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Name of Observer: Becky Bolte
Observed Meeting: Oak Harbor School District Board Date of Meeting: 3-13-2023 Members present: Lynn Goebel, Bob Hallahan, Sharon Jensen, Nicole Tesch, Jessica Aws, Thinalyn Ramier (student), Josiah Villano (student) Members absent: None Others present (staff, media, public): Superintendent Michelle Kuss-Cybula (remotely at NAFIS – National Assn of Federally Impacted Schools - in D.C.), Asst. Superintendent Dwight Lundstrom. Summarize the main issues discussed at the meeting: 3.01 Special recognition of Oak Harbor Intermediate School staff – Chandra Mays (Counselor), Grant Finney (Counselor), Charles Pabona (Library paraprofessional), Matthew Sionson (Media specialist), Aisha Mayfield (PTA), Victoria Brown (PTA), Jackie Moore (PTA) 4.02. Visitors. Employee Matthew Black – recognized PTA members again – add joy, thanked them. Parent Jason ? concerned about phones and other hand-held devices brought to school – video of child beaten up in bathroom, premeditated 3-minute video, Tik Tok 5.01 Superintendent’s report – Recognized classified staff for Appreciation Week Read across America – shoutout to Elementary staff in making literacy exciting Student voices – what students have to tell us: 2-3 things that help you learn What are things that make it hard for you to learn? 2-3 things that an adult says or does that makes you feel like you belong or don’t belong Can you share your experience accessing adults in your building to support safety If you could change or improved one thing about your school or district… How do you make others feel like they belong? Intervention support: Mental health Prevention measures Academic support Belonging Budget priorities: Covid recovery – deans, mental health, MTSS (Multi-tiered system of supports) Student safety Tighten work around literacy/math and interventions NAFIS Advocacy (D.C.) -Superintendent will meet with Patty Murray and Pentagon Director to talk about bond support and creative options. NAFIS to request support for $70 million increase for Impact Aid for FY 2024 for basic support, federal property, construction, children with disabilities. School Safety Community Forum – OHPS and OHPD. March 28 at 6 p.m. in Administrative Services Building. Public can submit questions https://bit.ly/schoolsafetyforum2023 Purpose is to learn more about school safety planning – can attend remotely. 7.01 Oak Harbor Intermediate School Annual Report Better together SY 2022. Supportive relationships and belonging: Green forms – student completed incident reports - get back to students in 48 hours Student support teams – observing teachers develop behavior plan with teachers Characterstrong lessons ASB socials and assemblies OHI Family/staff night coming up in April Staff secret pal and potlucks Classified staff training Focus on reading – group work, book tasting, staff book picks, one school/one book Community connections – PTA, Pacific Science Center, Superheroes STEM, Whidbey Grace, Whidbey Presbyterian Question from Director Hallahan about cell phone policy at OHI – no access to cell phone (some accommodations if needed), must be in backpack – works well 8.01 CTE Shop Building proposal update presented by Ray Cone Increase of 37% from 2013-2022, 1427 to 1960 student seats filled each day, primarily engineering and manufacturing, added 20’ x 80’ tent and surplused school bus for storage. Proposal: 40’ x 100’ metal building - $300,000. $250,000 from Facilities Capital Projects, $50,000 CTE integration and work-site learning, local contractors working with students, comply with L&I, OSHA, OSPI guidelines. To start summer or fall 2023. Per Michelle – ready to move forward. 9.01 Legislative update. HB 1238 School meals -advanced with bipartisan support 12.01 Board comments. Director Hallahan recommended looking at reducing carbon footprint by developing long term options and setting a goal starting with a transportation workshop. Requested as an agenda item at May board meeting 13.01 Upcoming meetings. Monday March 27 and April 10. Do you recommend local League action or study on any of these issues? YES If ‘yes’ what action do you recommend? Possibly publicize the School Safety Community Forum on March 28 to League membership Was the meeting conducted in an open, business-like, and civil manner? YES Consider the following questions and respond if relevant. FEATURE EVALUATED COMMENTS Was the agenda made available prior to and at the meeting? YES Did members adhere to the provided agenda? YES Were any non-agenda items discussed? NO Was there adequate discussion of issues? YES Were any “Executive Sessions” called? NO Was there adequate opportunity for public input? YES Was background material available to the public? Agenda, past meeting minutes, board member names, livestream link Did any member recuse themselves during the meeting? No List any other concerns or observations: Observer E-mail: bbolte@comcast.net Date submitted: 3-14-2023
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Name of Observer: Becky Bolte
Observed Meeting: Oak Harbor School District Board Date of Meeting: 2-27-2023 Members present: Lynn Goebel, Bob Hallahan, Sharon Jensen, Nicole Tesch, and Student: Thinalyn Ramier Members absent: Josiah Villano (excused), Jessica Aws Others present (staff, media, public): Superintendent: Michelle Kuss-Cybula, Elementary School Principals: Katie Coder, Liz Ritz Summarize the main issues discussed at the meeting: 3.01 Recognition of Elementary Principals’ Secretaries - Jane Ritter, Broadview, Krista Lien (Crescent Harbor), Tonya Mays (Hillcrest), Theresa Byrne (Oak Harbor Elementary), Andra Shelly (Olympic View) 3.02 Recognition of Music Matters Grant Recipients - Holly Brown, James Schlegel, Kendall Parrett, Renee Hall 3.03 Recognition of Citizens for Better Schools - Samantha Horrobin, Erica Wasinger, John Chaszar, Cherie MacLean 4.02 Visitors Scott McKinley (sp?) Olympic View – concerned with pickup and drop-off, 100 children waste time waiting for bus, recommended process improvement methodologies and offered to help. 5.01 Superintendent’s report NAFIS National Assn. of Federally Impacted Schools – Michelle Kuss-Cybula will attend meeting on March 12-14. Voting results: 23,771 registered voters, 9,426 votes cast- 777 increase over 2022, 391 more votes were needed to pass, passage rate last year was 45.9%, this year was 55.8% Next steps: Bond Committee task force to look at transportation and security needs, 2 DOD schools, work with local legislators. Budget: ESSER funds ((safe building reopening and operations after COVID) going away, declining COVID enrollment, unfunded mandates, increase in services – utilities, food, transportation FTE projection – 5100 BEA/300ALE, 5% decrease in overall budget, budget reduction happening through attrition. Safety and Security – Feb. 15 swatting incident (prank call to emergency services) at OH High School and Hillcrest – students were calm, allowed Law Enforcement to do their job, trained for this, strong partnerships with law enforcement, fire, hospital, and Navy partners – it turned out to be a hoax. Director Hallahan asked Michelle Kuss-Cybula when addressing NAFIS to emphasize that the need for Covid relief and mental health funds is still high and will be for many years. 7.01 Elementary Schools Annual Report Presented by 5 elementary school principals: Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) – 1. Positive environments 2. Connections – every student has an advocate 3. Teaching and learning – engaging lessons, students not bored, school is fun 4. Student empowerment – e.g. “principal of the day” 5. Access to support Panorama Belongings data – 86% of students have friend, family member or adult at school that they can count on to help them. Goal is 100% of 3rd and 4th graders have an adult at school that they can count on to help them. Re-engaging families after Covid – family conferences/nights, enrichment and music concerts 7.02 Title, LAP, HiCap Liz Ritz – Title 1 is federally funded (3 elementaries), LAP is state and at all 5 elementaries. Based on free and reduced lunch %. “Learning to read is our shared moral imperative.” Goal is 95% proficiency K-4 reading. Katie Coder – HiCap. Gifted education myths: 1. Gifted students don’t need help 2. Can’t be gifted if receiving poor grades 3. Gifted students are happy, popular, and well adjusted 4. Can’t be gifted if they have a disability 10% of students identified to receive highly capable services K-12 SB 5072 (Equity and access to highly capable services) passed unanimously in WA senate – on to House. List any issues on the agenda relevant to any LWV state or local positions or programs: - Aid to federally impacted schools? - Support for SB 5072 – equity and access to services for highly capable students? Do you recommend local League action or study on any of these issues? Not at the present time. If ‘yes’ what action do you recommend? n/a Was the meeting conducted in an open, business-like, and civil manner? Yes Consider the following questions and respond if relevant: FEATURE EVALUATED COMMENTS Was the agenda made available prior to and at the meeting? Yes Did members adhere to the provided agenda? Were any non-agenda items discussed? Yes Was there adequate discussion of issues? Yes Were any “Executive Sessions” called? No Was there adequate opportunity for public input? Yes Was background material available to the public? Agenda, past meeting minutes, board member names, livestream link Did any member recuse themselves during the meeting? No List any other concerns or observations: 2 board members commented on visitor statement about pickup at Olympic View. Observer E-mail: bbolte@comcast.net Date submitted: 2-28-2023 Name of Observer: Becky Bolte
Observed Meeting: Oak Harbor School District Board Date of Meeting: 2-13-2023 Members present: Lynn Goebel, Bob Hallahan, Sharon Jensen, Nicole Tesch, Jessica Aws, Thinalyn Ramier, student, Josiah Villano, student Members absent: None Others present (staff, media, public): Superintendent Michelle Kuss-Cybula, Bill Weinsheimer, Tonia Johnston, Dianna Gruenwald, Amber Hagel, Asst. Superintendent Dwight Lundstrom Summarize the main issues discussed at the meeting: 5.01 Superintendent’s report – 7095 ballots submitted, 13% of parent population. Bond communication: State of Schools, Visual storytelling – explaining the why, newspaper articles, Website and FAQs, 5 short animations (because people have said they prefer “short snippets,”) newsletters to families “The Scoop,” emails, robocalls, text reminders to families, can only send one mailer to community (which was complicated in December due to PO staffing shortages), staff attended 20+ organization meetings, 60K reached on social media – High school bond throwback with Dwight Lundstrom was popular. Coming up in April – strategic planning. Scholar First is partner Budget forecasting. Projection enrollment for 2023 is 5400 students. Average in 2022 was 5422. NWESD District 189 $11.4 million federal grant over 5 years to expand school-based mental health services. Supports 75% of total project cost. The rest is to be provided locally. 7.01 Special programs annual report presented by Tonia Johnston and Bill Weinsheimer. These cover Special ed, 504 - medical accommodation, Transitional bilingual program, and McKinney Vento. McKinney Vento – 1 staff person handles Housing insecurity – living in car or hotel, couch surfing, doubled up, coordinates transportation, access to food, community donations for clothes and school activities -program has 290 students. 1885 students in all special programs – 35% of school district population. 9.01 Board policy updates presented by Dwight Lundstrom. American Indian/Alaskan Native tribal language now recognized for credit. Revisions made to credit recovery in graduation requirements. List any issues on the agenda relevant to any LWV state or local positions or programs: McKinney Vento – housing and food insecurity and related issues for students Federal grant over 5 years for expansion of school-based mental health services Do you recommend local League action or study on any of these issues? NO, not at the present time. Was the meeting conducted in an open, business-like, and civil manner? yes Consider the following questions and respond if relevant. FEATURE EVALUATED COMMENTS Was the agenda made available prior to and at the meeting? yes Did members adhere to the provided agenda? yes Was there adequate discussion of issues? yes Were any “Executive Sessions” called? No Was there adequate opportunity for public input? yes Was background material available to the public? Agenda, past meeting minutes, board member names, livestream link Did any member recuse themselves during the meeting? For what reason? No List any other concerns or observations: Observer E-mail: bbolte@comcast.net Date submitted: 2-14-2023 |
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