Issaquah School District: School Board Meeting Updates: Dec. 9, 2021 Meeting

Press release from the Issaquah School District:

December 10, 2021

The Issaquah School Board held a regular meeting Thursday, Dec. 9 at the Issaquah School District Administration Building. The meeting was broadcast live on the ISD YouTube channel, and a recording of the meeting is available.

The following is a summary of the topics the Board and district staff discussed and action the Board took at the meeting. It is not an official record or meeting minutes. To review official minutes from all board meetings, please visit our board meeting archive webpage.

Superintendent Ron Thiele administered the oath of office to Board Directors recently reelected to the School Board in the Nov. 2 General Election.

In accordance with state law, (RCW 28A.330.010) and consistent with Board Policy (OGP 12), the Board reorganized for the coming year by electing a new board president. Director Anne Moore was nominated and unanimously approved as the new president. Director Marnie Maraldo, current Federal Relations Network (FRN) representative, will continue to serve as our FRN representative.

To listen to the oaths of office and annual board reorganization, watch our YouTube Channel.

The Issaquah School Board held a Town Hall meeting on Nov. 30, 2021 in the theater at Liberty High School. Director Sydne Mullings shared that she appreciates the opportunity for the Board to interact with the community and respond to their questions. Mullings and other board directors further shared their desire to offer the Town Hall meetings quarterly to address questions as they arise throughout the year.

All Board members along with Superintendent Thiele attended the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) Conference, Nov. 18-20, in Bellevue. President Anne Moore shared highlights from the law conference including guidance from the Risk Management Pool. Additional board directors shared their highlights including sessions on equity, character strong, collaboration among regional boards, and networking with other board directors.

To listen to the report out on the WSSDA Annual Conference, watch our YouTube Channel.

Thiele recommended approval of a collective bargaining agreement between the School Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 925 and the district. The agreement was ratified by the members of the union this week. Board members approved the contract with a 5-0 vote.

To listen to the board’s approval of the agreement, watch our YouTube Channel.

The Board discussed companies that provide professional consultation services for a superintendent search, including six different consultation services groups they recently interviewed. Director Suzanne Weaver shared that while any of the firms would be a pleasure to work with, they narrowed the choice to the two larger firms; McPherson and Jacobson and Hazard, Young, Attea, & Associates (HYA). After discussion and unanimous approval, the board directed Thiele to enter into a contract with McPherson and Jacobson to help lead the upcoming superintendent search. 

To listen to the discussion of the upcoming superintendent search, watch our YouTube Channel.

Moore shared that the Levy Development Committee met last week for the first of five scheduled sessions. The Board then discussed potential levy election dates including April 26, 2022 and Aug. 2, 2022. The Levy Development Committee is considering three potential replacement levy measures for the ballot, including an Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy, a Capital (Technology and Critical Repairs) Levy and a Transportation (Bus) Levy.

Weaver shared that she believes the district should conduct the election in April because passing the renewal of the levies at that time could prevent a Reduction in Force (RIF) that would be necessary without local levy dollars. Weaver further shared that members of the Volunteers for Issaquah Schools organization have stated that mobilizing volunteers in June and July for an August election would prove challenging. 

Director Harlan Gallinger expressed concern that as a system we will not be ready to run a levy package in April, because he worries that our community members need more time to feel confidence in the district. Having a full year of in-person learning in the books might help people feel like the district can deliver, he said.

The motion to run a potential replacement levy package on the April 26, 2022 ballot passed with a vote of 4-1. The details of the levy package won’t be available until the committee makes a recommendation to Thiele, who will bring a final proposal to the board for its consideration, likely near the end of January. 

To listen to the discussion of the potential levy election dates, watch our YouTube Channel.

The Administration presented Ends 2 Parts 1 and 2 for the Board to preview. The final version of Ends 2 Part 1 is scheduled to be shared with the board on Jan. 13, followed by Part 2 on Jan. 27, 2022.

Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Services Rich Mellish shared information about standardized assessments throughout the district. 

In 2020-21, our district transitioned from district common assessments in Reading to the i-Ready Reading assessment for grades K-8. At the elementary level, the district has also transitioned district common assessments to i-Ready Math assessment for grades K-5. At the 6-8 level, ALEKS math placement assessment took the place of the previous district assessment. 

In a pre-COVID study of statewide data, research indicated that the measure to meet or exceed benchmarks on i-Ready assessments are a good indicator of their future Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) score. Families now have access to their student’s scores from i-Ready testing in the Portfolio section of Family Access. The results from the reduced version of the 2020-21 SBA, which was administered in the fall of 2021, are also currently available in the Test Scores section of Family Access.

The score a student receives on their i-Ready exam can be used to help provide a diagnostic to our teachers as to whether the student is properly prepared for the learning to come. If the diagnostics show that a student does not have the skills required to learn the new content, it helps inform the teacher what supplementary teaching needs to happen in order to help bring the student up to speed with grade level learning expectations.

Secondary common assessments for many of our courses continue to be district assessments developed by curriculum specialists and teachers. Many of these assessments have been rewritten to focus on the essential learning standards of the courses. Students at the secondary level also continue to take part in more universal common assessments such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate, and/or College in the High School courses. Secondary students also took part in a reduced version of the 2020-21 SBA in the fall of 2021, assessing English Language Arts and Math. 

To listen to the presentation of Ends 2 Academics Parts 1 and 2, watch our YouTube Channel.

The Board discussed the roles and responsibilities students have when acting as student representatives to the Board. They are considering whether to adjust how Student Board Representatives are selected, and other potential changes to encourage increased student participation and feedback. In addition to putting together a list of ideas, Board members plan to talk directly with student representatives at a meeting in January to hear their thoughts about the possible adjustments.

To listen to the discussion on student representatives to the board, watch our YouTube Channel.

The Board discussed legislative activity pertinent to education. Gallinger and Mullings recently met with the fifth legislative district and discussed topics such as finances at the state and national level. Our legislators were able to hear, discuss, and support these matters with us. 

To listen to the discussion on legislative matters, watch our YouTube Channel.

The Superintendent provided a brief status report on various projects and activities in the district:

To listen to the works in progress shared by Thiele, watch our YouTube Channel.

As a friendly reminder, the Issaquah School District will send official district communication using only the channels listed below:

Other Facebook accounts or groups, websites, or media channels are not operated or endorsed by the district.

You can view recordings of this and other past board meetings on the ISD YouTube channel. You can also see future meetings on this channel or via Zoom. Check the District website for more information on attending meetings, giving public comments, or reading the minutes of past meetings.

This press release was produced by the Issaquah School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.