Whatcom Intergenerational High School
Minutes
Whatcom Intergenerational High School Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday May 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Location
Hybrid meeting. Available to join via Zoom or in person at WIHS.
Directors Present
A. Juarez Cordova (remote), J. Johnson (remote), M. Hudson (remote), N. Mughal-Barrows (remote), S. Clark (remote)
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
D. Walker
Non Voting Members Present
D. Walker
Guests Present
A. Peele (remote), E. Zamora (remote), J. Fochtman (remote), K. Silberstein (remote), Scott Canfield (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance & Welcome
C.
Land Acknowledgement
D.
Mission & Vision
N.Mughal-Barrows reading of the mission and vision
E.
Approve Minutes
F.
Consent Agenda
D.Walker asked that the Performance Based pathway policy and procedure be added into the consent agenda and approved in order to provide another pathway to graduation.
N.Mughal-Barrows and M.Hudson asked additional questions about the purpose, use, professional development, and equitable access for all students.
M.Hudson asked that we approve it at this time, and review it again at an upcoming board meeting.
April 2025 Financial
Required language for the Board minutes (to reflect Board approval of expenditures):
The following payments as audited and certified by the auditing officer, as required by RCW 42.24.080, and those expense reimbursements claims certified, as required by RCW 42.24.090, are approved for payment. In addition, payroll payments in the amount of $60,149.52 are also approved.
General Fund
Accounts Payable
Total electronic payments totaling $133,207.23
Accounts Payable check number N/A totaling $0.00
Non-AP Cash Disbursements
Total electronic payments totaling $2,218.93
Non-Accounts Payable check #285, 286, 287 totaling $1,597.14
Payroll
Total electronic payments totaling $60,149.52 and
Payroll check number N/A totaling $0
II. Public Comment
A.
Public Comment
No public comment online or in person for this meeting.
III. School Updates
A.
School Team Updates
Teacher Ashley Peele and students Dom, Josh, and Malachi shared about the Learning from the Homeland Indigenous Language and Culture trip last week. Students spoke about their individual experiences, relationship building, and healing aspect of attending the camp.
Josh talked about how it supports mental health, and how it has helped him deal with grief by connecting to his heritage and building relationships.
Malachi shared about the benefits of having his family attending and providing a blessing for the camas bake, and how it connected him more with family and place.
Dom shared about the traditions, building relationships, and utilizing traditional knowledge towards future college and career goals.
Board members N.Mughal-Barrow, J.Johnson, and M.Hudson asked questions for additional details about the camp, what makes it unique, and how the students could see it expanding in the future.
B.
Enrollment Update
J.Fochtman shared about current enrollment and next steps for the recruitment activities.
- Some students recently unenrolled within the past month due to moving, mental health, and pursuing a job (over 18 years old).
- No situations were related, they just happened to come at the same time.
- Decreased overall current enrollment for next year
- Enrollment open house and upcoming events
Board members asked questions about the reasons for unenrollment, and M.Hudson asked J.Fochtman to provide information on the enrollment and unenrollment demographics at the next board meeting.
C.
WIHS Academic Overview
D. Walker presented attendance data from the Academic Overview. E.Zamora shared some of the specialized activities and events that the school has been doing, overall perfect attendance students for the year, and percentage of students with over 85% attendance.
J.Johnson asked for additional information on the Hot Sauce Challenge
D.Walker discussed the initial data from NWEA MAP test data for spring and student growth percentiles from Fall to Spring, which are reflected in the Academic Overview.
IV. Governance
A.
CAP, Compliance, and Reporting Updates
D.Walker stated that the Charter renewal had been fully submitted along with the 5-year budget as requested.
CAP is in 100% compliance
Upcoming reporting requirements are school level items.
- M.Hudson asked about the teacher certification form that was due, and D.Walker stated that it is a template form that the school submits multiple times per year.
V. Executive Session
A.
Executive Session
J.Johnson introduced the Executive session and stated that the board would return in 30 minutes. The board left for session at 7:05pm.
J.Johnson returned at 7:35 to say that the board needed 20 more minutes and would return by 7:55pm.
Board returned at 7:55, and stated that there was no action to be taken tonight.
VI. Board Goals
A.
Board Development and Empowerment
Board reviewed their stated goals for the year.
- Discussion of assessment data planned for June board meeting
- Board development and expansion- next steps
- Fundraising consultants end in June, and will provide tools to help us make progress for the coming years.
VII. Other Business
A.
Announcements
Reminder to save the date for graduation!
Wednesday, June 11th from 1:00-3:00pm
Fisherman's Pavillion
Bellingham, WA
B.
Anti-Racism and Transformative Justice Work
Brief review of items available in the community and upcoming events.
VIII. Closing Items
A.
Board Debrief and Evaluation
Board went through internal debrief and evaluation procedures.
M.Hudson read the land acknowledgement