Superintendent Kirsten Rue updated the Board regarding the student representative selection process. Two 8th-grade students, Asher Strumski and Grace Nixon, have submitted applications for the positions. Superintendent Rue, along with Blair and ASB Advisor/Librarian Anneka Brown, will meet with the candidates next week to discuss the scope of the role. The selected student representatives are expected to begin attending study sessions in November, at which time an ASB/Student Representative report will be added to future study session agendas.

The Board examined six specific topics identified as areas needing clarification or further exploration from the recent WSSDA board self-assessment. These topics span governance standards, including board member orientation, staff hiring and retention policies, facilities planning, and strategies for closing achievement gaps. Board members agreed to divide these topics for research and future presentation. Blair committed to leading the Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) and School Improvement Plan topics for the November meeting. Superintendent Rue will coordinate with Trish and Emma to assign the remaining topics across upcoming study sessions.

Superintendent Rue presented progress on the district's School Improvement Plan following initial feedback from the Educational Service District (ESD) and OSPI. The revised draft incorporates broader stakeholder engagement, featuring input from Squaxin Island Tribal leadership to address attendance among Native students, as well as feedback from the Parent Connections Committee. Additionally, the plan now explicitly establishes targeted goals for students with disabilities, focusing on reducing 3rd-grade reading deficits and lowering exclusionary discipline rates from 37% to 25% by June 2027. Superintendent Rue noted a scheduled consultation to refine specific "resource inequities" language tailored to a single-school district prior to the October 31 grant submission deadline.

The Board conducted a first reading and review of the Board & Superintendent Operating Agreements handbook. It was agreed that the agreements should remain a living document subject to periodic updates. The Board Chair and Vice Chair will meet to conduct a deeper review and outline potential updates for consideration prior to the annual Board reorganization in December.

The board reviewed alignment updates from WSSDA model policy regarding the contract extension vote process and reviewing contract termination provisions in the event of an unsatisfactory evaluation.

Discussion focused on updated language regarding artificial intelligence, authorized procedures for AI use, and updating management/legal resource references. The Griffin Technology Committee is working on a procedure for this policy.

Revisions align district policy with state law, clarifying that instruction for grades K–3 focuses strictly on social-emotional learning (SEL) aligned with OSPI standards. In grades 4 and 5, instruction naturally evolves from SEL into age-appropriate topics covering healthy relationships, personal boundaries, and protecting oneself from inappropriate sexual behavior. Comprehensive sexual health education continues through grade 8, with curriculum materials available online for family review and full opt-out options preserved. The policy also includes annual reporting requirements to OSPI.

Links to this curriculum are found of Griffin's website (Menu-Griffin School Information-Curriculum), including the Sexual Health Instruction Student Waiver.

The board reviewed revisions reinforcing non-discrimination requirements, academic credit options for curriculum-related activities, and required triennial student athletic interest surveys.

Updates clarify accommodations, modifications, and related aids and services under Section 504, as well as statutory references for special education rules.

Revisions streamline definition standards and major life activities under Section 504 in accordance with updated WSSDA models.

Discussions centered on state guidelines for program eligibility, screening tools, and updated authorization language regarding sliding-scale enrollment fees.

These policies were presented as a first reading. No formal votes or immediate actions were taken on these policy updates during this study session. 

The Board received Policy 2145 (Suicide Prevention) for standard informational review, focusing on staff training schedules and district protocols for identifying and supporting students in emotional distress. There are no updates to this policy.

Superintendent Rue provided updates on several key district operational initiatives:

Parent Connections Committee: The district held its inaugural Parent Connections Committee meeting with strong parent participation and positive engagement. Attendees expressed gratitude for the opportunity to provide direct feedback, including valuable insights from a first-time district parent regarding ways to improve the kindergarten transition experience. Due to high interest from members to meet more frequently than the originally planned quarterly schedule, the district will now host two meetings per quarter, with upcoming sessions scheduled for November and January.

Tribal Outreach & Choice Transfer Procedure: District leadership met with Squaxin Island Tribe Education Department leaders, including Director Mandy Paradise and Jaimie Cruz. Discussions focused on clarifying the district's choice transfer process and explaining capacity constraints regarding in-district enrollment priorities. To assist families in applying before staffing decisions are finalized in mid-May, the district is refining its choice transfer procedure language to provide greater clarity and will update the policy manual accordingly.

ParentSquare Implementation: The district is executing a phased rollout of the ParentSquare communication platform throughout the school year. While classroom-level adoption remains optional for teachers this year to allow early adopters to establish best practices, district- and school-wide communications will transition fully to ParentSquare in January following a major onboarding push during fall conferences. Until winter break, the district will dual-broadcast announcements via traditional channels and ParentSquare. The platform will centralize notification preferences (text, email, and phone calls) and replace Skyward/Qmlative for school messaging, establishing a consistent communication hub for families as they progress across grade levels.

Business Manager Kyler Mower provided an advance update regarding an upcoming financial resolution:

Procurement Card (pCard) Program Transition: At the upcoming regular board meeting, Mower will propose a resolution to transition the district's credit card services from Bank of America to Bank of Montreal through the Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO) pCard program.

Operational & Financial Benefits: The new system integrates directly with the district's existing accounting software (Skyward/Cumulative) and eliminates the need to generate individual purchase orders for minor credit card transactions. Additionally, the program is free to operate and offers an annual rebate opportunity for cash-back returns, which is not provided under the current banking agreement.

Board members and administration shared several informational updates and personal announcements during For the Good of the Order:

Student Extracurricular Achievements: The Board celebrated the recent conclusion of the Washington Youth Cycling League’s fall mountain biking season. A notable number of current and former Griffin students participated, with several securing podium finishes across both fall races.

Superintendent Absence Notice: Superintendent Kirsten Rue informed the Board that she is scheduled for knee replacement surgery on December 9. As a result, she will be absent from the December 16 board meeting and will miss approximately one and a half weeks of school leading into winter break. She expressed full confidence in district leadership to manage operations during her absence and noted that physical therapy will continue into the new year.

Upcoming League of Women Voters Meeting: Board members were reminded of the upcoming meeting with the League of Women Voters scheduled for Monday, October 12, at 3:30 PM. Superintendent Rue confirmed that she integrated a review of the simplified School Improvement Plan (SIP) into the agenda and will prepare relevant performance data requested by the group.