR PARTICULAR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS A PRETTY LENGTHY SUMMER VACATION FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN.
IT'S REALLY A LOT OF THE STUDIES WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT EXAMINED DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THIS AND THIS BOOK.
THIS IS LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL.
A QUESTION OF A TWO-MONTH OR A LONGER BREAK AND REEVALUATE NOT AS SEEING DIFFERENT CALENDARS AND WAYS TO ORGANIZE.
NO BREAKS. NO, BUT STILL ACCOMMODATE THAT COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. I'M SURE GAIL HAD A BUNCH OF COPIES OF THAT THAT SHE LOANED OUT TO MEMBERS OF CAC.
I'M SURE SHE'LL GET THEM RETURNED IF YOU OR ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER WANT TO BORROW ONE WHEN THEY GET BACK SOME.
>> GREAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM BOARD? WELL, CONNIE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN AND GIVING US AN UPDATE, AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING ANOTHER ONE AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING NEXT MONTH.
[4. EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND LIFELONG LEARNING]
THIS IS A BOARD RESOLUTION 22-03, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING MARCH AS MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH.I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION AS IT IS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.
THEN WHEN I'M DONE, IF THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, WE CAN DISCUSS THOSE OR I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION IN A SECOND.
SCHOOL BOARD RESOLUTION NUMBER 22-03, A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CANVAS SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 117, CLARK COUNTY, WASHINGTON.
WHEREAS FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, MARCH HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC EDUCATION AS MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH.
ENCOURAGING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION TO FOCUS ON MUSIC EDUCATION.
WHEREAS, MUSIC EDUCATION IS PART OF A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION FOR EVERY STUDENT AS OUTLINED IN THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT.
WHEREAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS CELEBRATION IS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE LASTING POSITIVE IMPACT OF MUSIC EDUCATION ON THE ACADEMIC, PERSONAL, AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF OUR STUDENTS.
WHEREAS MUSIC EDUCATION SHAPES THE WAY OUR STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM, ALLOWING FOR A DEEP ENGAGEMENT WITH LEARNING.
WHEREAS, MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH REMINDS
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US THAT SCHOOL IS WHERE ALL CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO MUSIC.WHEREAS MUSIC EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
WHEREAS THE STATE OF WASHINGTON JOINS OUR MUSIC STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITIES IN CELEBRATING THE POWER OF MUSIC EDUCATION.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CANVAS SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM ON FEBRUARY 27TH, 2023, MARCH AS MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH AND ENCOURAGES OUR CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE EVERY DAY, BUT ESPECIALLY IN MARCH, THAT MUSIC EDUCATION IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF EVERY STUDENT'S WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION.
THAT IS THE TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION.
IF THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, WE CAN TAKE THOSE.
OTHERWISE, I WOULD LOOK FOR A MOTION IN A SECOND.
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION OF [INAUDIBLE]
>> WE'RE A LITTLE RUSTY AT THIS.
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD RESOLUTION 2203, MONTH OF MARCH AS MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS AND MONTH BE PASSED AS WRITTEN.
>> IT WAS MOVED BY CONNIE, SECONDED BY ERICA.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME ENSEMBLES THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING IN FOR OUR MARCH BOARD MEETINGS SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO OUR MUSIC EDUCATORS IN CANVAS WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND EVERY SINGLE DAY.
NEXT, FOR ITEM 4B, WE HAVE THE TIPTON PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS.
DR. ANSELM, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT?
>> WE AWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND LIFELONG LEARNING, FOR LEARNING SCHOLARSHIPS.
I JUST WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THOSE NAMES IF THAT'S OKAY.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MICHELLE FITZGERALD, JOSHUA RULE, BILLIE, JOE, MCEACHRAN AND SEAN TAMARA.
THOSE ARE OUR FOUR TIPPED IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNERS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. IS THERE ANY FURTHER NOTES FOR DISCUSSION? I SEE DR. ANSELM, I DO SEE IN OUR AGENDA WE HAVE A FEW MORE NAMES THAT ARE LISTED IN THERE.
AM I MISSING SOMETHING OR GAIL, CAN YOU POP IN ON THAT REAL QUICK?
>> YES. THERE ARE MORE NAMES THAT ARE IN THAT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS.
IT'S REBECCA FERRIS MILLIGAN, MICHELLE FITZGERALD, MICHELLE COLLIN, ALVIN LUSTIG, STEPHANIE SHARP, BRIAN GRAM, BILLY JOE MCEACHERN, JOSHUA RULE, AND SEAN TAMARA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR RECIPIENTS.
>> THANKS, COREY. THOSE WERE THE FOUR THAT I HAD IN MY SOUP REPORT.
ITEM 5A ON OUR AGENDA IS BOARD COMMUNICATION.
[5. BOARD COMMUNICATION]
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE BOARD MEMBERS A CHANCE TO SHARE AS A GROUP WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO OR ANYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.I KNOW THAT YESTERDAY DR. ANSELM AND CONNIE AND TRACY AND I ATTENDED THE WAZDA, WASAU, WASBO ALL THOSE ACRONYMS LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE WHERE WE GOT TO HEAR UPDATES ON WHAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN WORKING ON.
WE HAD GOT TO HEAR FROM THE DIFFERENT CHAIRS AND RANKING MINORITY MEMBERS ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEES.
WE HEARD VERY BRIEFLY FROM GOVERNOR AINSLIE, AND WE ALSO HEARD QUITE A BIT FROM STATE SUPERINTENDENT CHRIS REICHDOLL.
I DON'T KNOW IF CONNIE, TRACY OR JOHN, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO SHARE FROM THAT EVENT.
I THINK YOU TWO ARE WHAT WAS IT A 15, 20 SECOND MESSAGE FROM OUR GOVERNOR.
BUT SUPERINTENDENT RECTAL, I THINK HAD SOME REALLY GREAT UPDATES AND ADVICE REALLY TO JUST
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KEEP PUSHING FOR EDUCATION FUNDING BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING A SMALLER PROPORTION OF THE STATE BUDGET.>> I REMEMBER ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WE'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT THE MCCLEARY FIXED SINCE 2018 AND THAT WHEN THE MCCLEARY LEGISLATION TOOK EFFECT.
THE STATE WAS DESIGNATING APPROXIMATELY 51, 52% OF THEIR BUDGET TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, BECAUSE PUBLIC EDUCATION IS SPELLED OUT AS THE PARAMOUNT DUTY OF THE WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE IS TO SUPPORT BASIC EDUCATION.
SINCE 2018 AS THE STATE BUDGET HAS GROWN, EDUCATION HAS NOT KEPT PACE TO THE POINT WHERE ACTUALLY ABOUT 42-43% OF THE BUDGET NOW, IS DESIGNATED TOWARDS BASIC EDUCATION.
WHAT WE HAVEN'T KEPT PACE WITH OUR GROWING BUDGET IN TERMS OF THE STATE.
I THOUGHT ONE FACT THAT WAS INTERESTING WAS A RUTGERS STUDY THAT THEY DID ABOUT BASICALLY HOW EACH STATE INVESTS A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR GDP INTO PUBLIC EDUCATION.
THAT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 3.6% OF A STATE'S GDP IS INVESTED INTO PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND WASHINGTON CURRENTLY SITS AT 3.1% BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
I ALSO FOUND IT INTERESTING WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW EVERYBODY POINTS TO FINLAND AS THE EDUCATION MODEL.
WHY CAN'T WE JUST BE MORE LIKE FINLAND AND ADOPT MORE OF THOSE? THAT FINLAND ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE THE NUMBER WAS, I THINK I WROTE DOWN HERE 7.7% OF THEIR GDP IS INVESTED INTO PUBLIC EDUCATION.
IF WE WANT TO BE MORE LIKE FINLAND, WE NEED TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE HAVE TOWARDS PUBLIC EDUCATION.
SORRY, CONNIE, I DIDN'T MEAN TO JUMP ALL OVER YOU THERE.
THAT WAS ONE THAT GOT ME RILED UP A LITTLE BIT.
>> IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT INCREASING TEACHER EDUCATION, PRODUCING MORE TEACHERS.
I CAME AWAY FROM THAT FEELING LIKE THAT'S GREAT, IF WE HAVE MONEY TO PAY OUR TEACHERS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT BUDGET CUTS AND SO I WAS FRUSTRATED THAT THEY'RE NOT FOCUSING ON FUNDING WHAT WE HAVE.
I DIDN'T COME BACK OPTIMISTIC.
IT WAS INTERESTING BUT A DOWNER AS FAR AS WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THE LEGISLATURE.
THIS SESSION, A LOT TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND SPECIAL ED FUNDING.
>> BUT EVEN WITH THAT, THE SPECIAL ED FUNDING, WELL, I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO BE HONEST WITH YOU IN HOW OUR LEGISLATURE IS COMING THROUGH ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.
BECAUSE IT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE THEY FEEL LIKE, WELL, WE DID MCLAREN, NOW WE'RE DONE.
EVEN THE SMALL FIXES THAT THEY HAD ON SPECIAL ED, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND THE GOVERNOR ACTUALLY MADE A MENTION IN HIS SHORT RECORDED MESSAGE ABOUT HIS BUDGET PUTTING FORTH MORE INVESTMENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, WELL, FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF WASHINGTON I BELIEVE THE NUMBER WAS SOMETHING AROUND $50 MILLION FOR ALL 295 DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.
SUPERINTENDENT WRIGHT DAHL WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW OSPI DID A STUDY THAT REALLY IN ORDER TO FULLY FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE STATE NEEDS TO PUT IN INTO THIS BIENNIUM, SO INTO A TWO-YEAR BUDGET, THEY NEED TO PUT ABOUT $800 MILLION INTO BASIC EDUCATION TO FUND SPECIAL ED.
RIGHT NOW EVEN THE MORE ROSIER OF THE LEGISLATION THAT'S UNDER CONSIDERATION IS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF 5-6 HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS SPREAD OVER FOUR YEARS.
I GUESS THE MESSAGE IS, HELP IS NOT ON THE WAY FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MEET AND BUILD OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LEGISLATORS AROUND HERE.
ERICA AND JOHN AND I MET RECENTLY WITH SENATOR WILSON, REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS, BUT IT'S NOT COMING.
I ACTUALLY FOUND IT WAS INTERESTING THAT CHRIS WRIGHT DAHL WAS SAYING THAT HE SEES SPECIAL EDUCATION AND THE LACK OF FUNDING OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AS BEING A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE AND THAT HE'S EXPECTING LAWSUITS TO COME AROUND THAT PRETTY SOON.
HE SAID HONESTLY, HE'S SURPRISED THAT THERE AREN'T DISTRICTS THAT HAVE FILED SUIT ALREADY.
HATE TO BE THE DOWNER THERE ON THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS WANTED TO SHARE ANYTHING ELSE,
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BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T SOUND LIKE HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR US, AND WHEN OUR DISTRICT IS 80 PERCENT FUNDED BY THE STATE, BY THE DOLLARS THEY SEND DOWN, THAT'S NOT GREAT NEWS FOR US OR ANYBODY REALLY.>> I'LL JUST ECHO WHAT YOU GUYS SAID, SORRY CONNIE.
THE SPECIAL ED WAS A HUGE THING AND WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THAT AND BEING SHORT 800 MILLION IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON ON SPECIAL ED AND JUST THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SAFETY NET FUNDING THAT HELPS SOME OF THAT IN THE END, BUT IT STILL DOESN'T COVER ALL THE COSTS OF SPECIAL ED.
ANOTHER THING THAT WAS A LITTLE DISHEARTENING BUT THAT WE ALREADY KNOW IS, AND WE DIDN'T STAY FOR THE DAY ON THE HILL BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE A BOARD MEETING, BUT THEY ALSO SAY YOU GOT TO MAKE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AHEAD OF TIME, WHICH WE'VE BEEN DOING.
TO GO UP AND SPEND 10 MINUTES IN FRONT OF THEM TODAY, WHICH WE WOULD HAVE STAYED TO DO, IT'S MORE BENEFICIAL FOR US TO DO.
I GET THERE IS POWER IN NUMBERS, BUT THOSE MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE ON THE SIDE AND THEN WE MEET WITH THEM AND CREATING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AHEAD OF TIME.
INSTEAD OF JUST THAT 15 MINUTES WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN TODAY IS WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP DOING AND FOCUSING ON AND PUTTING OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES IN FRONT OF THEM.
THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT HOW EMAILS, LIKE PEOPLE JUST SEND BLANKET EMAILS THAT HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION.
THEY JUST CHANGE THE HEADING ON IT.
IT'S LIKE THEY GET A HUNDREDS OF THOSE A DAY.
THEY NEED A STORY, THEY NEED A CHILD STORY, THEY NEED A VIDEO, THEY NEED SOMETHING THAT'S MORE TANGIBLE, THAT'S LIKE, HEY, I REMEMBER TALKING TO THAT STUDENT AND THIS REALLY AFFECTED THEM IN THEIR SCHOOL LIFE.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT THEY NEED THAT WE NEED TO KEEP DOING AND PUSHING TO THEM IN ORDER TO GET OUR MESSAGE ACROSS.
>> YEAH. I WOULD ALSO ADD TO THAT, SINCE I KNOW WE HAVE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE ON WATCHING US TONIGHT.
OUR 17TH DISTRICT LEGISLATORS, SO SENATOR WILSON AND REPRESENTATIVES HARRISON WATTERS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HOLDING A TOWN HALL ON SATURDAY, MARCH 18TH, I BELIEVE IT'S DOWN AT THE PORT.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE TIME OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT IT'S SOMETIME IN THE MORNING, AND SO THAT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICTS.
WE HEARD THAT EVERYBODY IS IN THE SAME SITUATION, WE'RE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
WE HEARD THAT WE'RE AMONG APPROXIMATELY 30 DISTRICTS IN THE STATE WHERE OUR FUNDING FOR SALARIES, OUR REGIONALIZATION COST IS TICKING DOWN ONE PERCENT EVERY YEAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
OTHER THAN THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REEVALUATE THE FORMULA AND THEY NEVER DID.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A GREAT ARTICLE THAT WAS IN SEATTLE TIMES AND I THINK I SAW IT ON THE COLOMBIAN WEBSITE THIS MORNING TOO, THAT'S ACTUALLY AN INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS WRIGHT DAHL ABOUT THIS.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO AND LOOK AT THAT AND USE THAT TO FRAME WHERE WE'RE AT FOR THESE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS OF SOME DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS HERE.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHEN WE'RE SHORT THE SPECIAL ED FUND, THAT SOME OF THAT MONEY HAS TO COME OUT OF OUR LEVY.
WE COULD USE THAT LEVY MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS IF THE STATE WAS FULLY FUNDING THE SPECIAL ED, AND SINCE THEY'RE NOT SO MUCH USE ON THAT LEVY AND THERE WAS COMMENTS ABOUT HOW IT'S NOT EVEN LEGAL TO DO SOME OF THAT.
JUST NOTE THAT THAT'S WHY WE PUSH ON THAT SO MUCH SO THAT OUR LOCAL DOLLARS CAN BE USED FOR MORE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT THEM TO BE USED FOR THAT HELP OUR KIDS NOT FULLY FUNDING THE SPECIAL ED, WHICH IS THE DUTY OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
>> WE ACTUALLY AS A DISTRICT, WE SPEND 3.2 MILLION OUT OF OUR LEVY AND THAT'S ABOUT 18 PERCENT OF OUR LOCAL LEVY REVENUE THAT IS JUST SPENT ON SPECIAL EDUCATION, WHICH IS BASIC EDUCATION.
BY LAW, LEVY SHOULD BE FOR EVERYTHING EXTRA ON TOP OF BASIC EDUCATION.
BUT BECAUSE THE STATE IS NOT FULLY FUNDING BASIC EDUCATION, WE HAVE TO DO THAT WITH LEVY DOLLARS.
WE DO THE SAME THING FOR THE EXTRA STUFF.
WE HAVE TO LOWER CLASS SIZES FOR TRANSPORTATION.
THERE'S LOTS OF STUFF THAT I THINK THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOT CONSIDER TO BE JUST AN EXTRA NICE TO HAVE THING THAT WE ARE FUNDING OUT OF LEVY THAT OFF THE BACKS OF OUR LOCAL TAXPAYERS.
>> I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF OUR SPECIAL ED EXPENSES, BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON WHICH STUDENTS WE HAVE IN OUR DISTRICT AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, AND WE ARE OBLIGATED OBVIOUSLY, AND WE WANT TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN, GIVE THEM THE BEST EDUCATION THAT WE CAN AND WE HAVE FAMILIES MOVE IN.
IT'S PRETTY UNPREDICTABLE YEAR TO YEAR WHAT THOSE COSTS WILL BE.
AGAIN, LIKE YOU SAID, HOW MUCH OF THAT WILL HAVE TO TAKE OUT OF OUR LEVY DOLLARS WHICH THEN TAKE AWAY FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF LEGISLATION THAT IS CURRENTLY IN COMMITTEE THAT IT DEFINITELY HAS WELL INTENTIONS BEHIND IT, BUT IT'S A LOT OF POLICY CHANGES THAT ARE UNFUNDED.
[00:25:03]
THINGS LIKE CERTAIN UPPING THE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECESS FOR EXAMPLE.OF COURSE, WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT, BUT IF THE LEGISLATURE REALLY THINKS THAT THAT IS A PRIORITY THEN THEY NEED TO FUND IT AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT ARE CURRENTLY FLOATING AROUND THE COMMITTEE ROOMS RIGHT NOW.
JUST ENCOURAGE US TO STAY UP ON TIME, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT FOLLOWING UP THE LEGISLATORS HERE SHORTLY BEFORE THEIR NEXT TOWN HALL JUST TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP SUPPORTING THEM ON THAT.
REALLY KEEP DRIVING THE POINT HOME, LIKE I SAID WHEN 80 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET COMES FROM THE STATE, WE NEED THE STATE'S HELP.
>> I WOULD ALSO WANT TO SWITCH GEARS HERE A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT, LIKE OVER THE LAST WEEK THE INFORMATION THAT WAS CIRCULATING IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT CLOSING HAYES FREEDOM OR MOVING HAYES FREEDOM.
JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE PUT OUT A PUBLIC STATEMENT LAST WEEK THAT WE ARE NOT CLOSING HAYES FREEDOM, WE ARE NOT MOVING HAYES FREEDOM.
THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, THAT'S NOT ON THE TABLE.
JUST I KNOW WE'VE CONTINUED TO GET EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS AND PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT'S WHY WE HAVE 208 PARTICIPANTS IN OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TODAY WHERE USUALLY WE HAVE LIKE FIVE.
[LAUGHTER] I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE THAT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON DOING.
>> THANK YOU. YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH THERE FOR OUR NEXT TRANSITION.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD JUST THROUGH THE RUMOR MAILS OR THROUGH ANY FORMAL OR INFORMAL COMMUNICATION, BOTTOM LINE IS, THE BUCK STOPS WITH THE BOARD AND I KNOW I SPEAK FOR EVERYONE ON THE BOARD WHEN I SAY THAT HAYES FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL IS STAYING EXACTLY WHERE IT IS.
IT'S NOT BEING MOVED, IT'S NOT BEING CONSOLIDATED.
THIS ISN'T A SEMANTICS THING WHERE ONCE WE APPROVE THE BUDGET OVER THE SUMMER THAT SUDDENLY WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH THINGS AROUND.
WE FULLY SUPPORT HAYES FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO THERE, THE STUDENTS THERE.
I ACTUALLY GOT TO GO AND VISIT IT AS PART OF THE SITE VISIT EARLIER LAST WEEK, ON TUESDAY, I THINK.
GOT TO GO, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO GO IN THERE AND SEE THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.
I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, THAT HAYES FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL IS HOW PUBLIC EDUCATION SHOULD BE, AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE THAT RESOURCE FOR OUR FAMILIES AND FOR OUR STUDENTS.
QUITE HONESTLY, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE ANXIETY AND THE TRAUMA THAT HAS SURROUNDED THIS IN THE COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS AMONG CERTAIN PEOPLE AND WE DEFINITELY HEAR YOU ON THAT AND WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO SEEING HAYES FREEDOM THROUGH.
AGAIN, I'LL JUST REITERATE, IT'S NOT MOVING.
IT'S NOT CONSOLIDATING. FULL STOP.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT ANYONE WANTS TO SAY ON THAT?
>> ACTUALLY, IT WAS NEVER A START SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY FULL STOP, [LAUGHTER] BUT I DO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT BUDGET CUTS ARE HARD AND WE HAVE A TOUGH JOB AHEAD OF US WITH THIS BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS OUT THERE AND LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THINGS AND PEOPLE GO TO DIFFERENT SOURCES TO GET INFORMATION AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE, AND THEN IT ALWAYS FEELS AS IF IT'S FIRE.
SO I'M JUST SAYING, ASK A BOARD MEMBER, ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT, WE'VE TRIED TO PUT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO I'M JUST RECOGNIZING THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THERE'S TOUGH DECISIONS COMING UP AND WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO MAKE ANY OF THEM, BUT WE KNEW IT WAS COMING AND WILL BE DISCUSSING THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER, I THINK WHEN JASEN IS ON HIS BUDGET REPORT, BUT THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE REGARDLESS OF THE REASON.
>> ANYTHING ELSE ANYBODY WANTS TO SHARE?
JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS IF I CAN GO BACK TO THE SEMINAR YESTERDAY.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S GREAT FOR ME ON A PERSONAL NOTE TO GO UP AND HEAR FROM A STATE PERSPECTIVE.
I ABSOLUTELY CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID.
I THINK WE HAVE A BIG FIGHT AHEAD OF US, BUT IT'S A GOOD FIGHT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE CHRIS REICHDOLL SAID THAT SURPRISED ME WAS THAT WASHINGTON STATE IS
[00:30:03]
ACTUALLY GIVING LESS OF OUR GMP TO EDUCATION THAN THE AVERAGE OF THE UNITED STATES.THAT SURPRISED ME BECAUSE AS YOU ALWAYS SAY, CAMAS BEING A DESTINATION DISTRICT, I LOVE WHEN YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S SO TRUE, BUT WASHINGTON IS ALSO A DESTINATION STATE PRE-K THROUGH HIGHER ED.
SO I THINK KUDOS TO OUR EDUCATORS, OUR FAMILIES, WHO HAVE DONE THE WORK WITH LESS FUNDING.
I THINK WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WASHINGTON HAS JUST DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB BEING UNDERFUNDED.
THEN I'LL ADDRESS SOME OF THE OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING HAYES IN MY SUP REPORT IN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE INVITE, IS VERY INTERESTING AND GLAD TO BE BACK.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ANYBODY WANTS TO SHARE BEFORE WE MOVE ON?
>> I'VE JUST ONE MORE TIDBIT, JUST GOING BACK TO OUR BUDGET.
CAMAS DID VERY WELL UNDER OUR OLD BUDGET STRUCTURE BEFORE MCCLEARY.
WE WERE LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE FUNDS THAT WE DID AND WE USED THEM TO BUILD AN AMAZING DISTRICT WITH ALL KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES.
SINCE MCCLEARY, WE HAVE NOT FARED AS WELL STATEWIDE FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS, SOME OF WHICH WE CAN EXPLAIN, SOME OF WHICH WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, FOR EXAMPLE, LEVY EQUALIZATION IS GOING DOWN, AND IT'S DIFFERENT DISTRICT BY DISTRICT AROUND US, WE CAN LOOK NEXT DOOR AND SEE THAT THE DISTRICTS HAVE TOTALLY DIFFERENT ISSUES THAN WE DO.
BUT JUST WANTED TO REITERATE WITH THIS NEW FUNDING MODEL, CAMAS HAS BEEN HIT HARD AND SO WE NEED TO FUNDAMENTALLY LOOK AT HOW WE USE OUR RESOURCES IN OUR DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS EXCELLENT LEVEL OF EDUCATION THAT WE PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY.
>> YEAH. IT'S FRUSTRATING AS TAXPAYERS HERE TOO THAT WE WERE WINNERS UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM BECAUSE WE HAD A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY AND WE STILL DO, BUT WE HAD A COMMUNITY THAT WOULD SUPPORT OUR LEVIES AT SUCH A HIGH RATE AND THEY KNEW THAT THAT INVESTMENT WAS WORTH IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE NEW WAY THAT THE MCCLEARY DECISION CAME AROUND AND CHANGED A LOT OF THE FUNDING, A LOT MORE OF OUR LOCAL MONEY IS NOW GOING TO THE STATE AND THEN BEING REDISTRIBUTED OUT.
SO AS A TAXPAYER, IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE YOUR TAXES NECESSARILY GOING DOWN BUT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING FINANCIAL TROUBLES.
WE DID HERE THOUGH, LIKE I SAID, AT THAT CONFERENCE THAT WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THAT SITUATION.
ANYWAYS, WE COULD GO ON FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT THIS. ANYTHING ELSE?
[6. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM 6 IN OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMENT.BEFORE I GET INTO PUBLIC COMMENT, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DID RECEIVE ABOUT 14 WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.
THOSE WRITTEN COMMENTS ARE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD ON OUR WEBSITE IN THE AGENDA.
BEFORE WE GET GOING HERE, I'VE GOT MY TYPICAL DIRECTIONS THAT WE GIVE BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT AMENDED SLIGHTLY FOR OUR ZOOM ENVIRONMENT.
THE BOARD VALUES PUBLIC INPUT.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD IS TO ACTIVELY LISTEN AND REFLECT ON PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THE BOARD MAY ONLY DISCUSS AND ACT UPON ITEMS INCLUDED IN THE WRITTEN AGENDA.
FOR THAT REASON, BOARD MEMBERS CANNOT RESPOND TO ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT CAN ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT TO FOLLOW UP ON ISSUES RAISED DURING PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC INPUT EMPHASIZE THE RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS.
BOISTEROUS CONDUCT WILL NOT BE PERMITTED AT ANY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NOR WILL ANY HARASSING OR THREATENING REMARKS BE TOLERATED.
COMPLAINTS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE AS A PERSONNEL MATTER.
FOR ZOOM, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TONIGHT, SO I'M GOING TO GO AND EXPLAIN THAT.
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT MAY DO SO BY RAISING THEIR HAND IN ZOOM.
WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN, YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BY OUR WEBINAR HOST, AND EACH PERSON PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES.
ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE ABILITY TO SHARE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
THE WEBINAR HOST WILL ALSO GIVE YOU A 30-SECOND NOTICE WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT IN YOUR TIME, AND THEN ALSO LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP.
SO, GAIL, I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT HAD BEEN RAISING THEIR HANDS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THEM IN THE ORDER THAT THEY RAISED THEIR HAND THAT'D BE GREAT.
[00:35:01]
[NOISE] THIS IS KINDYL.MY NAME IS KINDYL AND I AM A NON-BINARY AUTISTIC FRESHMEN AT HAYES FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAVE A WRITTEN NOTE SO IF YOU PLEASE LET ME READ THROUGH IT THAT'D BE AMAZING.
MY MIDDLE SCHOOL JOURNEY WAS HELL.
I WAS AT ODYSSEY MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR MOST OF MY MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS.
I'VE FACED CHALLENGES IN ALL AREAS WITH STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, AND CURRICULUM.
SADLY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE A SINGLE YEAR FOR A NUMBER OF PAINFUL REASONS.
BECAUSE DISCOVERY AND ODYSSEY SHARE A CAMPUS TEACHERS AND LEARNING STRUCTURE.
I KNEW THAT I COULD NOT GO TO DISCOVERY FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
WHILE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, I ALSO SPENT TIME AT CAMAS CONNECT ACADEMY WHERE I WAS BORED AND SAD AND I WAS NOT LEARNING.
THAT WAS NOT AN OPTION FOR A HIGH SCHOOL EITHER.
I TOOK A TOUR OF CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL AND I WAS TOLD THAT I'D HAVE TO AVOID CERTAIN TEACHERS BECAUSE I WAS QUEER AND SHOULDN'T TAKE THEIR CLASSES, THEY ALSO MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THEY COULD NOT PREVENT BULLYING FROM OTHER STUDENTS.
IT WAS A HUGE SCHOOL AND VERY CROWDED, AND THE TOUR AND CONVERSATION WHERE OVERWHELMING AND SCARY.
THIS WAS THE ONLY HIGH SCHOOL OPTION IN THE DISTRICT THAT PROVIDED HOPE FOR ME.
MY TIME AT HAYES HAS BEEN A DREAM.
I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER HIGH SCHOOL.
IT IS A SAFE PLACE WHERE I CAN BOTH LEARN AND EXPRESS MYSELF.
IT IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT I HAVE HAD A BIG FRIEND GROUP.
WHEN I NEEDED A PLACE TO EAT BECAUSE I COULD NOT EAT IN THE CAFETERIA DUE TO COVID PRECAUTIONS, HOLMES, MY PRINCIPAL HAD MULTIPLE OPTIONS WHERE ME AND MY FRIENDS COULD EAT.
WHEN I HAD AN ISSUE WITH A TEACHER, I WAS ABLE TO GO TO HOLMES AND SHE LISTENED TO ME AND TOOK ACTION.
THE BUILDING AT HAYES IS SMALL AND COZY.
EVERY INCH IS UTILIZED AND VALUED AND WE AS STUDENTS ARE NOT PACKED TOGETHER, IT FEELS SAFE AND COMFORTABLE.
HAYES SHOULD BE A PROTECTED PLACE, BOTH THE BUILDING AND THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO IF HAYES IS NOT HERE, I HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE HAYES AND DON'T MOVE IT TO ANOTHER SCHOOL.
IT MIGHT SEEM SMALL, BUT MANY OF THE STUDENTS, LIKE ME HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS.
WE WERE ABANDONED BY THE COMMUNITY, BUT HAYES HAS BECOME OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ONLY HAVE SEVEN TEACHERS HERE AT HAYES, AND WE DO NOT HAVE WIGGLE ROOM FOR STAFF PROGRAM OR ADMINISTRATIVE CUTS EVEN IF THE BUILDING REMAINS.
WE ARE THE MOST FINANCIALLY EFFICIENT HIGH SCHOOL ON CAMPUS.
PLEASE LEAVE US ALONE AND LET US CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE DO.
YOU MAY WONDER WHY PEOPLE ARE SO CONVINCED THAT YOU WOULD TRASH HAYES, BUT THAT IS DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF THE DISTRICTS ACTIONS.
MY MOM AND I WERE LOOKING IN THROUGH CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS FACEBOOK PAGE, DO YOU REALIZE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SINGLE POST DEDICATED TO HAYES OR HAYES STUDENTS SINCE THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER.
WE DIDN'T EVEN GO BACK FURTHER THAN THAT.
THE ONLY MENTION OF OUR EXISTENCE IS BURIED IN ONE POST DEDICATED TO STOP THE BUS, AND IT FLIPPANTLY MENTIONS HAYES PARTICIPATING IN THE WALKING UP, NO PICTURES ATTACHED.
HAYES AND OUR STUDENTS ARE TREATED LIKE AN AFTERTHOUGHT IN THIS DISTRICT, RARELY CELEBRATED, BARELY RESPECTED.
YOU EXPECT US TO ACCESS AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES LIKE CHS A SCHOOL THAT MANY OF US DON'T FEEL WELCOME AT.
DO YOU REALIZE HOW MESSED UP THAT IS? THE DISTRICT HAS BARELY INVESTED IN US SO IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT WE WOULD THINK THAT YOU'D CUT US.
WE'RE HAYES, KIND, PROUD FELLAS.
>> THANK YOU KINDYL. THE NEXT PERSON I HAVE UP IS COACH WITH KIMBERLY.
>> HI. THIS IS KIMBERLY BARRY. HELLO?
>> THERE YOU GO. YOU GOT MUTED FOR A SECOND, TOO BAD [OVERLAPPING].
>> MY NAME IS KIMBERLY BARRY FOR THE RECORD, I AM A PROUD PARENT OF A HAYES GRADUATE AND A STUDENT CURRENTLY AT HAYES.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
[00:40:02]
I HOPE NONE OF YOU ON THE SCHOOL BOARD HAVE EVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE YOUR CHILD IS BEGGING YOU TO LET HER DIE.I HOPE NONE OF YOU WILL EVER HAVE TO SURVIVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WITH YOUR CHILD.
BUT FOR FAMILIES LIKE MINE AND OTHERS OF US IN THIS DISTRICT, THESE ARE NIGHTMARE SITUATIONS WE HAVE TO ENDURE.
WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS ACTIVELY SUICIDAL, SHE CANNOT LEAVE OUR HOUSE AND ATTENDING SCHOOL WAS OFF THE TABLE.
I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT KEEPING MY DAUGHTER ALIVE THAN HER ATTENDANCE BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE STRENGTH OF MY DAUGHTER WE WON THE HARD-FOUGHT BATTLE AGAINST HER MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES.
BY THE TIME WE BEGAN TO FORECAST FOR NINTH GRADE, WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT CHAPTER IN MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE.
HOWEVER, THE DISTRICT MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS COSTING THE DISTRICT TOO MUCH MONEY AND PERHAPS CAMAS WAS NOT THE PLACE FOR HER. I WAS ENRAGED.
AS A SINGLE MOM, I HAVE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING TO GET MY DAUGHTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS THE EDUCATION THAT CAMAS HAS TO OFFER.
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT EDUCATION IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER.
EVEN THOUGH I COULDN'T TAKE THEM ON TRIPS TO DISNEYLAND OR WHISK THEM OFF TO EUROPE, LIKE SOME OF THEIR COUNTERPARTS HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO DO.
I WAS FOCUSED ON THEIR FUTURE.
I WANTED THEM TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE THAN I DID.
WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE A TEACHER WHO FOUGHT FOR MY DAUGHTER AND SUGGESTED THAT HAYES MIGHT BE OUR SAVING GRACE.
MY DAUGHTER HAD TO TEST TO SEE IF SHE COULD GET PLACEMENT AT HAYES.
BUT FROM THE MOMENT WE MET AMY HOLMES, WE KNEW THINGS WERE DIFFERENT AT HAYES.
SHE TOOK A CHANCE ON MY DAUGHTER AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I OWE HER A DEBT THAT I CAN NEVER REPAY.
THE DISTRICT WAS READY TO GIVE UP ON MY CHILD, BUT AMY HOLMES WASN'T.
MY DAUGHTER, GRADUATED WITH HONORS WITH AMAZING ATTENDANCE.
IF I WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP ON HER LIKE THE DISTRICT DID, I'M SCARED TO THINK OF WHERE SHE WOULD BE NOW.
MY CHILD ISN'T THE ONLY CHILD WHO HAS A STORY LIKE THIS.
THAT MENTAL HEALTH ISN'T SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT IN CAMAS.
WE JUST BRUSH IT UNDER THE RUG.
HOWEVER, THERE'S A REALITY SOME OF THE STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT ARE FACING THAT SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.
THESE REALITIES SHOW UP EVERY DAY TO SCHOOL, THEY WALK THE HALLWAYS AT HAYES AND THEY HAVE TO TAP INTO THEIR COURAGE JUST TO SHOW UP EVERY MORNING.
HAVING A SMALLER SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT ALLOWS STAFF TO KEEP A PULSE ON THEIR STUDENTS AND UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF AMY HOLMES, SHE GUIDES HER STAFF ON HOW TO BEST SUPPORT HER STUDENTS.
A BIGGER CAMPUS WOULD BE TOO OVERWHELMING FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENTS BUT SMALLER CAMPUS ALLOWS OUR CHILDREN TO PROSPER, IS A PART OF THE DNA THAT MAKES HAYES SUCCESSFUL.
STORY AFTER STORY SHOWS THAT HAYES NOT ONLY CHANGES LIVES BUT SAVES THEM.
WE SAW THE FALLOUT WHEN THE IAA PROGRAM WAS SHUT DOWN IN 2020.
WE HAD CHILDREN DROPOUT, MOVE AWAY FROM CAMAS AND BECOME SUICIDAL.
IF HAYES IS CONSOLIDATED, WE WILL BE FACING A SIMILAR ISSUE AND THAT'S NOT BLOOD I WANT ON MY HANDS.
I HOPE YOU DON'T WANT IT ON YOURS.
I DON'T WANT HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF, AND WE HAVE A CHANCE TO ENSURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
IF EVERY STUDENT IS TO BE SEEN AND HEARD, THEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SEE AND HEAR OUR CHILDREN NOW.
BECAUSE I FOR ONE, WILL NEVER FORGET IF THIS CAMPUS IS CONSOLIDATED.
BECAUSE I'M THE ONE THAT HAS TO LIVE WITH THE REALITY OF TELLING MY DAUGHTER THAT HER SCHOOL DOORS ARE CLOSED AND WHAT THAT WILL DO TO HER SOUL.
I ASKED YOU TO PLEASE KEEP HAYES AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION UNDER THE INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP OF AMY HOLMES, WHO IS A HEART AND SOUL OF THAT SCHOOL.
WE ASK THE BOARD TO GO ON RECORD TO STATE HAYES WILL BE OPENING ITS DOORS IN SEPTEMBER, NOT JUST DURING AN ARDUOUS BUDGET PROCESS AND IT WILL STAY AT ITS CURRENT BUILDING.
DON'T BREAK WHAT ISN'T BROKEN. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT PERSON TO SPEAK AS CAMDEN.
CAMDEN, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS CAMDEN AND I AM AN AUTISTIC ADHD KID AND I'M A JUNIOR AT HAYES AND EVERY TEACHER AND MISS HOLMES IS FAMILY MEMBER WHEN I'M AWAY FROM MY FAMILY, WHO'S DEALING WITH STUFF OR WHEN MY FRIENDS ARE DEALING WITH STUFF.
ALL MY FRIENDS ARE HEARD EQUALLY, NO MATTER IF THEY'RE GAY, QUEER, OR JUST THEY NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO.
THE COUNSELORS ARE AMAZING, AND I FEEL LIKE IF YOU TAKE AWAY THIS OPPORTUNITY, IT WOULD BE HORRIBLE FOR YOU GUYS AND US.
BUT YOU JUST CAN'T LISTEN TO THE STUDENTS NOW, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE PAST STUDENTS, THE PARENTS AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
BECAUSE IF YOU GO OFF MAKING THIS DECISION, IT'S GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF YOUR LIFE.
LET THE NEXT PERSON WOULD BE AUNNA ELM. AUNNA GO AHEAD.
>> HI. THANKS FOR HOLDING MEETING TONIGHT.
[00:45:01]
I REALLY JUST WANTED TO JUMP IN.I HAVE A SENIOR AT CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL WHO ATTENDED THE PBL PROGRAM FROM SIXTH THROUGH 11TH GRADE, TRANSITIONING OVER TO CHS TO TAKE SOME COURSES THAT DISCOVERY WAS NOT ABLE TO OFFER.
UNFORTUNATELY, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO JUMP IN AND JUST THANK THE BOARD FOR THEIR OVERVIEW OF THE SCHOOL FUNDING IN GENERAL THIS EVENING, I ATTENDED SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS FOR ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THE MCCLEARY LEGISLATION TOOK EFFECT, I WAS OFTEN THE ONLY PARENT IN THE ROOM AND I WAS DOING EVERYTHING I COULD TO EDUCATE MYSELF ABOUT THE COMPLEXITIES OF SCHOOL FUNDING SO THAT I COULD BE A BETTER ADVOCATE FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE FUNDED, AND THEREFORE OUR SCHOOLS OUR TEACHERS OUR KIDS.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR TONIGHT'S OVERVIEW AND URGE ALL THE PARENTS LISTENING TONIGHT TO BE ACTIVE CITIZENS, PLEASE ATTEND SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.
LISTEN TO OUR BUDGET DIRECTORS.
THE BUDGET REPORTS AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, ASK QUESTIONS, THAT'S GREAT.
YOU WILL LEARN HOW YOU CAN BE EFFECTIVE ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
I GOT REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH CALLING OUR TWO LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS REPRESENTATIVES OUR SENATOR.
I JUST URGE PEOPLE TO BE PROACTIVE BECAUSE OUR FUNDING SITUATION AND THE BUDGET SHORTFALLS ARE REALLY SERIOUS AND THEY WILL NOT GET BETTER UNLESS PARENTS ARE REALLY ACTIVELY INVOLVED.
>> THANK YOU, AUNNA. NEXT WE HAVE RUBY. RUBY, GO AHEAD.
I JUST WANTED TO FOR ONE JUST THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING THIS MEETING AND EVERYTHING.
I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT THERE'S A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO SPEAK DURING IT AND ALSO TELL THEIR STORIES AND EVERYTHING.
I KNOW THAT FIGURING OUT THE BUDGET AND EVERYTHING MUST BE REALLY TOUGH SITUATION JUST FOR EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER AND EVERYTHING, AND CURRENTLY I'M A SENIOR AT HAYES.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE THEY'VE MADE IN MY LIFE.
I'M CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH SOME PRETTY BAD MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT WILL STAY WITH ME FOR MY LIFE.
THAT STARTED LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS UNDER A WHOLE TON OF STRESS AND I WAS TRYING TO DO RUNNING START BECAUSE HAYES SUPPORTS RUNNING START STUDENTS REALLY WELL AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHY I CHOSE THE SCHOOL.
I STARTED DOING THAT AND THEN I GOT HIT PRETTY BAD WITH THE SICKNESS AND THEY WERE THERE TO SUPPORT ME.
I ENDED UP HAVING TO FAIL SOME OF MY COLLEGE CLASSES WITH HOW BAD IT WAS.
THEN SOME OF THEM I BARELY GOT A PASSING GRADE ON.
I ENDED UP JOINING BACK INTO HAYES WHEN THE SEMESTER WASN'T EVEN FINISHED.
AMY HOLMES SET TO FIGURE OUT HOW SHE WAS GOING TO PUT ME BACK INTO THE SYSTEM AND STILL GET ME SOME CREDIT SO THAT I'M ON TRACK TO GRADUATE.
SHE DID THAT AND SHE DID EVEN MORE.
SHE MADE A SPECIALIZED SCHEDULE FOR ME.
THE COUNSELOR HELPED ME FIGURE OUT A 504 PLAN.
I WAS SUPPORTED THE WHOLE WAY.
I REALLY WANT TO SAY THAT HAYES NOT ONLY DO YOU FEEL FREE TO SPEAK YOUR VOICE, THEY WANT YOU TO.
THEY PUSH YOU TOWARDS LETTING THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL AND HOW THEY CAN IMPROVE.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GREAT THING IN A SCHOOL.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE TEACHERS THERE.
I KNOW EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM AND I JUST I CAN'T IMAGINE LIFE AT HAYES WITHOUT WITHOUT ONE OF THEM. I CAN'T IMAGINE IT.
THEY'RE ALL VERY IMPORTANT TO THE SCHOOL AND THEY ALL HAVE VERY IMPORTANT ROLES.
EACH OF THEM. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE DAMIAN. GO AHEAD, DAMIAN.
>> HI. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I DO APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US BE HERE.
I WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE EVEN JUST WITH THE CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL.
MY THREE OLDEST KIDS DID AMAZING AT CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAVE NOTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY WOULD BE WHAT YOU WOULD CALL TYPICAL CHILDREN AND THEY DID JUST FINE.
HOWEVER, MY YOUNGEST CHILD, WHO IS A SOPHOMORE AT HAYES FREEDOM, HE HAS AUTISM.
[00:50:02]
HE ALSO HAS SOME MENTAL ISSUES, AS WELL AS BEING A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQA PLUS COMMUNITY.HE HAS BEEN IN THE CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS SINCE HE WAS THREE YEARS OLD.
I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THIS CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT ARE BITING AT THE BIT TO TRY AND GET IN HERE BASED ON WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED FOR MY CHILD SINCE HE WAS THREE.
I WORK TWO JOBS JUST TO STAY IN THE CITY, JUST TO KEEP HIM AT HAYES.
IT ISN'T JUST THAT IT'S A FAMILY.
ONE HALL WITH NO LOCKERS MEANS NOBODY IS SLAMMING THE LOCKER DOORS OR CONGREGATING AND BEING LOUD TO WHERE IT DISRUPTS THESE CHILDREN'S SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDERS.
IT DOESN'T PUT THEM ON ANY SPECIAL ALERTS.
THESE TEACHERS DON'T ONLY TEACH THEM, BUT THEY DO STAND WITH THEM EVERY DAY FROM THE MOMENT THEY WALK IN THE FRONT DOOR TO THE MOMENT THEY GO INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS, AND TO THE MOMENT THEY LEAVE.
THEIR LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH US PARENTS IS MORE THAN WE COULD EVER ASK FOR.
I MIGHT FILED WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE SCORE PROGRAM, PRIVILEGED TO HAVE THE GREAT SPED TEAM OVER AT SKYRIDGE, AND PRIVILEGED TO BE WITH AMY HOLMES AND HER AMAZING TEAM.
HE WENT FROM BARELY PASSING CLASSES TO WELL ON HIS WAY TO BEING A 3.0 OR HIGHER AND GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL AND WANTS TO GO TO COLLEGE.
IT'S HIS TEACHERS THAT SIT DOWN WITH HIM AND TO TROUBLESHOOT AND BRAINSTORM AND FIGURE OUT IF YOU CAN'T LEARN MATH THIS WAY, HOW CAN YOU LEARN MATH? AND THEY DO IT? IF HE'S FAILING A CLASS, THEY REACH OUT TO ME, HE'S ON TRACK FOR NOT PASSING HIS CLASS.
WHAT CAN WE DO FOR HIM TO PASS? MARK GARDENER HAS TAUGHT TWO OF MY CHILDREN AT CAMAS AND TEACHES MY CHILD NOW AT HAYES.
I COULD NOT BEAR TO SEE HIM IN ANY OTHER SETTING OTHER THAN HAYES FREEDOM ONE HALLWAY ONE HEART, PLEASE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS DIFFICULT FOR YOU.
UNDERSTAND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US AND WE JUST DON'T SEE THE POINT. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WE UNDERSTAND YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CLOSE OR CONSOLIDATE WE NEED TO HEAR, PLEASE, THAT YOU CAN AT LEAST KNOW WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM AND INCLUDE US IN ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DAMIAN. THE NEXT WE HAVE LEXIE HOLMES. GO AHEAD, LEXIE.
>> HI THERE. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
>> I'M A 2020 GRADUATE FROM HAYES FREEDOM AND A LOT LIKE RUBY SAID, MY SENIOR YEAR, I DEVELOPED SOME SERIOUS MEDICAL ISSUES AND ALL THE STUFF THAT HE'S REALLY HELPED ME WORK THROUGH THAT AND HELPED ME FINISH SCHOOL.
I CAME IN TONIGHT EXPECTING TO SPEAK ON THE ONE HALLWAY ONE HEART THING.
YOU GUYS HAVE SAID A FEW TIMES THAT THE PLAN IS TO NOT CLOSE AND CONSOLIDATE HAYES AND THAT IT'S GOING TO STAY IN THE BUILDING.
IN TURN, I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STAFF AND THE TEACHERS AND I KNOW BUDGETING IS A BIG THING.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONSIDERATION, A LOT OF SCHOOLS, AND THAT EVERY BIT OF STAFF DESERVES THEIR PLACE AND EVERY BIT OF STAFF AND EVERY SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT.
HOWEVER, IN MY EXPERIENCE, THE STAFF AT HAYES IS SUCH A BIG FAMILY AND THEY ARE SO VITAL TO EVERYBODY.
I WALKED IN THAT BUILDING EVERY DAY AND I WAS GREETED BY THE FACES OF DJ AND KRISTY AND THE TEACHERS.
IF ANYTHING WAS OFF IN MY DAY, ANYTHING WAS OFF ABOUT ME THEY NOTICED.
IT WAS ARE YOU OKAY? WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT'S GOING ON AT HOME? HOW CAN I HELP YOU? I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANY OTHER SCHOOL THAT I KNOW SOMEONE'S GONE TO THAT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR THEM.
THAT SUPPORT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT TO HAVE TO SEE ANY OF THE STAFF GO WOULD JUST BE HEARTBREAKING.
THROUGHOUT MY TIME AT HAYES, I SAW A FEW TEACHERS LEAVE AND THEY WERE INSTRUCTORS THAT WE HAD FOR MANY YEARS.
WE HAD THEM FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR YEAR WHAT NOT.
FIVE YEARS LATER, I STILL THINK ABOUT THEM AND I STILL MISS THEM.
I STILL WISH THAT I COULD SEE EVERYBODY EVERY DAY.
[00:55:05]
I THINK THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IS THE PEOPLE AND THE HEART OF THE SCHOOL ITSELF.THE NEXT TO SPEAK WILL BE JENNY.
JENNY, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK NOW.
>> YES. I'M A PARENT AND I HAVE A THREE CHILDREN IN THE CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING THIS MEETING AVAILABLE VIA ZOOM.
I AM NOT ABLE TO MAKE IN-PERSON MEETINGS.
THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THIS HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
I HOPE THAT EVEN IF YOU HAVE IN-PERSON MEETINGS YOU CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THE ZOOM OPTIONS SO THAT PARENTS LIKE ME CAN CONTINUE TO BE INFORMED.
THAT WAS REALLY WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE COLEEN. COLEEN GO AHEAD.
>> HI. MY NAME IS COLEEN TAUTFEST, AND I CURRENTLY HAVE A NINTH GRADER ENROLLED AT DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL, WHO HAS BEEN ON THE PROJECT-BASED LEARNING CAMPUS SINCE HIS SIXTH-GRADE YEAR.
I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SAY HOW AMAZING AND LIFE-CHANGING THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN FOR MY STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILY, AND JUST TO ADVOCATE FOR THE INCREDIBLE COMPASSIONATE PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATORS AND LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE ACROSS THE BOARD IN OUR ENTIRE PBL CAMPUS.
IT IS THE MOST ACCEPTING, INCLUSIVE CAMPUS AND ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED HERE IN CAMAS.
I DEEPLY APPRECIATE HEARING ALL THE HAYES FREEDOM STORIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT AS WELL.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO HEAR THAT BOTH OF OUR SCHOOLS PROVIDE THIS ACCEPTANCE AND CONSIDERATION FOR OUR STUDENTS.
I HAVE WATCHED AND READ AND LISTENED A LOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND HAD EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS IN THE LAST WEEK.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THE DAUNTING TASK THAT YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN IN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND IN GOING THROUGH THIS BUDGET.
I CANNOT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE LEVEL OF STRESS AND PRESSURE THAT YOU'RE EACH FEELING DOING THIS AS VOLUNTEERS ON TOP OF OTHER JOBS AND PERSONAL LIFE COMMITMENTS.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL OF YOU AND AREA ADMINISTRATOR IN OUR DISTRICTS BECAUSE I IMAGINE EVERYONE IS FEELING AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF STRESS AND PRESSURE.
WE ARE AN INCREDIBLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT, AND I AM DOING MY PART NOW AS A PARENT AND A VOLUNTEER IN OUR DISTRICT.
I RECOGNIZE THAT I HAVE NOT DONE A GREAT JOB EDUCATING MYSELF ABOUT OUR BUDGET AND THE LEVEES AND ALL THE DIFFERENT INFORMATION.
I AM DOING MY HOMEWORK NOW AND I'M COMMITTING TO BE SUPPORTIVE AND TO DO THE WORK AND TO DO WHAT'S NEEDED TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SCHOOLS, AND ESPECIALLY OUR PROGRAMS OF CHOICE BECAUSE THEY ARE SO NECESSARY AND SO LIFE-CHANGING FOR SO MANY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THEM BECAUSE NOT EVERY SCHOOL IS THE RIGHT FIT FOR EVERY STUDENT, AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THESE AVAILABLE IN OUR DISTRICT.
I ENDED UP IN CAMAS BY ACCIDENT ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO AND NOW THAT I'M A PBL PERSON, I'M A PBL PERSON FOR LIFE.
I AM PROJECT-BASED ALL THE WAY AND THE ABILITY TO PIVOT AND BE RESOURCEFUL AND WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM, WHETHER YOU AGREE OR LIKE EACH OTHER OR NOT, IT HAS JUST BEEN SO LIFE CHANGING AND SO POSITIVE FOR MY STUDENTS AND FOR ME AS A PARENT AND A PROFESSIONAL ADULT.
I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK THERE AND JUST THANK AARON SMITH AND NICOLE O'ROURKE AND THE INCREDIBLE CULTURE AND COMMUNITY THAT THEY'VE ESTABLISHED THERE.
>> THANK YOU, COLEEN. NEXT WE HAVE CARMEN.
MY NAME IS CARMEN AND I'M A MOTHER OF THREE STUDENTS IN CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
TOGETHER MY KIDS HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH SIX DIFFERENT SCHOOLS HERE IN CSD.
WE'RE CURRENTLY RENEGADE AND OWLS.
I WON'T GO INTO MY KIDS VARIOUS IDENTITIES AND EXPERIENCES HERE BECAUSE THOSE ARE THEIR STORIES TO TELL.
[01:00:04]
HERE'S WHAT I CAN SAY.AFTER MY OLDEST CHILD ARRIVED AT HAYES, I SAW THEM GO FROM A STUDENT PREPARED TO DO BATTLE AT EVERY TURN, LARGELY BECAUSE OF TRAUMATIZING EXPERIENCES GROWING UP IN SCHOOLS THAT QUESTIONED, INVALIDATED AND ERASE THEIR WHOLENESS IN SO MANY WAYS, TO A CONFIDENT STUDENT WHO UNDERSTOOD THEIR OWN CAPACITY, RIGHTS, AND WORTH TO THEIR VERY CORE.
THIS MASSIVE SHIFT OCCURRED IN JUST A FEW MONTHS OF BEING AT HAYES AND I'M AN AWE OF THEIR CONTINUED GROWTH AND EVOLUTION.
NOW I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE ALLIES WITHIN THE DISTRICT ALONG THIS JOURNEY.
BUT IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAD BEEN UNIQUE AND NOT THE NORM.
HAYES FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL IS THE FIRST SCHOOL WHERE MY KIDDO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP AND JUST BE IN THEIR FULLNESS.
IT IS THE FIRST SYSTEM THAT HAS WHOLEHEARTEDLY EMBRACE THEM AND CARED FOR THEM, THAT HAS SEEN THEM, HEARD THEM, AND VALUED THEM.
THE ENVIRONMENT AT HAYES HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY CURATED AND CULTIVATED BY AMY HOLMES AND THE STAFF AS A STUDENT-CENTERED PLACE OF BELONGING WHERE EACH STUDENT IS EMBRACED IN WAYS WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED BEFORE IN THIS DISTRICT.
FROM THE SINGULAR HALLWAY TO THE WINDOWS AND SKYLIGHTS.
FROM A FOUR PERIOD DAY AND THE QUARTER SYSTEM TO INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION TO EACH STUDENT'S NEEDS AND WELL-BEING.
FROM GREETING KIDS EACH DAY AS THEY WALK IN THE DOORS OF THE SCHOOL TO THEIR ADVOCACY CLASS AND REGULAR ONE-TO-ONE CHECK-INS, FROM TEACHERS CALLING ME JUST TO SHARE POSITIVE FEEDBACK TO HOMES HANDING OUT HANDWRITTEN VALENTINE'S TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE BUILDING.
FROM AFTER HOURS MURAL PAINTING WITH THE TEACHER, TO BEING VULNERABLE ENOUGH TO LEAN INTO HARD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THERE ARE SO MANY MOMENTS DELIBERATELY AND THOUGHTFULLY APPROACHED TO INCREASE FEELINGS OF BELONGING AND COMMUNITY.
HAYES IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FROM THE HUSTLE AND GRIND CULTURE THAT SO OFTEN PERMEATES OUR KIDS LIVES, PARTICULARLY IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.
I'VE READ THE WORDS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SEEN THE EMAIL RESPONSES FROM THE BOARD WHERE YOU USE THE WORDS FALSE AND MISINFORMATION.
I'VE HEARD YOU TONIGHT SAY THAT HAYES IS NOT GETTING SHUT DOWN OR MOVING AND SO KNOWING THAT THE THREE SMALL CHOICE OPTIONS ARE ONE OF THE PLACES BEING STRONGLY CONSIDERED FOR BUDGET CUTS AND CONSOLIDATION.
I'VE BEEN ASKING MYSELF, WHY ARE SMALL HAYES COMMUNITY WOULD FEEL SO ACUTELY THREATENED? SOME DEEPER QUESTIONS HERE ARE, WHY DOES THE HAYES COMMUNITY FEELS SO UNDERVALUED? WHAT MESSAGES HAVE WE AS A LARGER COMMUNITY SENT THAT COMMUNICATE THAT THE HAYES COMMUNITY IS EASILY DISPOSABLE? WHY IS THE RENEGADE COMMUNITY SO TERRIFIED OF HAYES BEING TAKEN AWAY, CONSOLIDATED, OR MOVED? THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE AS A WHOLE COMMUNITY WOULD DO WELL TO CONTEMPLATE.
THEIR OPEN AND HONEST CONVERSATIONS TO BE HEARD CENTERING THESE VERY QUESTIONS.
PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH, SHOULD NEVER FEEL AS THOUGH A BUDGET IS BEING PRIORITIZED OVER THEIR VERY EXISTENCE.
THE MASCOT FOR HAYES IS THE RENEGADE.
ONE DEFINITION OF RENEGADE IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO REJECTS CONVENTIONAL BEHAVIOR, AND ANOTHER IS A PERSON WHO BEHAVES IN A REBELLIOUSLY, UNCONVENTIONAL MANNER.
SYNONYMS FOR RENEGADE INCLUDE AN AGITATOR, A DISSIDENT, A FIGHTER.
THE MOTTO FOR HAYES, FREEDOM RENEGADE IS KIND, PROUD, FEARLESS.
IF WE CHOOSE TO LOOK DEEPER HERE, WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HAYES IS A PLACE THAT WELCOMES THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE FELT OUTCAST BY THE LARGER COMMUNITY.
HAYES STRIVES TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE WHERE THESE STUDENTS KNOW THEY BELONG AND ARE SAFE TO SHOW UP FULLY AS THEY ARE.
RENEGADE KINDNESS ISN'T HERE TO CODDLE YOUR FEELINGS WHEN YOU'RE CAUSING HARM.
SOMETIMES THE KINDEST THING TO DO IS GIVE HARD FEEDBACK THAT MAKES PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE AND THAT THEY'D RATHER NOT HEAR.
RENEGADE PRIDE HOLDS FIRM TO OUR INHERENT DIGNITY IN A WORLD THAT WILL ATTEMPT TO DIMINISH OR ERASE IT ENTIRELY.
IT KNOWS WHEN TO FIGHT AND WHEN TO CELEBRATE THE WINS.
RENEGADE FEARLESSNESS SPEAKS TRUTH TO POWER EVEN WHEN THAT TRUTH COMES AT GREAT RISK TO THEMSELVES.
IT IS ROOTED IN LOVE AND JUSTICE.
WE ARE HERE TO SHARE THE POWERFUL COMMUNITY THAT MAKES US HAYES RENEGADE.
WE'RE HERE TO FIGHT FOR HAYES AS IT IS NOW, FOR THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF THAT ARE THERE NOW.
BUT ALSO WE'RE FIGHTING FOR THE FUTURE RENEGADES WHO ARE YET TO COME,
[01:05:02]
BUT WHO WILL ALWAYS NEED A PLACE TO BE UNCONDITIONALLY WELCOME, SEEN AND SERVED.PLEASE LEAN IN, GET UNCOMFORTABLE, ASK HARD QUESTIONS, BELIEVE PEOPLE, WHEN THEY TELL YOU THEIR EXPERIENCES.
FEEDBACK IS A GIFT IF YOU TREAT IT AS SUCH.
>> THANK YOU, CARMEN. BRIDGET BROOK.
YOU ARE OPEN, AVAILABLE TO SPEAK.
>> HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT?
>> I WENT TO HAYES, I GRADUATED IN 2010 WHEN I MOVED HERE TO CAMAS IN 2008, I STARTED GOING THERE AND I WAS NEVER AN ACADEMIC KID, BUT I WAS VERY MOTIVATED.
WHEN I STARTED GOING TO HAYES JUST LIKE SO MUCH ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION FROM THE TEACHERS WHO YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY REALLY CARE.
THAT ALSO MOTIVATED ME TO FINISH SCHOOL.
I DON'T THINK THAT I WOULD HAVE IF I DIDN'T GO TO HAYES.
WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THEM POSSIBLY CLOSING THE SCHOOL OR CUTTING BACK ON THE BUDGET OR WHATEVER, I JUST FELT REALLY BUMMED OUT THAT OTHER KIDS THAT ARE BUILT DIFFERENT WOULDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THAT WOULD JUST [INAUDIBLE]. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRIDGET.
WE HAVE KRISTY WOODRUFF. GO AHEAD, KRISTY.
>> THANK YOU. FIRST SCHOOL BOARD, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I TRULY DO KNOW EACH OF YOU CARES DEEPLY FOR OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR STUDENTS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE BRAVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE SPOKEN UP TONIGHT.
I'M HERE AS A CAMAS PARENT, A TEACHER AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER TO ENTERTAIN THE THOUGHT OF CLOSING, MOVING, OR CONSOLIDATING HAYES FREEDOM IN ANY WAY IS UNJUST AND INEQUITABLE.
HAYES SERVES MANY STUDENTS WHO ARE MARGINALIZED IN SOME WAY.
THEY OFTEN CARE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.
SOME STUDENTS DON'T FEEL SAFE IN A LARGE ENVIRONMENT.
THEY DON'T WANT TO ENGAGE IN GROUP LEARNING PROJECTS AND ARE TRULY JUST STRUGGLING TO LIVE INSIDE THEMSELVES.
IN JUST ONE HALL, YOU SEE THE ENTIRE SCHOOL AS YOU COME IN AND ARE GRADED.
WHAT A WAY TO MAKE STUDENTS FEEL SAFE.
IF WE CLOSE MOVE OR CHANGE THE PROGRAM THAT AMY HOLMES AND THE HAYES TEAM HAS BUILT, THERE WILL BE A HIGHER DROPOUT RATE IN CAMAS.
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT WILL DROP AND STUDENTS WILL MISS THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN VARIOUS WAYS.
HOW CAN WE PREACH EQUITY AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING AND EVEN CONSIDER SHUTTERING A PROGRAM THAT DOES THOSE EXACT THINGS SO WELL? I SUBSTITUTED AT HAYES IN 2015.
IT WAS THE ONLY HIGH SCHOOL WHERE I EVER WORKED IN THAT ROLE.
AMY HOLMES ACTUALLY CAME INTO THE CLASSROOM AND I'VE NEVER HAD ANOTHER ADMIN DO THAT AT ANY LEVEL.
SHE WASN'T CHECKING ON ME AS A SUB.
SHE WAS CHECKING IN ON HER STUDENTS.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK STUDENTS WHY THEY CHOSE HAYES.
MANY OF THEM SAID CHS WAS JUST TOO BIG.
THEY DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
HAYES ALLOWED THEM TO BE THEMSELVES.
THEY KNEW THE TEACHERS AND THE OTHER STAFF CARED FOR THEM AND THEY WERE A FAMILY.
THAT THEME OF FAMILY KEEPS COMING UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
MY OWN CHILD STRUGGLES WITH A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER AND LEARNING DIFFERENCE.
IN 2017, SHE STARTED AT CHS AS A FRESHMAN.
SHE WAS STRUGGLING AND TOLD ME THAT SHE FELT INVISIBLE WHEN WE TOURED HAYES.
AMY HOLMES TOLD HER, YOU CAN'T BE INVISIBLE HERE AND THAT IS SO TRUE.
EACH STAFF MEMBER SAW MY DAUGHTER AND SERVED MY DAUGHTER AND THEY TRULY ACCEPTED HER AND HELPED HER.
I WAS RECENTLY TOLD BY AN ADMINISTRATOR THAT HAYES FREEDOM IS THE MOST COST-EFFICIENT CAMAS SCHOOL AND THAT THE TEACHERS THERE SERVE THE STUDENTS 100% OF THEIR CONTRACT AT TIME.
THIS IS SUCH A SPECIAL COMMUNITY.
AS A TEACHER AT LIBERTY MIDDLE-SCHOOL, I SEE HAYES STUDENTS WALKED TO THE BUSES AND THEY GREET THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.
THIS YEAR WE HAD A HAYES STUDENT HELP US WITH CAMP LIBERTY, WHICH IS A SIXTH GRADE OVERNIGHT FUNCTION.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ANOTHER HAYES STUDENT WHO COMES OVER TO MENTOR OUR STUDENTS DURING THE DAY.
WITHOUT HAYES LOCATED WHERE IT IS, THESE THINGS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AND THEY MATTER TO OUR LIBERTY STUDENTS.
I CONTINUALLY RECOMMEND HAYES TO SO MANY STUDENTS.
THE PROGRAM THEY WANT IT RUN IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE UP CREDITS.
THEY HAVE SUPPORT IN SERVING THE UNIQUE NEEDS AND GOALS OF EACH STUDENT.
THEY GET TO BE SEEN AND KNOW THEY ARE ACCEPTED EXACTLY AS THEY ARE.
I IMPLORE YOU DO NOT CHANGE WHAT IS WORKING
[01:10:01]
SO WELL FOR SOME OF OUR MOST MARGINALIZED STUDENTS.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, CHRISTINE. NEXT WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> GAIL, I'M SORRY. BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I'M GOING TO JUMP IN HERE REALLY QUICK.
JUST IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICY 1400, WE ARE LIMITED TO 30 MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND USE MY PRIVILEGE AS BOARD CHAIR TO EXTEND IT THROUGH THE NEXT THREE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE HAVE ZACH L, MIRANDA BATON, AND TYLER BATTEN WHO HAVE THEIR HANDS UP TO SPEAK.
AT THAT POINT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COREY. ZACH, GO AHEAD.
>> I HAD THE JOY AND PRIVILEGE OF GOING TO HAYES FROM 2016-2020.
FROM THAT TIME PERIOD THERE, WE WORKED DIRECTLY SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND WALK KNOCK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO MEET AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL AND GO DOWN.
WE WERE VOLUNTEERING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE FOUR YEARS FOR THE FIFTH GRADE TRACK MEET.
WE WERE ABLE TO REVITALIZE AND REBUILD THE COMMUNITY GARDEN THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
WE WERE DOING THE SECONDARY PROGRAMS WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THERE.
ALL OF THESE WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT ITS CURRENT LOCATION.
ONE OF OUR TEACHERS THERE, I HAD TALKED TO MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN THEY WERE AT THE OLD THEATER BUILDING THAT'S THERE.
SHE WOULD TELL ME ABOUT HOW, HERE IS THIS DOTTED LINE THAT THEY CAME IN THROUGH.
IF YOU WERE ON ONE SIDE OF THE DOTTED LINE DURING AN EARTHQUAKE, YOU ARE PROBABLY THE BUILDING WAS GOING TO SHEAR OFF THE CLIFF AND YOU MIGHT DIE.
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BLACK MOLD COUGHS THAT YOU WOULD GET FROM THAT BUILDING.
FROM A PLACE LIKE THAT TO A PLACE IN WHERE WE ARE NOW, IT REALLY MEANT A LOT TO THE SCHOOL.
IT'S BEEN USED EXTREMELY WELL, EVEN IF YOU WALK INTO THAT BUILDING AND IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE.
IF YOU WALK INTO THAT BUILDING, YOU HAVE THAT FRONT OFFICE DIRECTLY THERE.
IT'S DIRECTLY THERE AND THEY WILL SEE YOU.
IF YOU EVER LEAVE YOUR CLASSROOM DURING A TIME, THEY WILL SEE YOU.
IT'S A NATURE AND THE THING THAT YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY DESCRIBE UNLESS YOU'RE IN THERE DAY TO A DAY TO SEE HOW THAT MATTERS AND HOW THAT AFFECTS STUDENTS.
I WAS FROM A PERIOD IN EIGHTH GRADE WHERE I HAD MISSED OVER 30 DAYS OF SCHOOL BECAUSE I WAS GETTING BULLIED EVERY SINGLE DAY AND I WAS FAILING ANY CLASSES.
I DIDN'T DO ANY EXTRA CURRICULAR LAYERS BECAUSE I JUST COULDN'T DEAL WITH IT.
I WENT FROM THAT TO GETTING A 4.0 GPA THROUGHOUT ALL FOUR YEARS.
I WAS UP TO GETTING MY EAGLE SCOUT THROUGH SCOUTING.
I WAS DOING A TON OF STUFF IN THE COMMUNITY AND I STILL AM.
THE RESULT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THAT PROGRAM WORKING, THAT BUILDING SIZE, AS YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE WORKING AND THE BUDGET WORKING THE WAY IT IS.
I THINK THAT YOU'VE HEARD IT 10 TIMES OVER BEFORE.
I THINK PEOPLE JUST REALLY WANT TO HEAR THE FACT THAT OF PEOPLE SAYING IT'S NOT JUST THROUGH THIS FINANCIAL THING WAS WE'RE CRUNCHING.
IT'S THAT FOR THE FUTURE AND FOR THE NEXT 5, 10 YEARS WE'RE GOING TO STAY IN THAT BUILDING.
BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT, THAT BUILDING IS DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY TO HELP WITH STUDENTS.
IT IS BUILT IN SUCH A WAY AND IN SUCH A LOCATION THAT IT CAN IMPACT THE COMMUNITY EXTREMELY EASILY AND HAS DONE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO THE OTHER SCHOOLS AND A LOT OF VOLUNTEERING THROUGH THOSE SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION. THAT'S ALL.
>> MY NAME IS MIRANDA BATTEN AND I GRADUATED FROM HAYES FREEDOM IN 2013.
HAYES FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL WELCOMED ME WITH OPEN ARMS. I STRUGGLED WITH SEVERE ANXIETY DUE TO THE HUGE CROWDS AT CHS, AND I HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT ON MY OWN.
HAYES FREEDOM NOT ONLY HELPED ME OVERCOME MY ANXIETY, BUT IT ALSO HELPED ME KNOW I'M NOT ALONE WITH IT.
IT IS NOT A SCHOOL FOR MISFITS, TROUBLEMAKERS, OR ANY OF THE SORT.
I WAS A STRAIGHT A STUDENT JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE IN A HUGE SCHOOL, DEALING WITH BEING BULLIED, NOT GETTING THE ONE-ON-ONE HELP I NEEDED, AND DEALING WITH MY OWN MENTAL STRUGGLES.
HAYES FREEDOM IS A SCHOOL THAT HELPED ME EXCEL IN MY LEARNING AND SOCIAL SKILLS.
[01:15:01]
THE STAFF TRULY CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.WHY? BECAUSE WE PUT OUT AND RECEIVE THE SUPPORT WE NEEDED.
I CAN HONESTLY SAY I WAS READY TO DROP OUT.
I TOLD MY PARENTS I WAS NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO TO SCHOOL IF MY ONLY OPTION WAS CHS, AND AT THE TIME IT WAS.
I HAD A MEETING WITH MISS HOLMES AND CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THERE WAS A PLACE WHERE I WOULD FIT IN.
NOT ONLY DID I FIT IN, BUT I WAS GIVEN THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED IN MY LEARNING.
DID I GIVE MISS HOLMES AND ALL MY TEACHERS ARE RUN FOR THEIR MONEY? ABSOLUTELY, AND I'M SO SORRY ABOUT THAT.
BUT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY NEVER DID FOR ME? THE ONE THING, THEY NEVER GAVE UP ON ME.
BY CONSOLIDATING HAYES FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL WITH ANY OTHER SCHOOL DUE TO BUDGET CUTS OR WHATEVER ELSE, YOU WILL BE PUTTING GRADUATES ON THE LINE, PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ON THE LINE, PEOPLE STRUGGLING AT HOME WITH NO ONE ELSE TO TURN TO ON THE LINE, AND MOST PRECIOUS TO ME MY PAST TEACHERS CAREERS ON THE LINE.
I'M A REGISTERED VOTER IN THIS COMMUNITY, I AM EMPLOYED AS A MANAGER, AND A CAKE DECORATOR.
I PAY MY TAXES, I AM KIND, PROUD, AND FEARLESS AND I AM A SUCCESS.
PLEASE LISTEN WITH OPEN EARS AND CONSIDER WHAT CATASTROPHIC CHANGES THAT DECISION WOULD MAKE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FUTURE LEADERS.
SIGNING OUT. MIRANDA BATTEN, HAYES FREEDOM GRADUATE, CLASS OF 2013. THANK YOU.
>> TYLER, YOU'RE NEXT IN YOUR OPEN STATE.
>> ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS TYLER BATTEN AND.
>> OH, SHIT. THE NAME JUMPED AND TYLER HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED.
>> GAIL, I DO SEE HIM DOWN AT THE PRESENT LIST.
TYLER, IF YOU'RE STILL THERE AND YOU CAN RAISE YOUR HAND REAL QUICK, I THINK THAT WILL PROMOTE YOU TO THE TOP OF OUR LIST AND WE CAN GET YOU BACK IN.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. THERE WE GO, I SEE HIM THERE GAIL.
>> WONDERFUL. I WANTED TO GET ALL THE WAY BACK UP.
>> SORRY [LAUGHTER] WE'RE A LITTLE RUSTY AT THE WHOLE ZOOM MEETING THING.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT, TYLER. GO AHEAD.
>> NO, YOU GUYS ARE GOOD. THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY FIRST ZOOM CALLS EVER, SO I'M VERY RUSTY AT IT.
BASICALLY, I JUST WANTED TO COME HERE TO SAY THAT I WENT TO FRESHMAN YEAR AT CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL AND I HAD FAILED IN MATH AND I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DO FRESHMAN YEAR OVER AGAIN AT CHS OR I COULD GO TO HAYES FREEDOM AND MAKE UP THE CREDIT.
SO I OF COURSE CHOSE TO GO TO HAYES FREEDOM, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS OF MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I WOULDN'T BE WHERE I AM TODAY IF IT WASN'T FOR MISS HOLMES, MISS WINKLER, OR MISS SPENCER.
YOU COULDN'T ASK FOR BETTER TEACHERS.
I'VE TURNED INTO A SUCCESSFUL PERSON I WOULD SAY.
I DIDN'T REALLY GIVE A CRAP IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THEY REALLY OPENED MY EYES AND THEY'RE THE REASON I'M THE PERSON THAT I AM TODAY, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE THROUGH TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
BOARD MEMBERS, YOU DID SEE THAT WE HAD A COUPLE OF ITEMS ADDED
[7. ITEMS ADDED TO THE AGENDA]
TO THE CONSENT AGENDA IN ITEM 7, OTHERWISE, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.[8. CONSENT AGENDA]
>> I'LL MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
JUST WITH A NOTE THAT WE HAVE THE RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF NATALIE WILSON, ONE OF OUR VERY ESTEEMED AND LONGTIME MUSIC TEACHERS IN CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I DIDN'T WANT THAT TO GO UNNOTED, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE COMING UP ON MUSIC IN SCHOOLS MONTH AND I KNOW NATALIE, I THINK IS ON THIS CALL AND WE'LL MISS YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, CONNIE. I ECHO THAT AS WELL.
WITH THAT I WOULD SECOND CONNIE'S MOTION.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT WAS MOVED BY CONNIE'S, SECONDED BY TRACY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES.
THAT WILL BRING US DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER 9A.
[9. REPORTS]
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT AND DR. ANZALONE.[01:20:07]
>> THANKS CONNIE. JUST BEFORE WE MOVE TO THAT, A COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS REGARDING PUBLIC COMMENT.
I KNOW FIRST OF ALL, THAT WAS VERY GOOD FOR ME TO HEAR, VERY ENLIGHTENING AS SOMEONE NEW TO THE COMMUNITY, AND I APPRECIATE ESPECIALLY THE PAST STUDENTS WHO WE NORMALLY DON'T GET TO HEAR FROM.
BUT JUST A COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING THINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL ON THE CALL.
ALL OF OUR MEETINGS, I THINK I HEARD SOMEBODY MENTIONED HAVING ZOOM.
ALL OF OUR MEETINGS ARE LIVE STREAM, SO I JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY OF THAT AND ALSO ARCHIVED ON OUR WEBSITE FOLLOWING THE MEETING, SO YOU CAN ALWAYS LOOK BACK.
BUT ALSO JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE OUT THERE UNDERSTANDS.
SUPERINTENDENT, I WILL ALWAYS, ALWAYS REACH BACK OUT TO YOU WHETHER IT'S VIA EMAIL, VIA PHONE.
ANYONE OUT THERE WHO NEEDS THE DIRECT NUMBER, I'M NOT SURE GAIL, IF WE CAN PUT THAT OUT IN SOME WAY, BUT I DO WANT TO PUT THE OFFICE DIRECT NUMBER AND I WILL ALWAYS REACH BACK OUT.
THAT'S 360-833-5412, AND OF COURSE EMAIL, YOU'LL ALWAYS HEAR BACK FROM ME IN A VERY TIMELY MANNER.
JUST IN CASE I KNOW NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY FEEL COMFORTABLE SPEAKING IN A FORUM LIKE THIS, CONNIE, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS OUT THERE.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. GOING FORWARD, EVEN DESPITE THE SNOW DAYS AND A CHALLENGING WEEK IN MANY WAYS, WE HAD A WONDERFUL MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IS THAT PRESENTATION SHOWING? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M ONLY SEEING HALF OF THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
>> I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THAT IS.
LET ME TRY TO REOPEN IT, HOLD ON.
>> WELL, I'LL KEEP IT HALF AS LONG THEN I GUESS.
AS USUAL, I WANT TO JUST START OFF BY THANKING THE BOARD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY.
I CONTINUE TO MEET WITH SO MANY INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, IF NOT DAILY, WEEKLY, AND JUST WANTED TO KEEP THE BOARD UP TO SPEED AS TO WHO RECENTLY I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING WITH.
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD AN OUTSTANDING MEETING OVER AT WOOD-BURNING ELEMENTARY.
I WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY DO SOME RECESS DUTY.
THANK YOU, MR. GRAHAM, FOR THAT.
I THINK IT WAS ON RECORD THE COLDEST DAY OF THE MONTH.
I LOVED BEING WITH THE KIDS AND VISITING CLASSROOMS. ALSO, WE HAD OUR BOARD COFFEE TALK ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, SO WAS ABLE TO JOIN THE BOARD FOR THAT.
WE HAD SOME WONDERFUL, ROBUST CONVERSATION AROUND A MULTITUDE OF ITEMS. BUDGET INCLUDED, IT WAS OUTSTANDING.
OUR CAC, OUR CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 6TH WAS ONE OF OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITIES TO DO A FOCUS GROUP FOR OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
GREAT FEEDBACK, A LOT OF NOTES THERE THAT WILL BE UPDATED AT A LATER DATE.
SOME CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS WITH PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS OVER AT SKYRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL SAW SOME INCREDIBLE INSTRUCTION, WONDERFUL ENGAGEMENT.
MR. WILLIAMS SHOWED ME AROUND CAMPUS AND SAW SOME THINGS THAT I NORMALLY DIDN'T GET TO SEE, SO WONDERFUL VISIT THERE.
WE ATTENDED A WOODBURN PAWS MEETING.
I KNOW SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND I WERE ABLE TO JOIN AND SHARE SOME OF OUR HIGHLIGHTS.
I KNOW COREY DID A WONDERFUL JOB GOING THROUGH SOME OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS WITH THE COMMUNITY THERE.
AMAZING TURNOUT, WE ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS FOR US UNTIL WE REALIZED IT WAS REALLY ABOUT REPTILE MAN BEING THERE. WE'LL TAKE IT.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE.
I REALLY HAD A GREAT MEETING WITH RICK VERMEERS.
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE KNOWS RICK, A LONG STANDING COMMUNITY MEMBER AND FORMER COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR MANY CHEMISTS ACTIVITIES.
I ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS THIS EVENING AUNNA ELM AND KENO O'DAY WE HAD A WONDERFUL TALK ABOUT BUDGET OPPORTUNITIES AND JUST THE HISTORY OF CAMAS SCHOOLS.
JUST GREAT. WE ALSO HELD OUR SECOND EMPLOYEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING ON VALENTINE'S DAY, IS A GREAT WAY TO SPEND AN EVENING WITH SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE DID OUR SECOND FOCUS GROUP FOR OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND REALLY HONED IN ON SOME OF THE THEMES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT WORK.
I ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING WITH LLOYD HALVORSON REGARDING THE POLISH PARTNERSHIPS.
JUST TO LET OUR COMMUNITY NOW, WE'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
I THINK MY WIFE AND I ACTUALLY GOING TO BE HOSTING AT LEAST ONE OF THE POLISH MAYORS.
THAT SHOULD BE REALLY FUN COMING UP SOON.
THEN OF COURSE, OUR BOARD SITE VISITS AS EUKORIA ALLUDED TO.
WE WERE ABLE TO HIT HELEN BALLER, LIBERTY,
[01:25:02]
AND HAYES FREEDOM ALL IN ONE ONE AFTERNOON.JUST A BRIEF GAIL, WHOEVER'S CONTROLLING THAT, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE THERE.
A BRIEF UPDATE ON OUR ENROLLMENT.
ENROLLMENT TICKED UP AGAIN ABOUT 16 STUDENTS FOR A TOTAL OF 7127, 4141 AT OUR SECONDARY LEVEL, AND JUST UNDER 3,000 STUDENTS AT OUR ELEMENTARY, AND CCA OUR ONLINE PROGRAM WITH 188 STUDENTS.
I'LL LEAVE THAT SLIDE UP THERE FOR JUST A MOMENT SO YOU CAN SEE SOME OF OUR PLUSES AND MINUSES ACROSS THE BOARD.
I ALWAYS TRY TO MENTION THAT THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS NECESSARILY MEAN NEW STUDENTS, IT COULD MEAN ONE STUDENT TRANSFERRING FROM ONE SCHOOL TO ANOTHER.
YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF EACH SCHOOL.
>> JOHN, JUST TO JUST TO CLARIFY ON THIS, THIS IS HEAD COUNT. NOT NECESSARILY FTE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. ONE OF THESE DAYS I'LL REMEMBER TO SAY THAT QUERY, BUT ABSOLUTELY, IT'S CORRECT.
>> NEXT SLIDE IS A WONDERFUL STUDENT AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS YOUNG MAN'S NAME IS HUNTER OF CAMAS.
HE ABSOLUTELY FOUND THE RIGHT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE ROTARY CLUB, AS YOU KNOW, EVERY MONTH, RECOGNIZES A SOFTWARE THE MONTH.
HE CAME TO THE ROTARY MEETING.
HIS PARENTS WERE THERE WITH HIM 7:00 A.M. BRIGHTON EARLY AT ROTARY, AND EVEN THOUGH HUNTER WAS A LITTLE SHY, HE GOT UP AND SPOKE ABOUT HIS FUTURE AND HIS MOM AND DAD HELPED HIM.
IT WAS JUST GREAT. NOT TO MENTION DR. DAN, OUR PRINCIPAL WAS THERE AS WELL TO SUPPORT HUNTER AND SPOKE QUITE A BIT ABOUT THE CAMAS CONNECT ACADEMY PROGRAM AND WHY IT'S SO SPECIAL AS WELL.
I ALSO I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO BE UPSET WITH ME, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO MARILYN BOERKE OUR DIRECTOR OF SECONDARY EDUCATION, JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT MARILYN HAS BECOME A FRAMEWORK SPECIALIST.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR DISTRICT.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE DESCRIPTION, WASHINGTON STATE PRACTITIONERS.
THESE ARE TRAINED PRACTITIONERS WHO BECOME FRAMEWORK AUTHOR DESIGNEES AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THEY CAN PROVIDE STAGE 1 AND 2 FACILITATION AND REGARDING OUR LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK.
WE'RE SO PROUD AND EXCITED THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ONE OF OUR OWN.
WE HAVE SEVERAL IN THE DISTRICT, BUT NOW MARILYN JOINS THAT CREW WHO ARE CHOSEN BY STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE FOR THIS RIGOROUS PROCESS.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO KICK ME WHEN YOU SEE ME, BUT I'M JUST SO PROUD OF THIS WORK AND THIS IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY WITH TRAINING OUR STAFF ON JUST IN-DEPTH TEACHER OBSERVATIONS AND THE TEACHER EVALUATION PROGRAM.
MOVING ON, WE ALSO HAD OUR ANNUAL DICTIONARY DISTRIBUTION FOR OUR THIRD GRADE STUDENTS.
THIS IS A PHOTO FROM HELEN BALLER.
I'M WAS JUST AWESTRUCK ON HOW EXCITED THE KIDS WERE TO GET THEIR DICTIONARY IS ACTUALLY OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR IS A THIRD GRADER AND SHE'S BEEN CARRYING IT AROUND EVERY SINGLE DAY AS SHE COMES AND PLAYS WITH MY KIDS AND WE SEE HER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT JUST AS PEOPLE STARTED TO THINK AND ROTARY WAS BATTING THIS AROUND, THAT KIDS MAY NOT LIKE DICTIONARIES ANYMORE, I THINK IT'S STILL A NOVELTY TO MANY STUDENTS, SO THEY ACTUALLY REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THE DICTIONARIES THAT THE ROTARY CHOOSES HAVE JUST AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF FACTS IN THE BACK, THE LONGEST WORD IN THE WORLD.
JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE KIDS COULD BREEZE THROUGH AND JUST HAVING A HANDHELD BOOK IN THIS DAY AND AGE SEEMS SO SPECIAL.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE ROTARY FOR THEIR TIME.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAD A COUPLE OF VISITS CANCELED LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK, BUT WE WILL GET RIGHT BACK ON TRACK AND GET THAT DONE.
I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE ALONG FOR THE RIDE FOR EACH OF THOSE SCHOOL VISITS.
I ALSO WANT TO SEND A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR CAMAS FACILITIES TEAM.
IT WAS A WHIRLWIND WEEKEND WHERE WE CONTRACTED OUT WITH A SNOW PLOW COMPANY.
BUT IT WAS REALLY THE WORK OF OUR CAMAS FACILITIES TEAM WHO NOT ONLY GET UP AND CHECK OUR ROADS EVERY MORNING 4:00 A.M THIS WEEK, ESPECIALLY.
THEY COMMUNICATE IN THE MORNING WITH ME.
JUST GIVE ME THE GREAT GUIDANCE AND ADVICE THAT I NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER WE KEEP THE SCHOOL OPENED, DELAYED, OR CLOSED.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK IN PLOWING AND THE SNOW BLOWING EFFORTS.
THEY WERE ABLE TO GET TO EVERY PARKING LOT OF ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, ALL THE ENTRANCES.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE STILL HAD ICY ROADS THIS MORNING.
BUT IT'S GOING TO HELP US IF AND WHEN WE OPEN TOMORROW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS HAVE ACCESS, THE STAFF HAS ACCESS.
[01:30:02]
AGAIN, SHERMAN, JOHN, THE WHOLE TEAM, TAMMY, I CAN GO ON AND ON.THEY ARE INCREDIBLE AND THEY HELP EVERY SINGLE MORNING WITH THIS KIND OF WORK.
LASTLY, ON THAT NOTE, I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALWAYS PUTTING THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND OUR FAMILIES FIRST.
I KNOW THAT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY HAVE DIFFERENT TOPOGRAPHY, AND SO WE TRY TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS WHAT'S BEST FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
WITHOUT MAINTENANCE, AND OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF, OUR BUS MAINTENANCE, OUR OPERATIONS, OUR DRIVERS, WE CANNOT DO THAT.
I COULD PROBABLY GO ON AND ON, BUT I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT AND JUST SAY THANK YOU AGAIN.
OF COURSE I DO WANT TO MENTION A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
I KNOW, OF COURSE WE HEARD SO ELOQUENTLY FROM MANY FORMER AND CURRENT HAYES COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THIS ISN'T ALL ABOUT HAYES, BUT OBVIOUSLY I LEARNED SO MUCH TONIGHT AND DURING THE LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE PROGRAM AND ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, IT REALLY DID SADDEN ME THIS WEEK THAT OUR DISCUSSIONS MAY HAVE CAUSED ANY SCAREDNESS OR HURT OR STRAIN TO ANYONE INVOLVED BECAUSE THAT'S NEVER THE POINT.
THESE ARE, AS CONNIE AND OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET BY ANY MEANS.
THESE DECISIONS CAN'T BE, AND I KNOW IT STRUCK A CHORD, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I HEAR YOU, I ACKNOWLEDGE YOU, AND I KNOW OUR BOARD DOES AS WELL.
IT'S NOT ME AS A PERSON TO EVER WANT TO HURT FEELINGS.
AGAIN, THESE ARE TOUGH TIMES, BUT THAT IS NEVER THE POINT.
IT'S NOT WHO I'M, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT WHO WE ARE AS A DISTRICT.
JUST A COUPLE OF NOTES BEFORE I GO INTO THIS SLIDE, COMING OUT OF THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC, IN MY 23 YEARS, THIS COULD BE THE MOST VOLATILE FINANCIAL TIME IN THE HISTORY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO EVERYONE.
EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION AND PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.
BUT YOU HEARD EARLIER ABOUT WHAT OUR STATE IS GOING THROUGH AND THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY THE COMMONALITY OF OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, AND SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY PULL TOGETHER, UNITE IN THIS, AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO EVERY STAKEHOLDER AND EVERY PERSPECTIVE POSSIBLE AND WE WILL GET THIS RIGHT.
I KNOW IT, BUT WE CAN ONLY DO IT IF WE DO IT AS A TEAM SO LONG ROAD AHEAD OF US, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE TESTIMONIALS TONIGHT.
I WANT TO GO INTO THIS SLIDE A LITTLE BIT AND SOME MORE OF WHAT I KNOW I HAVE LEARNED AND I'M SURE OUR BOARD HAS LEARNED, AS WELL AS MY CABINET AND OUR PRINCIPALS AND OTHERS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
FIRST THING THAT WE'RE HEARING LOUD AND CLEAR IS THAT OUR HIGH SCHOOL OPTIONS, INCLUDING CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL ARE JUST INVALUABLE TO OUR STUDENTS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT I WANT TO GIVE A GOAL TO MYSELF AS WELL AS MY CABINET, IS TO REALLY FURTHER EDUCATE OURSELVES ON OUR OPTIONS.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT IF WE REALLY TAKE THE TIME TO EDUCATE OURSELVES ON REALLY WHAT HAYES IS ABOUT, WHAT DISCOVERY AND ODYSSEY AND CCA, ALL OF OUR GENERAL PROGRAMS ARE.
WE CAN REALLY LEARN FROM THOSE AND IT'LL HELP US IN MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
I REALLY CHARGED MYSELF WITH THAT AS I COME IN NEW TO THIS COMMUNITY AND WANT TO LEARN MORE.
AGAIN, THE TESTIMONIALS AND PERSONAL STORIES ALL WEEK FROM HAYES COMMUNITY HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL AND POWERFUL, AND AGAIN, WE HEAR YOU, WE SEE YOU, AND I THANK YOU.
WE ALSO HEARING THAT SMALL CLASS SIZES ARE A PRIORITY, AND ANYTIME YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUDGET REDUCTIONS, YOU WORRY ABOUT CLASS SIZES.
BUT I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT, WE KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT MANY PARENTS COME HERE FOR AND BRING THEIR KIDS TO CAMAS FOR.
THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME TRADE-OFFS IN THIS.
BUT WE ARE KEEPING THOSE CLASS SIZES IN MIND AND THAT'S FROM A SUPERINTENDENT POINT, BUT ALSO AS A FATHER OF KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
WE ARE ALSO HEARING VERY LOUD ACROSS OUR COUNTRY, OUR STATE, AND HERE IN CAMAS THAT WE HAVE INCREASED BEHAVIORS AND SEL NEEDS, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF COVID, AND WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE CRYING OUT FOR HELP IN MANY WAYS, AND SO WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE LOOK AT PROGRAMS AND LOOK AT POSITIONS AS WE MAKE THESE MOVES TOWARDS REDUCTIONS, AND WE WILL DO THAT.
I'VE ALSO HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT EQUAL DOES NOT MEAN EQUITABLE, AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EVERY SCHOOL AND EVERY PROGRAM, AND JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING ISN'T WORKING OR IS WORKING AT ONE SCHOOL, DOESN'T MEAN IT NEEDS TO BE REDUCED OR CUT AT ANOTHER AND SO THOSE WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT A REDUCTION IN FORCE IS LIKELY INEVITABLE DURING THIS PROCESS.
[01:35:03]
BUT I THINK OUR ROLE AS A BOARD AND AS A CABINET IS TO REALLY TRY TO MITIGATE THAT REDUCTION IN FORCE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.WE ARE GOING TO LOOK DEEPLY AT CENTRAL OFFICE AND OTHER PLACES OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM FIRST, SO THAT WE CAN VALUE THOSE SMALL CLASS SIZES, BUT ALSO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, AND I MEAN THAT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
WE ALSO WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERING RETIREMENT, NOT THAT WE DON'T VALUE.
WE LOVE YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU BUT IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING RETIRING, PLEASE LET US KNOW AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THAT COULD HELP SAVE POSITIONS DOWN THE ROAD.
LET US KNOW, TALK TO US, BE OPEN ABOUT IT AND WE'LL HELP YOU THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING BENEFITS PERSON IN OUR MAIN OFFICE THAT CAN HELP WALK YOU THROUGH THAT, IF YOU'RE ON THE FENCE.
WE ALSO WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANALYZE INEFFICIENCIES AND COURSE-CORRECT WHERE NEEDED, AND BASICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS LOOKING AT OUR SYSTEMS, LOOKING AT OUR SCHEDULES.
I TRULY APPRECIATE OUR PRINCIPALS AND OUR ADMIN TEAMS AT OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY ARE PEELING BACK THE ONION AND LOOKING AT WAYS THAT MAYBE WE'VE GROWN A LITTLE TOO FAST IN CERTAIN AREAS AND WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT INEFFICIENCY.
IN A WAY THAT'S A POSITIVE OF A TIGHT BUDGET TIME IS WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT SOME AREAS THAT WE CAN STREAMLINE A BIT.
WE ALSO WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATORS.
YOU HEARD FROM ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS TONIGHT ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THAT ADVOCACY WORK IS TO KNOW THAT OUR EDUCATION BUDGET IS ONLY 40 PLUS PERCENT OF OUR STATE BUDGET WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE PARAMOUNT FUNCTION OF OUR STATE.
THAT IS BOTHERSOME, I KNOW TO ALL OF US.
HOW CAN WE WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATORS TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THAT SO THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS EVERY SINGLE BUDGET CYCLE, AND THAT'S ALL OF US AS A COMMUNITY THAT NEED TO DO THAT.
IT'S JUST NOT ONE OR TWO OR THE SUPERINTENDENT OR BOARD MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE A LOT OF THE WORDS THAT WERE SAID TONIGHT, AND THE LAST THING, BUT MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I KNOW, I'VE LEARNED THIS WEEK IS HOW COMPASSIONATE AND PASSIONATE OUR COMMUNITY IS AND A VERY STUDENT FOCUSED CAMAS COMMUNITY SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
JUST TO GO IN QUICKLY OVER OUR DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE SOME HIGHLIGHTS HERE.
AS OF NOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS $6 MILLION TARGET, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE BOARD CLOSELY ON THAT, AND THAT'S A LARGE NUMBER.
IT COULD BE A LITTLE BIT AND FEEL INSURMOUNTABLE AT TIMES IN A BUDGET.
BUT I KNOW THAT IF THAT REMAINS OUR TARGET AND WE WILL FIND A WAY TO GET THERE.
THIS CONVERSATION REALLY STARTED WITH OUR CABINET, PROBABLY EVEN BEFORE JANUARY, BUT HEAVILY IN EARLY JANUARY, AND NOW IT'S A WEEKLY CONVERSATION, PRACTICALLY A DAILY CONVERSATION WITH ALL OF US HERE AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE.
WE STARTED TO REALLY HONE IN ON WHERE WE NEED TO GO WITH OUR BUDGET, THE JANUARY BOARD MEETING WITH JASON'S REPORTS.
HE'LL GIVE ANOTHER ONE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE AND THEN AGAIN IN MARCH.
THOSE PRESENTATIONS ARE VERY VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO WATCH AND LEARN THE INTRICACIES OF OUR BUDGET.
UNION LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR UNION LEADERS.
FEBRUARY 22ND, I HAD A MEETING AND THOSE ARE ONGOING AND SCHEDULED FOR THIS COMING WEEK, AND JUST LEARNING MORE FROM OUR UNION LEADERS AND THE MEMBERSHIP THAT THEY REPRESENT IS IMPORTANT DURING THIS PROCESS.
WE ALSO HAD OUR SUPERINTENDENT BUDGET COMMITTEE, WHICH IS INVALUABLE.
FEBRUARY 23RD, WHICH WAS LAST THURSDAY.
JUST AGAIN, A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BUDGET AND HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE AND HOW WE CAN HOPEFULLY AVOID SOME OF THESE IN THE FUTURE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ONE ON MARCH 16TH WHERE WE'RE REALLY GOING TO DIG INTO LOOKING AT ADJUSTING SOME THINGS AND HEAR FROM SOME EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT MINDS, MATHEMATICAL MINDS, AND EDUCATOR MINDS ON HOW TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS POSSIBLE FOR OUR BUDGET.
OUR PRINCIPAL MEETINGS, WE RECENTLY STARTED THE PRINCIPAL COUNCIL MEETINGS, SO THANK YOU TO LISA DEREK, MARILYN DOUG, MEMBERS OF OUR CABINET THAT GOT THE BALL ROLLING WITH THIS, AND THESE ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTIMATE MEETINGS BETWEEN ME, THE PRINCIPALS, SOME MEMBERS OF OUR CABINET TO REALLY HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOLS AND TO BOUNCE SOME IDEAS OFF EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU TO OUR PRINCIPALS, STAKEHOLDER INPUT.
I SPOKE ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT, CONSTANTLY MEETING WITH FORMER MEMBERS OF OUR CAC, IN OUR EDUCATION FOUNDATION, FORMER AND CURRENT MEMBERS OF OUR BUDGET AND LEVY COMMITTEES.
THOSE ARE VERY VALUABLE TO ME, SO THANK YOU AND GAIL,
[01:40:01]
THANK YOU FOR SETTING THOSE UP AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THOSE GOING.LAST COUPLE OF ITEMS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY THOUGHT EXCHANGE.
WE ARE ROLLING THAT OUT WITH A QUESTION ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY VALUES.
I APPRECIATE ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY CONTRIBUTING TO THAT SO WE CAN HEAR AS DEEPLY INTO OUR COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE.
SCHOOL BUDGET PRESENTATIONS, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE STARTING ON MARCH 7TH.
I'LL BE PERIODICALLY EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL SPEAKING TO THE STAFF, AGAIN, DOING MY BEST, BEING NEW HERE, MY HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE IS LIMITED, BUT I'M GIVING MY BEST EFFORT TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARRIVED AT THIS PLACE, WHERE WE ARE, AND HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET, AND THOSE WILL GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH MARCH 22ND.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HOST A COMMUNITY VIRTUAL TOWN HALL.
WE'RE CALLING BUDGET 101, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE ON MARCH 8TH AT 6:00 PM.
AGAIN, MORE INFORMATION TO COME ON THAT.
BUT AGAIN, THIS WILL BE A GREAT PLACE TO DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO OUR BUDGET.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED AND THEN OF COURSE, MARCH 27TH IS A TENTATIVE DATE, BUT MOST LIKELY A DATE WHERE I WILL MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO OUR BOARD BASED ON ALL THIS COLLECTIVE INFORMATION AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE.
IN CASE THERE IS A RIFT, WHICH AGAIN, I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE OF SOME SORT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF ARE FEEL VALUED AND RESPECTED IN THAT PROCESS.
THERE IS A NICE RUNWAY TO HELP IF THEY NEED TO MOVE ELSEWHERE.
AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO MITIGATE THAT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
WITH THAT SAID TO THE BOARD, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I HOPE THAT WAS HELPFUL.
>> ONLY THING I WOULD JUST SAY IS THANK YOU TO THE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY TOWN HALL FOR BUDGET 101.
I THINK THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN WE ARE SHUT DOWN, THOSE TOWN HALLS HAD GREAT TURNOUT THAT WE WOULD DO TO JUST KEEP THE COMMUNITY UP-TO-DATE AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING THAT WE LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC AND THE LOCKDOWN THAT WE CAN CARRY THOSE FORWARD SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
THAT WAS ACTUALLY A RECOMMENDATION FROM A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND I REMEMBER THOSE IN MY PREVIOUS DISTRICT DURING COVID WERE VERY HELPFUL, AND WE CAN REALLY VISIT WITH SO MANY MORE PEOPLE AT ONE TIME.
THANKS, COREY, FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT
>> IS THAT THE END OF YOUR PRESENTATION, JOHN?
>> JUST MAKING SURE. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER]
>> WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO MOVE US DOWN TO ITEM 9B, WHICH IS OUR MONTHLY BUDGET REPORT AND OUR DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SERVICES, JASON MCEATHRON, IS GOING TO BE PRESENTING.
>> GOOD EVENING. CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME OKAY? THANKS. COREY. WE CAN GET THIS THING GOING FROM THE START.
THIS EVENING I WANTED TO GIVE A BUDGET STATUS REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, BUT ALSO BEFORE I GET TO THAT, I WANT TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS ANNUAL STATE AUDIT, AS I MENTIONED LAST MONTH OR ANNUAL STATE AUDIT WAS JUST STARTING AND NOW IT'S JUST CONCLUDING WITH SOME OF THE WEATHER EVENTS OF LATE.
THE CONCLUSION THAT I THINK HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT DELAYED, BUT I EXPECT SHOULD BE DONE, SO WE'RE LOOKING TO SCHEDULE AN EXIT CONFERENCE, I THINK WITH WORD PRESIDENT AND SUPERINTENDENT, HOPEFULLY FOR NEXT WEEK.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, THAT AUDIT WAS CLEAN AND AT THE NEXT MEETING, I'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE A MORE FULL BRIEFING ON THAT IF NEEDED.
ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE 23, 24 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT.
I DON'T WANT TO REITERATE, WHAT WOULD JOHN SO WELL-COVERED.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THIS CYCLE, SO THIS REALLY STARTED BACK LAST YEAR.
IF YOU RECALL THE KEY THING WAS TO KICK THIS OFF WAS LAST YEAR THE SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTED 8 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE TOWARDS THE BUDGET, SO THAT WAS REALLY PHASE 1 AND WE'RE USING ABOUT FIVE MILLION OF THAT THIS YEAR.
PHASE 2 WAS REALLY LOOK AT BUDGET CUTS FOR THE 23, 24 YEARS, SO THAT'S AGAIN NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND THEN LOOKING INTO FUTURE YEARS, A PLAN WAS TO REALLY DO COST CONTAINMENT JUST SO WE CAN AVOID FUTURE BUDGET CUTS.
[01:45:03]
MAKE SURE THAT OUR COSTS ARE NOT OUTPACING OUR REVENUES.AS WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU FOLKS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHICH CONCLUDES APRIL 23RD AND THE SHORT OF IT IS, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, IT DOESN'T LOOK GREAT FOR K12 EDUCATION THIS SESSION.
BASICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE BASICALLY, WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE WITH THE FUNDING MODEL.
WHAT WE KNOW GOING IN IS THAT ENROLLMENT IS REALLY KING WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FUNDING SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
SO THE NUMBER OF KIDS DICTATES THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE.
THIS WAS PRE-COVID WE WERE ALMOST AT 6,300 FTE.
THIS IS FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS, NOT HEADCOUNT BECAUSE WE ARE FUNDED ON FTE, NOT ON HEADCOUNT FOR BASIC.
YOU CAN SEE THERE'S THIS COVID PERIOD WHERE IT WAS DOWN, REACHED A LOW AT THIS POINT AND THEN WE'VE BEEN ON THIS VERY SLOW.
BUT STEADY, GETTING BACK TO NORMAL, SO IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE WHERE THE ENROLLMENT WOULD COME IN THIS FALL AND IT HIT RIGHT ON TARGET, WHICH WAS REALLY A RELIEF BECAUSE WE HAD A DEMOGRAPHER STUDY TO HELP US ANTICIPATE WHAT THESE FUTURE YEARS WHERE AND FOR IT TO BE RIGHT ON TARGET.
THAT HELPS GIVE US SOME MORE CONFIDENCE IN SOME OF THESE FUTURE YEARS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT EVEN AT FOUR YEARS OUT, WE'RE STILL NOT AT THAT PRE-COVID LEVEL AND BASICALLY THERE'S SOME REASONS FOR THAT.
WE ALL SEE DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.
HOWEVER, EVEN PREVIOUS TO COVID, BIRTH RATES WERE DOWN AND THEN WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT JUST THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING AND CANVAS IS PRETTY TOUGH.
IT'S TOUGH FOR FAMILIES TO MOVE IN AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE INTEREST RATES RIGHT NOW, SO MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES HAVE RISEN AND THE MOBILITY OF FAMILIES HAS CERTAINLY DROPPED ACROSS THE NATION.
THEY'RE NOT REALLY WILLING TO TRADE IN A TWO PERCENT MORTGAGE FOR A SIX PERCENT, SO WE'RE JUST STARTING TO SEE A SLOWING TREND.
SOME OF IT DUE TO COVID, SOME OF IT REALLY THAT WAS PREVIOUS TO COVID ACTUALLY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR ENROLLMENT VERSUS OUR STAFFING OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME, YOU SEE THIS IS PRE-COVID HERE.
THIS OUR ENROLLMENT WAS ON THIS VERY HIGH SPIKE.
WE HAD AVERAGED, I WANT TO SAY, AROUND TWO PERCENT GROWTH ANNUALLY 20 YEARS PRIOR TO COVID.
THEN WE HAVE THIS SUDDEN DROP AND THEN DURING THESE TIME PERIODS, THESE YEARS, WE'RE RECEIVING COVID RELIEF MONIES AND BASICALLY THAT HELPED US AFLOAT OUR OPERATIONAL COSTS OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN IN THIS YEAR, '22, '23, WE'RE USING FUND BALANCE TO HELP MAINTAIN OUR STAFFING MODEL.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE MORE STAFF NOW FTE THAN WHAT WE DID PREVIOUS TO COVID.
HOWEVER, OUR ENROLLMENT HAS DROPPED AND SO WE REALLY HAVE TO ALIGN OUR STAFFING MODEL WITH REALLY THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE'RE SERVING AND THERE'S SOME REASONS FOR THAT.
WE'VE IMPLEMENTED SOME NEW PROGRAMS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD THAT, LIKE CCA OR TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN.
ALL THOSE THINGS WILL ADD TO OUR FDB.
ALSO DURING HERE WE HAD SOME THINGS THAT WERE SPECIFIC TO COVID SUPPORTS IN ORDER TO OPERATE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, WE DID HAVE TO HIRE SOME ADDITIONAL STAFF AS WELL.
WE NEED TO RE-SIZE OR STAFFING MODELING.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION ON THAT ONE REAL QUICK?
>> JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT THE REASON WE DIDN'T HAVE BUDGET CUTS LIKE EARLIER IN THAT 2020, 2021 IS BECAUSE OF THAT ONETIME FUNDING FROM THE STATE UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP OUR STAFFING AT THE SAME LEVEL BECAUSE OF THAT.
NOW WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT FUNDING ANYMORE.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. I THINK REALLY THE K12 COMMUNITY WAS UNSURE IF THIS SUDDEN DROP WOULD BE A QUICK REBOUND UP.
WOULD IT BE SLOW? WHAT'S THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND WHAT ARE INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS EXPERIENCING.
[01:50:01]
WE'RE BASICALLY ON PAR WITH THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.ACROSS THE BOARD, WE'RE ABOUT FOUR PERCENT BELOW OUR PRE-COVID LEVELS.
THAT'S RIGHT WHERE WE'RE AT PRESENTLY AS WELL.
BASICALLY, WE DIDN'T KNOW FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
YOU DON'T KNOW, YOUR ARE SETTING YOUR BUDGET BEFORE YOU KNOW, YOUR ACTUAL ENROLLMENT THE FOLLOWING FALL.
THINGS WEREN'T REALLY WORKING OUT.
NOW WE HAVE TO ADJUST TO THIS NEW CURVE.
IT'S NOT THIS STEEP [LAUGHTER] INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT.
IT'S DEFINITELY MORE OF A SLOW CURVE, A SLOWER REBOUND THAN PERHAPS WHAT WE HAD HOPED.
>> I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION AS WELL, BACK ON THAT SLIDE TOO, IN 2017 AND 2018 WHERE WE HAD A SIMILAR LOW ENROLLMENT AND HIGHER STAFFING.
HOW HOW DID WE FUND THAT? WERE WE USING FUND BALANCE BACK THEN AS WELL?
>> THIS WAS THE MCCLEARY TIMEFRAME THAT PRECEDED COVID, SO WE HAD A MAJOR CHANGE IN OUR FUNDING MODEL DURING THIS TIMEFRAME THAT REALLY INFUSED MORE CASH INTO K12 EDUCATION.
WE ALSO SAW NOT ONLY AN INCREASE IN AN FTE, WE SAW AN INCREASE IN WAGES FOR TEACHERS DURING THAT TIMEFRAME AS WELL AS ALL STAFF.
BUT THIS WAS REALLY A TIME OF CHANGE. IT WASN'T ALL GOOD.
AS YOU MENTIONED UNDER MCCLEARY WE WERE NOT WINNERS TOTALLY.
OUR LEVY GOT CUT MORE THAN 50 PERCENT AND THEN IT REBOUNDED THE FOLLOWING YEAR TO WHERE THE STATE HAD INCREASED THE THRESHOLD UP TO $2.50 AND THEN THE BOARD BASICALLY GRADUALLY INCREASE THAT OVER TIME ASSESSING THE NEEDS EACH YEAR.
WE DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY GO BACK UP TO THE MAXIMUM EVEN THOUGH WE COULD HAVE BECAUSE OF VOTER APPROVED LEVEL WAS IN EXCESS REALLY OF WHAT THAT STATUTORY MAXIMUM WAS.
WE WERE MEASURED IN OUR APPROACH.
BUT THAT DEFINITELY CREATED VOLATILITY NOT ONLY IN OUR LOCAL LEVY, BUT CLEARLY IN OUR STATE FUNDING AS WELL.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT? GREAT. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WHERE HAVE WE INVESTED OUR RESOURCES? BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO, BECAUSE THIS SPANS THAT PREDICT THAT EARLY ONSET OF MCCLEARY THROUGH THE COVID TIME PERIOD AND IT'S BEEN IN CLASSROOM TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, COUNSELORS, OUR SUPPORT SERVICES THAT PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO TRANSPORT THE KIDS TO SCHOOL, FEED THE KIDS WHEN THEY'RE THERE, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CLEAN FACILITIES, AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGY AND MAINTENANCE AND WHAT HAVE YOU AND THEN OBVIOUSLY PRINCIPLES AND DEANS, THOSE ARE BUILDING ADMIN, SO IT'S REALLY BEEN IN THESE AREAS IN THE FRONTLINE SERVICE DELIVERY THAT WHERE WE HAVE INCREASED OUR EXPENDITURES PER STUDENT.
IT HAS NOT BEEN IN CENTRAL ADMIN.
WHICH ZACH OR ZELL MILLER BACK ADMINISTRATION CENTER WE CALL ZACH.
I'M ALSO DURING THIS TIMEFRAME, ONE OF THE GIFTS OF MCCLEARY WAS A CHANGE IN OUR BENEFITS AS WELL, SO THE BENEFITS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO OUR EMPLOYEES ARE NO LONGER LOCALLY MANAGED.
THEY ACTUALLY MANAGE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
THEY DICTATE THE BENEFITS PACKAGE AS WELL AS WHO QUALIFIES AND SO THE NET EFFECT OF THOSE CHANGES IS IT BECAME OUR BENEFIT-COST DID INCREASE DRAMATICALLY.
OVER THIS TIME PERIOD, THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT FUND BALANCE AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE FUNDS THAT YOU CONTROL.
IT BECOMES MY ULTIMATE TARGET.
THESE ARE YEAR-END FUND BALANCES OVER THE COURSE STARTING BACK IN 2011, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS TIME PERIOD HERE WAS PRE-MCCLEARY OR RIGHT IN THOSE MCCLEARY YEARS, WE HAD THE INFUSION OF MONEY FROM THE MCCLEARY FUNDING MODEL CHANGES.
THEN WE HAVE THESE COVID YEARS RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS THIS SPIKE HERE I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT BUT IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE ONE-TIME FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED AND WHEN WE RECEIVED IT.
IT'S NOT JUST THAT WE RECEIVED ONE-TIME FUNDING BECAUSE A LOT OF DISTRICTS DID BUT
[01:55:04]
THERE WERE SOME ELEMENTS TO WHEN WE RECEIVED IT THAT MADE IT UNIQUE.THEN THIS RATHER RAPID DECLINE IN OUR FUND BALANCE.
THIS IS OUR PLANNED USE OF EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS.
THIS IS WHAT REPRESENTS WHAT STARTED LAST YEAR IN OUR PLAN OF DRAWING DOWN OUR FUND BALANCE NOW TO MAINTAIN STUDENT PROGRAMMING AND MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS OF POTENTIAL BUDGET CUTS OR COST REDUCTIONS.
RIGHT BACK [OVERLAPPING] I THINK IT WAS 2021, THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT OUR REGIONALIZATION STARTED TICKING DOWN 1% A YEAR AS WELL, WASN'T IT? WE WERE HAVING TO COME UP WITH EVEN THOUGH OUR LABOR COSTS LIKE ANY OTHER GROUP IS NOT GOING TO BE GOING DOWN, WE WERE RECEIVING 1% LESS IN FUNDING AND HAVING TO COME UP WITH OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THAT AS WELL.
>> YEAH, IN SOME WAYS, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THE MCCLEARY FUNDING MODEL CAME INTO EFFECT.
BUT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENED IS WE WERE FORTUNATE TO RECEIVE A 12% REGIONALIZATION FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS AND THEN IT DROPPED OFF 1% A YEAR.
WE'RE NOW AT THAT 9% THRESHOLD.
I AM HOPEFUL THAT THAT'S WHERE IT STAYS, BUT IT DOESN'T GO ANY LOWER.
AND IF I READ THE STATUTE CORRECTLY, IT SHOULD EXPIRE THAT THEY SHOULD STAY STEADY AT 9% IF THE STATE WERE TO DO NOTHING.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S DEPENDENT UPON WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS ONE-TIME FUNDING BECAUSE IT WAS SUBSTANTIAL.
OVERALL IT WAS ALMOST $11 MILLION OVER THE COURSE OF, IT'S GOING TO SPREAD OUT INTO THE FOLLOWING YEAR AFTER THIS.
IT'LL SPREAD OUT INTO '23, '24.
THE FIRST RELIEF THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED WAS CALLED ESSER.
THIS LIST CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I CANNOT EXPLAIN WHAT ESSER STANDS FOR.
I'M GOING TO SAY THE E STARTS WITH EDUCATION AND THEN AFTER THAT, I DON'T KNOW THE ACRONYM BUT IT WAS FEDERAL.
THIS WAS UNIVERSALLY APPLIED IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND I THINK ACROSS THE NATION ACTUALLY, BASED UPON A DISTRICT-FREE AND REDUCED POPULATION.
THIS WAS A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT BASIS ROLLED OUT IN THREE DIFFERENT PHASES OVER THIS COVID PERIOD OF TIME.
EARLY ON, WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS.
WE DID NOT RECEIVE A GREAT DEAL OF FUNDING PER STUDENT BECAUSE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS BUT MOSTLY ARE FREE AND REDUCED POPULATION.
THEN WE GOT SOME OTHER GRANTS THAT CAME IN OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT THEY EXISTED.
BASICALLY, THE STATE OF WASHINGTON WAS ROLLING OUT DIFFERENT FORMS OF COVID ASSISTANCE.
WE WOULD APPLY AND BE ENTITLED TO THOSE FUNDS.
THESE WERE ALL IF YOU WILL, REIMBURSEMENT BASIS, WE WOULD GET AWARDED.
YOU COULD GENERALLY TRY TO BUDGET FOR THEM OR ANTICIPATE THEM AND YOU COULD PLAN.
THIS SET OF DOLLARS FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, WE REALLY COULDN'T PLAN ON BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT IT WAS ROLLED OUT IS IT WAS IMMEDIATELY DISPERSED POST-LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE'RE SETTING A BUDGET RIGHT NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WE'LL LOCK THAT IN NO LATER THAN THE END OF AUGUST.
IT'S NOT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING SPRING THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS A SESSION.
THEY WOULD HAVE A SESSION, DECIDED THEY WANTED TO DISTRIBUTE SOME STABILIZATION MONIES TO DISTRICTS.
IN PARTICULAR, THEY WANTED TO TARGET THOSE DISTRICTS THAT WERE NOT WINNERS OF THE ESSER LOTTERY. THAT WAS GREAT.
IT WAS WELCOME ASSISTANCE BUT THEY DISPERSED THAT IN THE SAME FISCAL YEAR.
WE HAD NO IDEA. WE WERE THANKFUL TO HAVE IT.
BUT YOU'RE NOT SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE SUMMER, THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
THIS WAS MONEY THAT WE WERE THANKFUL TO HAVE.
IT HIT OUR FUND BALANCE TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND WAS PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT SPIKE RIGHT HERE.
[02:00:02]
WHEN THESE MONIES COME IN UNEXPECTEDLY, THERE WAS NO REAL REASONABLE MECHANISM TO SPEND THEM WHEN SCHOOL WAS OUT OBVIOUSLY.THEY ROLLED INTO THE FOLLOWING YEAR FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? BEFORE I MOVE ON, I THINK THAT THERE'S A LARGE AND DIVERSE PORTFOLIO OF COVID ASSISTANCE FUNDS THAT WASN'T ALL FEDERAL, IT WASN'T ALL STATE.
IT CAME IN ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT FORMS ROUGHLY.
HOW IT FLOWED TO THE DISTRICT REALLY IMPACTED OUR CASH FLOW.
>> JASEN, JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THIS FUNDING COMING IN IS WHY WE WOULD ANTICIPATE ONE ENDING FUND BALANCE AND THEN COME BACK AFTER THE SUMMER AND SEE THAT IT'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE HADN'T ANTICIPATED THAT INFLUX OF MONEY, CORRECT?
>> YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT. OUR PERCENTAGES OF FUND BALANCE ARE ON PAR WITH OUR PEER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.
I LOOKED AT ALL THOSE 20 PEER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ROUGHLY THOSE WITH LESS THAN 30% FREE AND REDUCED, WHO REALLY WERE RECIPIENTS OF THIS STATE STABILIZATION MONIES.
ALL OF OUR FUND BALANCES INCREASED OVER THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME FOR THE SAME REASON.
IT WASN'T A COMMON THING, IT WAS UNIQUE TO A HANDFUL OF US WHO DIDN'T REALLY BENEFIT VERY WELL FROM THE ESSER FUNDS.
>> JASEN WITH THE ESSER FUNDS, CAN YOU REMIND ME AGAIN BECAUSE THE ESSER FUNDS WERE REALLY DISTRIBUTED BY FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH STATUS, WE PROPORTIONALLY PER STUDENT RECEIVED A MUCH LOWER NUMBER THAN EVEN MOST OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
IF I REMEMBER CORRECT, VANCOUVER SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE BASICALLY GOT ONE-TENTH OF THE PER STUDENT AMOUNT THAT THEY DID OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT. IT WAS IN RELATION TO OUR RATIO OF STUDENT POPULATION.
IT WAS ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF VANCOUVER.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE RATIO WAS FAR LESS THAN LONG VIEW ON A PER-STUDENT BASIS.
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DISPERSES GRANT MONIES TOO.
WHEN WE'RE GETTING MONEY FOR OUR FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM OR WE'RE GETTING MONEY FOR OUR TITLE PROGRAMS, OFTEN IT'S BASED ON THIS SAME FORMULA OF FREE AND REDUCED.
IT WASN'T A NEW FORMULA, IT'S HOW THE FEDS DISBURSE MONEY TO THE K-12 SYSTEM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, OUR EXPENDITURES HAVE OUTPACED OUR REVENUES.
THE BIG PIECE IS THE LOSS AND ENROLLMENT DUE TO COVID, DECLINING BIRTH RATES ALL THAT IS REDUCING OUR REVENUE CURVE FOR THE FUTURE.
OUR STAFFING FTE STILL EXCEEDING PRE-COVID LEVELS, SO IT NEEDS TO ADJUST DOWN.
OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME OUR SALARY AND BENEFIT COSTS HAVE ESCALATED.
SALARY AND BENEFITS ARE 90% OF OUR BUDGET.
OUR BUDGET IS GOING TO GO JUST AS OUR EMPLOYEE COSTS GO.
OUR NON-EMPLOYEE COSTS, SUPPLIES, CONTRACTED SERVICES THEY'RE LESS THAN 10% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET.
BASICALLY WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH REVENUES TO PAY FOR THAT CURRENT STAFFING MODEL THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT MAKING CHANGES.
I'M HITTING THE WRONG BUTTON HERE.
>> HEY JASON. YOU MIGHT BE TOUCHING ON THIS LATER BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING MODEL NOT LINING UP WITH OUR CURRENT STAFFING PLAN.
DO YOU KNOW JUST OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD ABOUT HOW MUCH OF OUR LEVY FUNDS PERSONNEL?
>> WELL, SEE IT COMPRISES PROBABLY ABOUT 17,18% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET ON AVERAGE.
SOME YEARS IT'S MORE THAN THAT, SOME A LITTLE LESS.
OUR LEVY IS INTEGRATED INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR ORGANIZATION. IT IS THROUGHOUT.
[02:05:03]
IT'S IN EVERY SCHOOL, IT'S IN EVERY PROGRAM.I WOULD JUST SAY THAT IT IS DEFINITELY HEAVILY PROPORTIONED TOWARDS PERSONNEL, JUST LIKE OUR OVERALL BUDGET COMPOSITION NEXT SLIDE.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST ASKED THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, IF THE LEVY IS FUNCTIONING THE WAY THAT THE LEGISLATURE TELLS US IT HAS TO FUNCTION, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING FOR BASICALLY EVERYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND BASIC EDUCATION.
BUT SO MUCH OF WHAT OUR LEVY FUNDS, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD CONSIDER TO BE BASIC EDUCATION.
THE LEVY DOESN'T JUST FUND, SPORTS AND FIELD TRIPS.
>> NO, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, COREY AND YOU MENTIONED SPECIAL AD EARLIER.
IN 25-30CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND ON SPECIAL AD PROGRAMS IS LOCALLY FUNDED.
THAT'S A GREAT DEAL OF LOCAL SUPPORT JUST TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP PACE WITH THOSE STUDENT NEEDS THAT ARE EVER GROWING.
AS I MENTIONED, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH; THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF FOCUS ON OUR BUDGET COSTS RIGHT NOW THAT'S DOMINATING THE DISCUSSION, BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO OVERSHADOW THE COMMITMENT OF EIGHT MILLION IN FUND BALANCE FROM OUR SCHOOL BOARD.
THIS IS HUGE. IT'S NOT ONLY THE FIVE MILLION THIS YEAR, IT'S THE 1.5 NEXT YEAR AND THE 1.5 THE YEAR AFTER.
THAT COMMITMENT IS WHAT IS NEEDED JUST TO GET ON SOME FIRM GROUND TO WHERE WE CAN HAVE A MORE SUSTAINABLE PATH.
THAT EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS REALLY CUSHIONS OUR STUDENT PROGRAMS. IT GIVES US A RUNWAY TO ADJUST AND TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS.
IT ALSO REALLY GAVE US THAT ABILITY TO HOLD OUT SOME ADDITIONAL HOPE FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
IF YOU DIDN'T COMMIT THOSE FUNDS, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
IT BRINGS US DOWN TO ABOUT 8% OVER THE NEXT 3-4 YEARS, WHICH IS WHERE WE HAD ANTICIPATED WOULD BE OUR MINIMUM FUND BALANCE.
BUT, BUT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO FORGET THAT.
WITHOUT IT, YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUDGET CUTS MORE THAN OF SIX MILLION IN ONE YEAR, SO THAT'S HUGE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FOUR-YEAR PROJECTION, AGAIN, THIS IS PRELIMINARY.
LET'S SAY THIS IS A PRELIMINARY.
WE HAVE NOT DONE OUR FULL BUDGETING FOR '23-'24, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE TIMING AND THE NEED TO WORK ON BUDGET CUTS SO EARLY, WE NEED TO GET SOME OF THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE AND RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS PRELIMINARY.
BUT THIS REALLY SIGNIFIES THAT EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS AND COMMITMENT OF FUND BALANCE RIGHT HERE.
THEN THIS IS AT 5% OR SIX MILLION DOLLAR CUT RIGHT HERE.
OUR FUND BALANCE QUICKLY GOES DOWN FROM 18 DOWN TO 10.
THEN THAT GETS US RIGHT AT THAT A 8, 9% LEVEL.
THIS IS THE PLAN ESSENTIALLY THAT WE HAD COME UP WITH LAST YEAR.
IT'S ALWAYS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
WE HAVE TO PIVOT AND WE WILL PIVOT WHERE NECESSARY WHEN WE GO THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
WE'RE IN THAT PROCESS CONCURRENTLY WITH OUR BUDGET REDUCTION DISCUSSIONS.
WE HAVE OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETINGS WILL BE ON THE SAME PATTERN OF PROBABLY HAVING A BUDGET WORKSHOP IN THE SPRING.
ULTIMATELY, WE OWE A PRELIMINARY BUDGET POSTED TO OUR WEBSITE BY JULY 10TH.
THEN THE REAL IMPORTANT DEADLINE IS OBVIOUSLY THE END OF AUGUST.
WE HAVE TO PASS A BUDGET FOR THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR.
WE'RE RIGHT ON TARGET AS FAR AS OUR TIMELINE OF EVENTS ARE PLANNING AND SO FORTH.
TRACY, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> YEAH. SORRY. YOU COULD TELL I'M UNMUTED.
ONE OF THEM IS JUST A COMMENT OF THE CUTS THIS YEAR, OUR SIX MILLION, BUT OUR DEFICIT IS ACTUALLY 7.4 MILLION BECAUSE 1.4 IS COMING FROM FUND BALANCE.
WE SAY WE HAVE SIX MILLION IN CUTS IF WE DIDN'T PUT THE 1.4 AND WE'D HAVE MORE THAN SIX MILLION IN CUTS.
[02:10:03]
I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT.ALSO, I KNOW THAT WITH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND US AS A BOARD AND ALL THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD IS THAT WE SAY WE WANT OUR FUND BALANCE TO BE 8%.
WE'RE TALKING SMALL PERCENTAGES HERE.
I GET THAT, BUT SO WE'RE ENDING AT 8.7 OR 8.5, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE WE COULD GET THAT AS A BOARD.
WE CAN PLAY WITH THAT SPREADSHEET AND USE THOSE LEVERS AND GET THAT CLOSER TO ACTUAL 8%.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE AT A BUDGET WORKSHOP OR WHEN WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, BUT WE SAID 8% OR 8.5.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S HARD TO ACCOUNT TO THE VERY SMALLEST PERCENT, BUT I THINK THERE IS A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM IF WE NEED TO PLAY AROUND WITH THAT SOMEWHERE.
>> I THINK THAT'S PART OF THAT PIVOTING EVERY YEAR.
WE KNOW MORE EVERY YEAR ABOUT WHERE OUR FUTURE IS AND IT WAS REALLY SHAKEN FROM THE COVID EXPERIENCE.
WE NOW KNOW WHAT OUR NEW NORMAL IS, WE NEED TO ADJUST TO THAT AND WE ARE, BUT I THINK NOW WE HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON OUR REVENUE CURVE.
AS OUR CONFIDENCE INCREASES WITH SAY A REVENUE PROJECTION OR AN EXPENDITURE PROJECTION MIGHT NOT NEED AS MUCH RESERVES POTENTIALLY, THIS IS PRETTY LOW.
I WILL SAY SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS UNRESTRICTED VERSUS WHAT IS RESTRICTED FUND BALANCE, THAT QUESTION SOMETIMES COMES UP.
THE RESTRICTED PORTION TYPICALLY ISN'T A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT.
IT WAS ABOUT 800,000 WELL, THIS PAST YEAR.
I WON'T SAY IT'S INSIGNIFICANT, BUT WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO COVER FUTURE OPERATIONS, IT'S BASICALLY A SPOKEN FOR COMPONENT.
RIGHT NOW, 800,000 ISN'T VERY MUCH [LAUGHTER] WHEN YOU'RE HERE AND WHEN YOU GET HERE, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PROBABLY START HAVING A LITTLE STRONGER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
I JUST WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE OF THAT, THE CLOSER YOU BRING IT DOWN TO A MINIMUM, SOMETIMES THE MORE DETAIL YOU HAVE TO GET.
>> JASON, I HAVE A QUESTION REAL QUICK BECAUSE SO MUCH OF OUR CONVERSATIONS AND SO MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION THAT I HEAR IN THE COMMUNITY REALLY JUST FOCUSES ON THAT ENDING FUND BALANCE.
I WONDER IF YOU COULD SHED A LITTLE BIT MORE LIGHT ON WHY THAT 8% IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT THRESHOLD IN THE ACCOUNTING WORLD AND ALSO, I ACTUALLY JUST GOT AN EMAIL LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES WHILE YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FROM SOMEBODY SAYING THAT OSPI RECOMMENDS A 5%-7% ENDING FUND BALANCE.
I'VE NEVER PERSONALLY SEEN THAT NUMBER BEFORE, HAVE YOU SEEN THAT BEFORE? I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT THE SAME THING.
>> NO, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT FROM OSPI OR ANYONE.
OUR BOARD POLICY SAYS THAT WE WILL ASSESS IT ANNUALLY AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT MAKES A RECOMMENDATION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AS TO WHAT THEY FEEL A MINIMUM FUND BALANCE SHOULD BE.
LAST YEAR, WE WENT THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS WITH OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE AND BASICALLY, YOU THINK OF IT AS OUR CASH FLOW.
BASICALLY, WE DON'T GET ONE-TWELFTH OF OUR REVENUES EACH MONTH.
SOME MONTHS IT'S 5%, SOME MONTHS IT'S 15% OF OUR REVENUES IN ONE MONTH.
BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT CREATES SOME VOLATILITY AND SO YOU HAVE TO HOLD A MINIMUM CASH BALANCE IN ORDER TO RIDE THROUGH THOSE NATURAL VARIATIONS FROM ONE MONTH TO THE NEXT.
WE HAD FIGURED BACK A YEAR AGO THAT IT WAS JUST SHY OF FIVE MILLION, I BELIEVE WAS THE MINIMUM DOLLAR VALUE THAT WE NEEDED TO HOLD ONTO.
YOU TAKE THAT PLUS A RESTRICTED COMPONENT, MAYBE YOU'RE AT 5.5-6 MILLION THAT WOULD BE BARE BONES.
THAT MEANS YOU'RE RUNNING AGROUND IN THE MONTH OF MARCH,
[02:15:01]
THAT'S OUR PAIN POINT FOR OUR CASH FLOW AND WE'RE PRETTY DARN CLOSE TO RUNNING AGROUND IN FEBRUARY.WE WANTED TO HAVE SOME CUSHION ON TOP OF THAT SO WE LOOKED AT IT, WHAT WOULD BE A REASONABLE ACCURACY TO EXPECT FOR 110 MILLION IN REVENUES AND THE SAME THING ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE? THAT'S HOW WE HONED IN ON 8% AS A COMMITTEE, IT IS PART SCIENCE, PART ART.
WE KNOW FOR SURE HOW MUCH WE NEED TO KEEP FROM GOING INTO NEGATIVE AND GOING IN THE NEGATIVE WE CAN'T DO THAT, [LAUGHTER] NOT EVEN FOR A MONTH IS THAT ACCEPTABLE.
[LAUGHTER] BECAUSE WE HAVE TO COVER PAYROLL AND THAT'S A MUST.
WE NEED SOME LEVEL OF MARGIN AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY HOW WE GOT TO THAT 8%.
I LOOK AT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS THEY'RE IN THE 10%-7%.
I MENTIONED THAT I DID RESEARCH ON PURE SIZED DISTRICTS BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT.
THEY'RE ENDING LAST YEAR RIGHT AROUND THAT 13% AND THAT'S ACROSS 20 DIFFERENT DISTRICTS SO ABOUT OUR SIZE.
AS I MENTIONED, THEN I HONED IN ON SOME THAT HAVE A LITTLE CLOSER FREE AND REDUCED POPULATION TO US AND THEY WERE A NOTCH ABOVE, THEY WERE THAT 15.5 ON AVERAGE TO 16%.
WE'RE RIGHT IN THAT REALM, I FEEL LIKE OF "NORMAL" IF YOU WILL AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER AND LOOK AT.
>> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS ASKING JASON ABOUT TOO, IS NOT THAT WE CAN EQUALLY COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER DISTRICTS, BUT WHAT ARE THEIR FUND BALANCE PERCENTAGES? I LOOKED EVERYWHERE FOR IT YESTERDAY AND JASON HAD TO TELL ME HOW TO FIND IT ON OSPI'S WEBSITE BECAUSE IT'S ALL BURIED IN THERE HOW YOU FIND IT.
BUT THEY WERE IN THE 9%-11% AS WELL FOR THE LAST YEAR, THAT WAS THE 2021/2022 SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH WAS THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR THAT WAS REPORTED.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE TOO FAR OFF, I GUESS IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
I KNOW IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR US TO GET TO THAT 8% THROUGH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND ALL THOSE WORKSHOPS THAT WE WENT TO FIGURE THAT OUT BECAUSE I REMEMBER WE USED TO SAY 10% AND SO I THINK WE'VE LOWERED THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO.
I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE 8%, BUT I WANT TO BE AS CLOSE TO THE 8% AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE ON? THE BUDGET STATUS FOR JANUARY, REALLY NOT A GREAT DEAL TO MENTION.
OUR ANNUAL DEFICIT IS TRENDING TOWARDS 5.1 MILLION.
OUR REVENUE EXPENDITURES ARE PRETTY WELL TRACKING WITH OUR FORECASTS.
NOTHING MUCH TO REPORT AND DEBT SERVICE, CAPITAL PROJECTS, TRANSPORTATION, ALL THAT.
VERY NORMAL ACTIVITY FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY IS THAT WE DO GET A TRUE-UP OF OUR APPORTIONMENT STATE APPORTIONMENT DOLLARS OR OUR STATE FUNDING FROM THE STATE.
BASICALLY, THEY START TO TRUE UP OUR FUNDING BETWEEN PROJECTED OR BUDGETED ENROLLMENT AND ACTUAL ENROLLMENT.
AS I MENTIONED, WE WERE PRETTY DONE CLOSE ON OUR ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS.
WE'RE NOT SEEING A HUGE ADJUSTMENT, BUT THERE ARE SOME NUANCE CHANGES.
WE'RE 77% STATE-FUNDED, 20% LOCAL, 3% FEDERAL.
THIS LOCAL FUNDED COMPONENT KEEP IN MIND, IT'S NOT JUST TAXES.
WE HAVE LOCAL RECEIPTS THAT WE, LOCAL REVENUES, LOCAL COLLECTIONS, AS WELL AS OUR TAX LEVY.
AS I MENTIONED, THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS, THEY DOMINATE OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR AS THEY MOST USUALLY DO.
WHEN LOOKING AT REVENUES, HERE'S THAT VARIABILITY.
WE WENT THROUGH THE MAIN CATEGORIES.
LOCAL TAX, THIS IS LEVY, LOCAL NON-TAX, THAT'S GOING TO BE LOCALLY COLLECTED OR FEES, COMMUNITY HEALTH THAT TYPE OF THING.
STATE GENERAL APPORTIONMENT, AND THEN STATE SPECIAL APPORTIONMENT.
BASICALLY, GENERAL APPORTIONMENT GOES TO OUR GENERAL OPERATIONS.
SPECIAL OFTEN IS TIED TO SPECIAL EDUCATION,
[02:20:03]
IS DEDICATED FUNDING FOR DEDICATED PURPOSES, AND THEN FEDERAL.FEDERALS COME IN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.
ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT POPPED UP AND WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF.
BUT OVERALL, THE NET DIFFERENCE IS ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT'S LESS THAN 1%. THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
IT'S PRETTY SURPRISED. WE'RE REALLY HONING IN.
I THINK THIS IS A TRIBUTE REALLY TO OUR BUDGET ANALYST, MATT CAMPBELL.
HE'S BEEN A WONDERFUL ADDITION THAT WE'VE HAD FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS AND HE DOES A GREAT JOB.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, SOME OF THE ONE-TIME FUNDING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION ON THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR.
WE HAVE THIS OVERALL OPERATIONAL BUDGET.
WITHIN OUR REVENUE PORTFOLIO IS SOME ONE-TIME GRANT REVENUES.
IT'S GONE AWAY. IT'S NOT JUST THE DEFICIT THAT WE HAVE TO MANAGE, THE FIVE MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.
IT'S ALSO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT FOR THE ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN ONE-TIME REVENUES, IT'S EXPIRING OR YOU HAVE TO ADJUST YOUR EXPENDITURES ACCORDINGLY.
THAT'S PART OF THAT BUDGET REDUCTION PICTURE OVERALL.
WE'VE GOT FOR OUR TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM, ALE, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY CALL IT ALE BUT THIS IS BASICALLY OUR SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM, SUPPLY CHAIN ASSISTANCE.
THIS WAS SPECIFIC TO OUR FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THAT WAS HIGHLY IMPACTED BY THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES THAT WERE PRESENTED FROM COVID.
LEA, THIS IS THAT LEVY EQUALIZATION DOLLAR THAT WE GET FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON THAT WAS REDUCED.
THEN THAT MONEY WILL NOT BE RENEWED NEXT YEAR.
WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY MORE STABILIZATION MONIES.
THEN SOME ARP, WHICH WAS ANOTHER FORM OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE THAT CAME THAT WILL BE EXHAUSTED THIS YEAR AND NOT READING.
WE BUDGETED SR3 TO SPAN THROUGH THE '23, '24 YEAR.
WE HAVEN'T CHANGED THAT BUDGET OR THAT PLAN THUS FAR.
REASON BEING WE'VE GOT ONE MORE YEAR.
WE BASICALLY SPLIT THIS 750,000 BETWEEN '22,'23 AND '23,'24.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THAT NET DIFFERENCE AGAIN IS ABOUT 0.6% OR 600,000.
SOME ADJUSTMENTS UP AND DOWN WITH OUR CERTAIN CLASSIFIED SALARIES.
ALL PRETTY DONE CLOSE, REALLY.
THAT'S ABOUT IT. THE REST ARE OUR TRADITIONAL GRAPHS THAT I'VE SHARED WITH YOU.
I APOLOGIZE FOR A VERY LENGTHY BUDGET STATUS REPORT.
ONE OF THE MORE LONGER ONES, BUT I WANTED TO COVER SOME OF THESE THINGS.
NOW THAT YOU'VE HAD QUESTIONS ON, THAT I'VE RECEIVED QUESTIONS ON.
HOPEFULLY, IT COMPLIMENTS EVERYONE'S KNOWLEDGE BASE.
>> THANK YOU, JASON. ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT JUST A COMMENT OF SOME THINGS THAT I HEAR OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'M GLAD WE SCHEDULED THIS BUDGET TOWN HALL ONE-ON-ONE THING COMING UP.
I KNOW THAT WAS QUICK THAT WE THROW THAT ON THERE, BUT I REALLY THINK, AS YOU ALL KNOW, BUDGETING AND SCHOOL FINANCING IS VERY COMPLICATED.
IT'S VERY COMPLICATED AND HARD TO UNDERSTAND.
I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, BUT THINGS LIKE SELLING UL OR SELLING AGRICULTURE PROPERTY OR SELLING OUR 80 ACRES THAT WE HAVE, LIKE NONE OF THAT CAN BE INFUSED INTO THIS DEFICIT THAT WE HAVE.
IT'S JUST DIFFERENT POCKETS OF MONEY.
SOMETIMES I THINK I GET THOSE QUESTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY OF WHY DO YOU HANG ONTO PROPERTY OR WHY DO YOU HANG ON TO THESE OTHER THINGS? WELL, THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT POOLS OF MONEY, WHICH WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IN YOUR BUDGET REPORT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT MAYBE SOME OF THAT WILL COME MORE CLEAR IN THE TOWN HALL THAT WE DO HERE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
JUST AS A BRIEF OVERVIEW BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I HEARD ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS TODAY WHO WAS SAYING THAT SHE'S BEEN COMING TO BOARD MEETINGS AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE FUNDING MODEL AND WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM AND WHAT EXACTLY WE CAN SPEND IT ON.
I GUESS I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT TOWN HALL AND HOPEFULLY, IT'S RECORDED SOMEWHERE FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T WATCH IT TO WATCH IT
[02:25:04]
LATER OR ASK QUESTIONS LIKE WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO ASK QUESTIONS TO LIKE I SAID, WE GET COMMUNITY QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME FROM PEOPLE ASKING THESE THINGS AND ALWAYS HAPPY TO MEET AND ANSWER AND TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS WHENEVER WE CAN AS WELL.>> I ALREADY AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID, AS WELL AS THIS IDEA THAT WE'RE IN THIS CYCLE OF BUDGET CUTS.
NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE FAT IN THE SYSTEM.
WE WERE SHORT STAFFED IN A LOT OF AREAS AND WE HAVE TO CUT OUR BUDGET TO COME IN LINE WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE STATE.
BUDGET CUTS ARE ALWAYS PAINFUL, BUT WE DON'T HAVE AN EXCESS ANYWHERE.
IT'S DIGGING DEEP TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN STREAMLINE OUR EXPENSES AND HOW WE CAN BEST SERVE KIDS WITH THE SHRINKING POOL OF MONEY THAT WE ARE GETTING TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS IN CANVAS.
JASON, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.
IT'S A TIGHT ROPE WALK AND HAVING TO RE-EDUCATE US OVER AND OVER AGAIN BECAUSE IT GETS SO CONFUSING AND COMPLICATED.
I KNOW I'M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR, TALKING TO THE BOARD HERE THAT WE'VE SPENT MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND PORING OVER SPREADSHEETS AND TALKING WITH JASON AND MANIPULATING MODELS AND LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT'S SUSTAINABLE AND THE LEAST PAINFUL AND THE LEAST IMPACT ON ALL OF OUR KIDS.
THANK YOU TO THE 84 PARTICIPANTS WHO'VE HUNG IN THERE TO LISTEN TO THE BUDGET PART.
IT'S EASY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DON'T WANT CUT.
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE WHO TAKE THE EFFORT TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE AND WHAT THE VARIABLES ARE THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH SO THANK YOU.
>> HEY, JASON, JUST ONE OTHER QUICK QUESTION BEFORE WE JUST IN SUMMARY, AS WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO, JOHN PRESENTED A BUDGET TIMELINE COMING UP.
I KNOW THAT YOU REALLY EXPLAINED, ESPECIALLY WITH ENDING FUND BALANCE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT FUNDING THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AT DIFFERENT TIMES OVER THE YEAR.
THAT WAS ONE TIME AND THERE WAS A LOT OF VOLATILITY GOING ON THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE DO WE EXPECT THAT VOLATILITY IS SLOWING DOWN, THERE'S NOT AS MANY VARIABLES.
WHAT OTHER WILDCARDS ARE OUT THERE FOR US FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT.
I KNOW THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAPS IN APRIL, SO WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATE IS GOING TO SEND US UNTIL THEN, AND EVEN THEN THEY COULD GO INTO A SPECIAL SESSION AND JUST KEEP EXTENDING IT.
WHAT WILDCARDS DO YOU FEEL YOU'RE STILL OUT THERE?
>> I THINK THE NUMBER OF VARIABLES THAT REALLY DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY AND THE LEGISLATURE GAVE VERY STRONG SIGNALS LAST YEAR.
THEY WERE VERY FORWARD AND SAYING, THIS IS IT, YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANY MORE STABILIZATION MONIES NEXT YEAR.
ADVICE FROM OSPI, AS WELL AS OUR ASSOCIATIONS WHERE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO ADJUST YOUR NEW NORMAL, WHATEVER THAT IS YOU HAVE TO ADJUST.
I THINK WE'RE JUST IN THAT REALM OF WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT FIRMER FOOTING TO KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FINANCIALLY.
IT GOES BACK TO THAT ENROLLMENT FORECAST AND IT COMING RIGHT ON TARGET.
WHETHER IS WELCOME NEWS, GOOD OR BAD NEWS, AT LEAST IF YOU KNOW FROM THE LEGISLATURE. THAT'S GOOD.
IT FEELS WE KNOW EARLIER THAN SOME SESSIONS WHAT THE END IS GOING TO HOLD.
THOSE ARE TWO VERY BIG THINGS COREY, I THINK THAT'S THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH.
I THINK IN THE PAST FEW YEARS WHEN YOU CHANGE THE FUNDING MODEL OR YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN ENROLLMENT.
WHAT IS YOUR NEW NORMAL OR POST PANDEMIC OR POST MCCLEARY.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING THERE.
I FEEL THAT'S WHAT K12 EDUCATION AND ACROSS THE STATE IS STARTING TO FIND THAT NEW BASE OF WHERE THEY'RE AT, SET THEIR PROGRAMS ACCORDINGLY AND MOVE FORWARD FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID TOO ABOUT OUR ENROLLMENT FORECAST COMING IN AS TARGETED.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT TARGETED ENROLLMENT IS AGAIN BELOW WHERE WE WERE THROUGH PANDEMICS.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S COMING IN WHERE WE EXPECTED,
[02:30:02]
WE EXPECTED IT TO STILL BE DOWN.I ALSO KNOW JUST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I KNOW WE'VE GOT CONTRACTS THAT ARE OPENING UP WITH LABOR GROUPS.
I THINK ALL FOUR OF OUR LABOR GROUPS HAVE OPEN CONTRACTS.
LOOKING FORWARD TOO, I THINK THAT WILL PROVIDE US WITH A LOT MORE CERTAINTY AS WELL.
LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THAT PROCESS STARTED REALLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, TO JUST GET A COUPLE MORE OF THOSE WILDCARDS OUT OF THE WAY.
THANK YOU, JASON. I'M GOING TO MOVE US ON LET'S SEE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO ITEM NINE SEE ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS OUR QUARTERLY EQUITY UPDATE FROM KATIE SEIDEL WHO HAS PROBABLY BEEN SITTING QUIETLY LONGER THAN ANYBODY ELSE ON THE PANEL.
KATIE, THANK YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUARTERLY EQUITY UPDATE.
>> COREY IT'S TIME FOR DINNER IS WHAT IT'S TIME FOR.
CAN YOU ALL SEE THAT AND HEAR ME, THANK YOU.
YES, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF INFORMATION AND ACTUALLY IT WAS REALLY INSPIRING AND POWERFUL TO HEAR FROM SO MANY FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TONIGHT, I REALLY ENJOYED HEARING STORIES ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
YES, I'VE BEEN SITTING QUIETLY, BUT IT HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL AS WELL.
OUR LAST QUARTERLY REVIEW, WHICH WAS OUR FIRST QUARTERLY REVIEW, INCLUDED THIS COMMITMENT AROUND WHAT IT IS THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT OR SCHOOL BOARD SEES AS A PRIORITY FOR SERVING OUR STUDENTS, WHICH IS THAT EVERY STUDENT WILL SUCCEED REGARDLESS OF ANY MARKER OR MARGINALIZATION THAT THEY MIGHT EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION.
I SENT HER ALL OF OUR WORK IN THIS COMMITMENT.
IF THIS IS WHAT WE SAY WE BELIEVE, THEN THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO USE TO GUIDE THE WORK THAT I DO, WHETHER IT'S WITH OUR LEADERSHIP, OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR TEACHERS, FAMILIES THIS IS WHERE I START EVERY TIME.
AT OUR FIRST UPDATE WE HAD, I SHARED THAT OUR PANORAMA DATA AROUND A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND THERE'S TWO CAT OR THERE'S TWO AREAS AT GRADES 3 AND 5,6-12.
HOW AS A DISTRICT WE'VE USED THE VALUES OF HOPE AND BELONGING, BUT ALSO THE SCIENCE OF HOPE AS GUIDES FOR OUR TEACHING AND LEARNING WORK, AND THIS IS HOW YOU GET EQUITY.
THIS IS HOW YOU HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR KIDS.
THESE ARE STATS FROM LAST SPRING, SO SPRING 2022.
WE HAD 63 PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS IN GRADES THREE THROUGH FIVE HAD FELT A SENSE OF BELONGING BASED ON A SERIES OF QUESTIONS THAT PANORAMA AS A PROGRAM COMBINES.
YOU SEE THOSE DOTS ON THE SIDE, WHICH IS OUR PERCENTILE IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE NATION.
WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WHEN YOU HAVE THESE PANORAMAS SURVEYS, WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT EVERY YEAR THEY USUALLY START LOWER IN THE FALL AND THEN THEY GROW THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR TO THE SPRING AND THEN THEY DROPPED BACK DOWN IN THE FALL THEY CHANGE THAT WAY.
THAT'S A NATURAL CYCLE FOR MOST STUDENTS.
THIS IS OUR FALL OF 2022 RESULTS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'VE GROWN AT BOTH LEVELS 4% IN GRADES 3-5 AND 3% IN GRADE 6-12.
WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT THIS IS EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T FEEL A HUGE INCREASE, IT DOES SHOW THAT THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND BEING REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT ARE EQUITABLE PRACTICES THROUGH INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMMING THAT OUR KIDS ARE SENSING THAT THEY'RE FEELING IT.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT IF THEY FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING, JUST LIKE ANY OF US, THEY ARE READY TO LEARN.
THAT MEANS THEIR NEEDS ARE MET IN EVERY WAY AND THEY GET WHAT THEY NEED TO GROW IN OUR SCHOOLS.
>> FROM THAT LAST SLIDE. IN YOUR DATA, CAN YOU DRILL DOWN AND SEE WHAT SCHOOLS WHAT RESULTS CAME FROM, IN THE 6/12 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE KIDS AT HAYES AND ODYSSEY, DISCOVERY AND CCA AND CHS.
[02:35:01]
OUR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS ACCESS TO THE WHOLE DISTRICT AND ALL THE SCHOOLS.
I COULD GO IN THERE AND SEE EVERY SCHOOL AND HOW THEY ARE PERFORMING OR WHAT IT LOOKS IN THEIR DIFFERENT SETTINGS.
WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH A COUNCIL LAST FOUR WITH THIS DATA AND WE'LL DO IT AGAIN THIS SPRING SO THAT PRINCIPALS WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH THAT INFORMATION AROUND THEIR SCHOOL, AND THEY CAN SEE WHERE THOSE POCKETS ARE.
JUST WHO FEELS A SENSE OF CONNECTION AND BELONGING IN THEIR SCHOOL AND WHO DOESN'T.
IT DOESN'T SHOW STUDENT NAMES, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE THEN THAT WILL EXPOSE SYSTEMS. IF SYSTEMS ARE WORKING OR NOT JUST INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS THAT MIGHT NEED MORE.
THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING INDIVIDUALLY WITH OUR SCHOOLS.
THE AREAS OF FOCUS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE OUR LAST UPDATE HAVE BEEN, I'M IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING DEPARTMENT, WHICH MEANS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR EQUITY FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND STUDENTS ARE WHO I THINK OF FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND HOW WE CAN IMPACT LEARNING AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AND THEN DOWN TO BUILDING LEVELS FOR THE GREATEST IMPACT OF OUR STUDENTS.
THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING ARE, WE HAVE REDRAWN WHAT AD COUNCIL LOOKS LIKE.
AD COUNCIL IS WHERE ALL OF OUR PRINCIPALS AND ASSOCIATE PRINCIPALS AND DEANS MEET AND TALK ABOUT OUR DIRECTION OF LEARNING.
WE'VE SHAPED IT AROUND BELONGING THIS YEAR AND BEEN REALLY INTENTIONAL WITH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, THE BENEFITS OF IT, RESEARCHING ABOUT IT, AND GUIDING THAT WORK.
SOME OF OUR NEXT STEPS ARE LOOKING AT THE SENSE OF BELONGING THAT SHOWS UP IN THEIR TEACHING FRAMEWORK, MARZANO FRAMEWORK, AND HAVING SOME PRINCIPALS POTENTIALLY DO SOME LEARNING WALKS AROUND WHAT DOES BELONGING LOOK LIKE IN THEIR SCHOOL AND OTHER SCHOOLS, SO PARTNERING WITH EACH OTHER AND BREAKING THAT DOWN AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS SO THAT THEY CAN BE REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW TO INFLUENCE THAT BIG PICTURE DATA THAT I SHOWED AT THE BEGINNING SO WE KNOW WHAT'S WORKING AND HOW WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE ALSO AS A DISTRICT ARE PART OF THE INCLUSIONARY PRACTICES PROJECT WITH KATIE NOVAK AND SHE'S A LEADER IN THIS WORK.
THIS IS ALSO HELPING US SHAPE AND THROUGH OUR MTSS WORK, WHAT INCLUSIVE PRACTICES LOOK LIKE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
I KEEP THINKING ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHARING ABOUT HIS FREEDOM, AND WHILE THAT'S REALLY STRONG AND POWERFUL AND EXCITING, HOW DO WE RECREATE THAT FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS? HOW DO WE GET EVERY KID IN CAMAS TO FEEL CONNECTED AND THEY BELONG AND SOMEONE HAS THEIR BACK AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE WELCOMED AND THEY'RE CELEBRATED FOR WHO THEY ARE AS THEY SHOW UP IT'S NOT A STRUGGLE TO BE WHO THEY ARE IN ANY SETTING.
I KEEP THINKING ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
THESE ARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WILL HELP US WITH THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR DISTRICT EQUITY TEAM.
WE FORMED THAT, WE HAD TO CANCEL ONE FROM WHETHER, AND THAT TEAM HAS MET ONCE TO REGROUP.
THEY HAD A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH BUILDING, SO A TEACHER OR ADMINISTRATOR FROM EVERY SCHOOL BUILDING TO PARTICIPATE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT COMMITMENT THAT I SHARED, WE TALKED ABOUT WAYS TO SHARE THAT BELIEF WITH OUR STAFF AND WITH OUR STUDENTS.
THE STATEMENT STARTS WITH WE BELIEVE AND THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS LIKE, WELL DO WE REALLY BELIEVE ALL THESE THINGS? IF THEY'RE NOT ALREADY HAPPENING HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO SHAPE THAT BELIEF, AND GROW IT WITHIN OUR STAFF? WE WORKED TOGETHER ON THAT AND MY NEXT MEETING WE'LL HAVE MORE SPECIFICS AROUND THAT AND HAVING THEM BREAK UP AND WORK ON MORE SPECIFIC THINGS BASED ON NEEDS THAT AROSE.
ONE OF THOSE BEING OUR GENDER-INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS WORK, WHICH I'LL GET TO HERE IN JUST A SECOND.
THERE'S A LITTLE ARROW THAT'S NICE.
THE STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS MET.
WE MEET TWICE A MONTH, AND I DID HAVE AN UPDATE EVEN THOUGH OUR STUDENTS COULDN'T MAKE IT TONIGHT I OVERSEE THAT WORK AND PRETTY MUCH ALL THREE TEAMS ARE ABOUT EQUITY.
WE KNOW THAT ONE IS HAVING A CONFERENCE OR THEY'VE
[02:40:03]
CREATED A LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE TO SHARE STRATEGIES AND TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS THROUGH THAT ASB LEADERSHIP.THAT'S ON MARCH 22ND AND IT'S HAPPENING AT ZACH, AND IT'S FROM 9:00-2:00.
THEY'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON GETTING PARTICIPANTS FROM EACH SCHOOL BUILDING SECONDARY SCHOOL TO SHOW UP, OR TO COMMIT TO THAT DAY, BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF SCHOOL FOR THAT TIME, WHICH IS A LONG DAY, THAT'S A LOT OF COMMITMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR WINDOWS AND MIRRORS GROUP WHICH IS WORKING WITH PRINCIPAL BRIAN GRAHAM WOODBURN, AND THEY'VE SCHEDULED THEIR DATES FOR FIFTH-GRADE LESSONS, AND THEN IN APRIL, WE'LL WORK WITH FIRST-GRADE TEACHERS ON SOME LESSONS AS WELL.
THE THIRD GROUP IS OUR STUDENT VOICE GROUP.
THEY INITIALLY HAD WANTED TO DO A SURVEY FOR ALL STUDENTS, WHICH WAS REALLY BIG AND A LOT LIKE PANORAMA.
THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY USE THE STORIES AND VOICES OF STUDENTS IN THE STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHICH IS JUST PROBABLY MORE POWERFUL BECAUSE THEY GET TO HEAR EACH OTHER'S VOICES AND THEN DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AND WHO NEEDS TO HEAR THOSE STORIES.
THAT IS A MIGHTY GROUP, THAT IS A VERY POWERFUL GROUP.
THAT'S OUR BRIEF UPDATE FROM THAT GROUP.
THE GENDER-INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS TEAM IS ONE THAT I CALLED IT A TEAM ON HERE.
IT'S WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND IT JUST INVOLVES OUR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW.
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY DIRECTORS AND SPECIAL SERVICES, AND DR. ANGELONE.
WE MEET IN EVERY FEW WEEKS AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH SOME NEEDS ASSESSMENT FROM GENDER SPECTRUM WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS RESOURCES AND SUPPORT SCHOOLS.
YOU CAN GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AND THEIR TOOLS ARE FREE TO TAKE US WHERE ARE WE AT WITH OUR GENDER INCLUSIVITY.
WE HEAR INDIVIDUAL STORIES OF KIDS WHO REALLY THRIVE AND KIDS WHO REALLY DON'T THRIVE.
WHAT IS OUR SYSTEM, HOW IS OUR SYSTEM SET UP FOR KIDS TO SHOW UP, AND THAT WE'RE READY FOR THEM NO MATTER WHAT THEIR GENDER IDENTITY OR GENDER EXPRESSION IS, AND HONOR ALL STUDENTS' IDENTITIES IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THAT, WE STARTED CREATING AN ACTION PLAN LAST WEEK, AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WILL LOOK AT ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
I'VE COMPLETED A COUPLE EXTRA EQUITY MODULE 3 TRAININGS WHICH IS OUR REQUIRED EQUITY TRAINING FOR THIS YEAR.
THERE WERE QUITE A FEW PARA EDUCATORS AT THOSE I THINK MAKING UP FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO BE AT THE SCHOOL TRAININGS.
WE ALSO CAN RECOGNIZE THAT SYSTEM IS REALLY CHALLENGING AS FAR AS GETTING EVERYBODY TO DO THE SAME THING OR PARTICIPATE IN THE SAME THING, AND AT THE SAME TIME.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH WHAT THOSE MAKE-UP SESSIONS LOOK LIKE.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT GOT CANCELED TOMORROW BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER SO OUR SIGN-UPS AREN'T GREAT.
BUT THE TEACHING AND LEARNING TEAM HAD COME UP WITH TLC TUESDAYS, TEACH, LEARN, COLLABORATE, AND OFFERING A SESSION TOMORROW AND A SESSION IN MARCH, AND ARE TEAMED WITH ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR PARENTS IN COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO'S ALSO INCREDIBLY SMART.
HER NAME IS DR. REBECCA SHEMESH, CREATING A SESSION FOR GENDER IDENTITY PROTOCOL FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF, WHICH FOLLOWS A VALUES QUESTION PROTOCOL BUT DOESN'T NECESSARILY INCLUDE VALUES.
I CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AT ANOTHER TIME BECAUSE I KNOW, WE'RE ALL TIRED BUT THIS IS STUFF I LOVE.
WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AND WE STILL HOPE TO PLAN THE SECOND SESSION OR HOLD THE SECOND SESSION.
THAT WAS A GREAT START TOO FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SERVE SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN GREATEST NEED OF A PROTOCOL LIKE THAT OR A RESPONSE, ESPECIALLY AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
THEN FINALLY, I HAVE BEEN SERVING STAFF AND FAMILIES ON INDIVIDUAL LEVELS.
BEING SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN THE DISTRICT IN MULTIPLE BUILDINGS BEFORE THIS ROLE, I HAVE CONNECTIONS ALL OVER OUR DISTRICT, AND SO I GET QUITE A FEW EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE JUST ASKING QUESTIONS, ASKING FOR SUPPORT, INVITING ME TO PARENT MEETINGS OR HAVING ME MEET WITH PARENTS AND FAMILIES, AND I LOVE THAT.
I LOVE GETTING AS CLOSE TO STUDENTS AS I CAN,
[02:45:02]
TO SEE THE IMPACT AND NEEDS THAT ARE THERE.BUT THAT ALSO IS SOME OF THAT INVISIBLE WORK THAT TAKES PLACE TOO.
THEN I HAVE THIS LITTLE CIRCLE THAT SAYS, "HI FRIEND" THAT I SAW ON A STUDENT'S DESK ONE DAY.
I TAKE PHOTOS EVERYWHERE I GO, WHICH YOU'LL SEE HERE ON THE NEXT SLIDES, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS ADORABLE.
WHEN I TALK ABOUT OUR GENDER EXPANSIVE SUPPORT AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, THIS GENDER INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS TEAM OR PROCESS HAS BEEN PERSONAL REFLECTION AND PROFESSIONAL REFLECTION AROUND GENDER, SO LIKE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND THEN ALSO AS AN EDUCATOR.
WHAT ARE OUR EXPERIENCES WITH GENDER AND ASSUMPTIONS WE'VE MADE OR ANYTHING? THERE'S SOME PRETTY GOOD QUESTIONS IN THERE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT, WHICH I MENTIONED, AND THEN PLANNING FOR NEXT STEPS.
A COUPLE OF AREAS OF STRENGTH AND OPPORTUNITY.
FROM THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT, WE IDENTIFIED AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS SEEMS REALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT SOMETHING THAT DOES REQUIRE A SHIFT IN BELIEF AND HABIT AND THAT IS GENDER SEGREGATED LANGUAGE AND CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES.
INSTEAD OF GREETING KIDS, GOOD MORNING, BOYS AND GIRLS, FOR EXAMPLE OR HEY GUYS, OR SPLIT UP INTO BOYS AND GIRLS FOR THIS ACTIVITY OR THROUGH PE OR WHATEVER.
THOSE ARE PRETTY SIMPLE SHIFTS TO MAKE BUT THAT'S ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL AND NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT SYSTEMICALLY CHANGES.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IF YOU'RE THE KID IN CLASS THAT DOESN'T FIT ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES, YOU'RE INSTANTLY EXCLUDED.
THAT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND A WAY TO RE-INTEGRATE OR FORCE YOURSELF TO BELONG WHEN THE PERSON IN THE ROOM THAT YOU TRUST AND LOVE AND RESPECT DOESN'T SEE YOU.
THAT'S DEFINITELY AN AREA OF GROWTH THAT WE IDENTIFIED.
FOR AN AREA OF STRENGTH IS THAT WE DO HAVE A REALLY STRONG BELIEF SYSTEM.
WE HAVE DISTRICT-LEVEL SUPPORT, WE HAVE MY POSITION, WE HAVE COMPLIANCE WITH GENDER INCLUSIVITY IN OUR POLICIES, THE STATE EXPECTATIONS.
THEN I'M VERY PROUD TO SHARE THAT THE LEADERS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ON THIS OR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS DONE PERSONAL REFLECTION IN LEARNING AND SHARES THIS AS A REALLY STRONG VALUE AND NECESSITY FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL GREAT ABOUT AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE READY FOR EVERY KID.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GENDER INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS WORK? YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IT. THEN AS I TAKE PHOTOS EVERYWHERE, AND SO I GOT TO GO TO KINDNESS DAY, WHICH WAS IN CELEBRATION OF DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR AND THIS IS AT WOODBURN ELEMENTARY.
THIS IS A DAY WHERE EACH CLASS DOES A SERVICE PROJECT IN THE ESSENCE OR UNDERSTANDING OF KINDNESS TO GIVE BACK.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT THERE'S KIDS MAKING LITTLE BLANKETS FOR, I THINK IT WAS THE HUMANE SOCIETY WAS FOR PETS.
THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER CLASS THAT READ THIS BOOK, THE THINKING OF YOU BOOK.
THEN THEY WERE WRITING CARDS WITH SPECIFIC COMPLEMENTS TO PEOPLE THAT THEY KNOW AND LOVE.
THAT WAS EXCITING FOR ME TO GET TO WANDER AROUND AND THE ENERGY IN THAT BUILDING ON THAT DAY WAS SO POWERFUL.
[LAUGHTER] KIDS WERE SO EXCITED AND THERE WAS SO MUCH LOVE, SO THAT WAS AWESOME.
THEN WE HAVE FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
THIS WAS HELEN BALLER AND YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS BECAUSE THIS IS FRONT AND CENTER WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE BUILDING ON THE BACK OF THEIR BIG WINDOWS, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S GLOWING A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT'S THROUGH THE WINDOW.
THIS BIG PIECE OF ART THAT CELEBRATES DIFFERENT BLACK HEROES IN OUR CULTURE.
IF YOU WALK DOWN THE HALLS, THEY ALSO HAD CLASSES THAT DID OTHER ART BASED ON BLACK ARTISTS OR CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND THAT WAS REALLY POWERFUL TO SEE AS WELL.
THEN AT CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
THESE ARE NOT THE SAME PROJECT.
[02:50:02]
ON THE LEFT THERE'S A BOOK TITLED THE 57 BUS THAT HAS A QUEER CHARACTER IN IT.THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK CLASS NOVEL THAT'S BEEN TAUGHT THAT HAS A QUEER MAIN CHARACTER THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY OUR DISTRICT, WHICH IS AWESOME.
THIS IS A HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL BOOK.
WHAT YOU SEE ON THE LEFT IS A POSTER THAT'S IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE TEACHER THAT'S TEACHING THIS BOOK, WHICH IS LINDSAY PETERS.
SHE CREATED THESE GUIDELINES AROUND HOW WE TALK ABOUT CHARACTERS, HOW WE TALK ABOUT THE STORY, WHAT WE THINK.
WHAT WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE SAY.
WHAT WAS COOL ABOUT THIS IS IF YOU LOOK THROUGH EACH OF THESE, REFER TO PEOPLE IN THE BOOK BY THE PRONOUNS OF THEIR CHOICE.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE GOOD GUIDELINES FOR TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE EXIST IN YOUR CLASSROOM OR IN YOUR SPACE OR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THIS IS, WELL, SHE'S CREATING THIS COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT BOOK CHARACTERS AND ACTIONS IN A BOOK.
IT'S ALSO CREATING A COMMUNITY WITHIN HER OWN CLASSROOM THAT STUDENTS WILL RECOGNIZE THESE THINGS ABOUT HOW THEY TALK ABOUT EACH OTHER.
THAT WAS JUST UP ON HER WALL WITH SOME STUDENT ART THAT THEY HAD CREATED, SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS GREAT.
THEN ON THE RIGHT, THIS IS AN IMAGE THAT A CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, MADDIE FREDRICK MADE WITH THE GUIDANCE OF TRACY JONES, WHO'S THE DEAN OF STUDENTS AT CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE'S THE ADMIN THAT OVERSEES THE EQUITY TEAM, THE BUILDING EQUITY TEAM.
I GOT TO PARTICIPATE A LITTLE BIT IN HELPING THEM CREATE THIS.
BUT MADDIE IS AN INCREDIBLE KID WHO DECIDED THAT SHE WANTED TO HAVE EVERY CLASSROOM IN THEIR SCHOOL SHOW THAT EVERYONE IS WELCOME.
SHE WORKED REALLY HARD AT CREATING AN IMAGE IF IT HAD MULTIPLE RENDITIONS.
AT THE LAST EARLY RELEASE, WHERE TEACHERS WERE DOING PD AT CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL AND YOU KNOW CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL HAS A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS.
MADDIE, SHARED WITH THE STAFF WHAT THIS MEANS, WHY THEY'RE DOING IT.
HELPS STAFF CAN CREATE SOME MEANING AROUND IT SO THAT AS SHE'S ABLE TO PASS THESE OUT AND GET THEM UP AROUND THE SCHOOL, TEACHERS WOULD KNOW WHAT THEY WERE FOR AND WHY SHE WAS DOING THAT.
THERE'S DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIONS IN THERE AROUND ABILITY, THE LGBTQIA PLUS FLAG, AND THEN RACE.
THAT STUDENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES SOMEWHERE IN THERE IDEALLY AND KNOW THAT IF THERE WERE INJUSTICES THAT WERE HAPPENING, DEROGATORY LANGUAGE.
THAT'S ALSO A THIRD POINT TO SHOW THE VALUES AT CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL OF WHO WE ARE.
THE POWER OF THIS IS THAT AS STUDENT-GENERATED COMPLETELY, THIS IS A STUDENT THAT GOT AN IDEA AND WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE AS WELL.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND I KNOW I BLEW THROUGH THAT INTENTIONALLY, BUT I'D LOVE TO HEAR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE BY PUTTING MY EMAIL ADDRESS ON THIS AS WELL, I'VE GOTTEN SOME EMAILS FROM FAMILIES AND PARENTS THAT HAVE QUESTIONS AS THEY PREVIEW THE AGENDA, SO THAT'S BEEN NICE TO HEAR FROM THEM AS WELL.
>> JUST A COMMENT THAT I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON MARCH 22, WASN'T THAT THE DATE 22?
>> THAT JUST SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT EVENT, I APPRECIATE YOU EXTENDED AN INVITATION TO US, AND I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO BE THERE FOR THAT.
>> AWESOME. IT'S REALLY FOR THE KIDS, SO YOU CALL THEM IF YOU'RE ABLE TO COME, YOU GOT TO JUST BE AN OBSERVER.
>> SAYING THAT I PROMISE [LAUGHTER] I'LL SEE IT IN ACTION.
>> KATIE, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT HOW IMPORTANT THIS WORK IS THAT YOU'RE DOING, [NOISE] LIKE YOU SAID, HEARING FROM SOME OF THE STUDENTS TODAY THAT CHOSE TO GO TO HAYES BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T FEELING WELCOMED OR SEEN, AND HOW.
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE ALL STUDENTS FEEL SEEN AND HEARD.
LIKE YOU SAID, HOW DO WE REPLICATE THAT EXPERIENCE IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, IT'S MORE DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE 1,800 STUDENTS OR 2,000 STUDENTS RATHER THAN 120 STUDENTS.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO EVERY SINGLE STUDENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I WOULD LOVE TO GO TO THAT MARCH 22ND TO JUST WATCH.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR KATIE?
>> COREY IF I CAN JUST ADD JUST THANK YOU, KATIE, AS WELL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS ROLE,
[02:55:03]
AND HER JOB IS JUST EVOLVING EVERY SINGLE DAY.SOMETHING ELSE GETS THROWN OUT OR A DIFFERENT IDEA, A DIFFERENT NEED, A DIFFERENT STUDENT NEED, AND I JUST CAN'T THANK HER ENOUGH.
I LOVE THE GENDER-INCLUSIVE WORK WE'RE DOING.
I'M LEARNING A LOT ABOUT MYSELF, AND MY COLLEAGUES, AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT TO PERMEATE THROUGH AS WELL.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WHAT IS THE CENTRAL OFFICE DO SOMETIMES THEIR WORK IS INDIRECT.
IT IS DIRECTLY IMPACTING THE SCHOOLS.
YOU CAN SEE IT, YOU CAN FEEL IT.
I KNOW A LOT OF THIS WORK HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN CANVAS, BUT KATIE IS REALLY PUTTING A BOW ON IT.
AND WHEN YOU WALK INTO OUR SCHOOLS YOU CAN FEEL IT.
COREY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FELT THAT ALONG WITH ME THE OTHER DAY WHEN WE WERE OUT AT SCHOOLS, BUT I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH, KATIE.
LET'S KEEP IT GOING. I'M LEARNING JUST AS MUCH AS EVERYBODY ELSE'S. THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE ARE APPROACHING THE END OF OUR AGENDA HERE.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO HAS STAYED ON BOARD WITH US FOR SO LONG.
WE'RE ON ITEM 10A UNDER QUALITY FACILITIES AND RESOURCES,
[10. QUALITY FACILITIES AND RESOURCES]
10A IS YOUR LINK PHONE PURCHASE REQUESTS.IF YOU REMEMBER, BOARD LAST MONTH, WE APPROVED A NEW UPGRADE OF OUR PHONE SYSTEM, AND THEN THIS IS THE ACTUAL PHONES TO GO ALONG WITH THAT NEW SYSTEM.
THE COST OF IT IS A LITTLE OVER $83,000 FOR THE WHOLE DISTRICT.
AND SINCE WE'RE BEEN TALKING BUDGET, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY AN EXPENSE THAT COMES FROM OUR TECHNOLOGY LEVY.
THIS IS LOCAL VOTER-APPROVED HERE.
WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE'S ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE.
>> I CAN MAKE THAT MOTION IF I CAN JUST GET TO WHERE IT SAYS.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF THE PHONE SYSTEMS THAT WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEW ZEALAND PHONE SYSTEM AS PRESENTED FOR THE TOLL OF $83,328, INCLUDING SALES TAX.
>> THANK YOU. IT WAS MOVED BY TRACY, SECONDED BY CONNIE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
OUR FINAL ITEM UNDER QUALITY FACILITIES AND RESOURCES IS 10B A REQUEST TO ACCEPT MILLY DESIGN BUILDING PROPOSAL.
THIS IS BASICALLY BY APPROVING THIS BOARD, WE WILL BE AUTHORIZING THE DISTRICT TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR A FEE STRUCTURE, AND THIS IS GOING TO COME OUT OF CAPITAL LEVY, CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND A LITTLE FROM THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I'LL ENTERTAIN THOSE OR A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> TRACY. I MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MILLY DESIGN BUILD PROPOSAL FOR ASCO SERVICE AND FOR STAFF TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FEE STRUCTURE.
>. MOVED BY CONNIE, SECONDED BY TRACY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES THERE.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR REGULAR MEETING.
[12. CLOSED MEETING - Bargaining - RCW 42.30.140 (4)(a)]
WE ARE GOING TO REASSESS THE REGULAR MEETING AND GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS BARGAINING, AND I ANTICIPATE THAT'LL TAKE US NO MORE THAN 30 MINUTES.I'LL COME BACK AT NINE O'CLOCK TO OFFICIALLY ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING, BUT NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN UPON THE CONCLUSION OF OUR CLOSED MEETINGS.
SO UNTIL THEN, WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK.
[03:00:13]
THANK YOU. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE HUNG ON TO THE BITTER END, WE ARE FINISHED WITH OUR CLOSED SESSION AND AS I SAID, NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN, SO WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 09:01 PM.THANK YOU, AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.