School Board Meeting Summary

Wenatchee School District

School BoardMeeting SummaryWenatchee School District

April 14, 2020 Regular Meeting (Online)

The Wenatchee School Board provides a "Board Meeting Summary Briefing" after each Board meeting. The summary includes a short description of the main topics and action items. These summaries are not meant to replace minutes. The minutes for each meeting are approved and posted after the next regularly scheduled meeting. We hope these summaries provide some basic information and context around the reports, presentations, and action items.

For the full packet of information, including presentations and reports, click on the links below.


Meetings are video streamed live online and the videos are archived on the District website here. Meetings prior to August 2019 are archived in calendar format here.

Regular Meeting

Attendance: Laura Jaecks, Martin Barron, Dr. Michele Sandberg, Julie Norton, and Maria Iñiguez


PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

BOARD PUBLIC COMMENT STATEMENT
Change to the agenda, adds more details to the consent agenda for the YMCA contract.


AGENDA APPROVAL Watch
Agenda was approved

CONSENT AGENDA Watch
The consent agenda was approved

Minutes: Regular Meeting 3-10-20; Regular Meeting 3-24-20
3-24-20 Meeting Minutes.pdf
3-10-20 Meeting Minutes.pdf
Vouchers/Payroll
20200406115216232.pdf
Personnel Report
HR2020 04 14 Board Report - Sheet1.pdf
Surplus Report
Surplus 4-14-20.pdf
Contracts
4-14-20 Contracts final.pdf
Donation
WR Mat Donation Letter WSD.pdf


CITIZENS' COMMENTS Watch
No citizens’ comments

ACTION ITEMS

SECURITY UPGRADES - FENCING CHANGE ORDER #1
CO _1 BD PACKET _1_.PDF
The change order is to add three gates for the purpose of accessing and maintaining the space between the newly installed fence on the west side of Lewis and Clark Elementary and existing neighborhood fencing. The change order was approved by the Board.

BOARD COMMUNICATION Watch

The Board expressed gratitude and support for the District staff who have continued to work diligently to provide meals, childcare and launch online learning. The Board recognized the efforts of teachers to prepare for distance education through professional development and training and acknowledged that this shift in the delivery of education takes patience and perseverance.

Additionally, the Board discussed their need to stay better connected and informed on the district’s response to COVID-19. Directors indicated that they would like to feel better prepared to answer questions from the public and support the actions of district staff. The majority of the Board agreed that they would like to hold briefings with the superintendent on Tuesday in between their regular board meetings during which they could ask questions and have discussions all related to the District’s COVID-19 response. The first proposed briefing would take place at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21st. Board chairwoman Jaecks will confirm with legal counsel to ensure the meeting is compliant with the Governor’s order to limit school board meetings to essential business.

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT Watch
Superintendent Gordon indicated that he felt good about the start of online learning this week given our current circumstances. He addressed the work of the District in providing students with devices for at-home learning and efforts being made to support English Learners, students with Individual Education Plans, and our families. Additionally, he commended educators, principals and the Learning & Teaching Department for their diligence in the delivery of distance learning and their embracing of professional development. Dr. Gordon also pointed out the social-emotional importance of student-teacher connections during the pandemic, and the significant, and at times the overwhelming role of our parents who now find themselves playing teacher and principal while balancing work and family.

Members of the cabinet shared updates from their areas of responsibility.

Mark Helm, Assistant Superintendent
The District is working to transition to an online registration model. Online registration would support kindergarten, middle school, and high school course selection and new student registration.

Ron Brown, Technology Director
Mr. Brown reported that this week schools are continuing to check out devices to families. An additional checkout night is in the works for Wenatchee High School for any remaining families that still need a device for at-home learning.


Diana Haglund, Communications Director
Ms. Haglund provided an update on planning for graduation at Wenatchee High School and WestSide. She also touched on a special senior.

Mike Lane, Executive Director of Learning & Teaching
Mr. Lane shared an overview of the continuing work of the Learning & Teaching department to support educators in the transition to online learning. He expressed that the crisis has presented opportunities for positive change in the way teacher collaboration happens. Mr. Lane indicated that despite the rapid speed of this transition the L&T teams remain committed to educational quality.

EXECUTIVE SESSION - The Board adjourned into a 30-minute executive session to discuss personnel.

ADJOURNMENT

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Tuesday, April 21, 2020 I COVID-19 Special Meeting I Online I 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020 I Regular Board Meeting I Online I 6:00 p.m.