Tacoma School District
Minutes
Board Business Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday September 25, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The Tacoma Public Schools Board of Directors will meet for a Business Meeting on the date and time above in the 4th Floor Auditorium at the Central Administration Building. All regular Board Business Meetings, Committee of the Whole, and Study Session meetings are open public meetings and everyone is encouraged to attend. Executive sessions are closed to the public. Public parking and the main entrance are located on the west side of the building at South G Street.
ACCOMMODATION
Persons requiring accommodations for a disability in order to attend a Board meeting (including the services of a sign language interpreter or those who want to speak at a board meeting but are advised not to attend in-person due to health risks) should contact the Board Office at 253.571.1443 before 4:30 p.m. at least three working days before the meeting to ensure that the District has time to implement appropriate accommodations.
NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Tacoma Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, disability, neurodivergence, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Civil Rights Coordinator, Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator, and Title IX Coordinator:
Tiffany Davis-Brantley
253-571-1252, civilrights@tacoma.k12.wa.us
Section 504 Coordinator:
Laura Tuman
253-571-1086, 504Coordinator@tacoma.k12.wa.us
Tacoma Public Schools
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1357
Tacoma, WA 98401-1357
INTERPRETER
Individuals requiring a language interpreter for a Board meeting for any language, other than a sign language interpreter, should contact the Board Office at 253-571-1443 before 4:30 p.m., at least three working days before the meeting to ensure that the District has sufficient time to identify an interpreter.
Directors Present
C. McElroy, E. Bonbright, E. Leon, K. Strozier, L. Keating
Directors Absent
None
Guests Present
J. Barber, Student Representative, T. Harrell, Student Representative, T. Jones
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Flag Salute
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
C.
Land Acknowledgment
Board President Strozier read a statement to honor and acknowledge that we are on the traditional ancestral and historical lands of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
D.
Roll Call
Director Keating arrived at 6:10PM, which was communicated beforehand.
E.
Adoption of the Agenda
The agenda was adopted as presented.
II. Recognition of Staff, Students, and Community
A.
RECOGNITION OF THE SHINING STAR PARTNER AWARD TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EQUITY, ENGAGEMENT AND BELONGING DEPARTMENT AT PIERCE COLLEGE
The Community Partnership Office presented the September Shining Star Community Partner Award to the Department of Equity, Engagement and Belonging at Pierce College.
III. Superintendent's Report
A.
HR: STAFF START OF SCHOOL UPDATE
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Trueblood gave a brief overview of the start of school staffing process and shared the Fall Staffing video that explains why some teachers may be shifted around after the first two weeks in school.
B.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES REPORT TO THE BOARD
- Student Representative Barber shared about his experience in the Running Start program.
- Student Representative Harrell will share a report at the next meeting.
IV. Staff Report to the Board
A.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Director of Planning & Construction Aldridge presented a capital projects update on those that were recently completed, those still in progress, and those coming up.
V. Members of the Public Wishing to Address the Board
A.
Public Comment Guidelines
B.
OPTION 1: VERBAL COMMENT
The following members of the public addressed the Board of Directors regarding:
- Concerns about an Assistant Principal at Lincoln High School:
- Glenn
- Ted Adler
- Kristen Bridgan-Brown
- Caleb Fahey
- Angel Morton, Tacoma Education Association President, addressed the Board regarding their appreciation for rehiring many employees who had been non-renewed prior to this school year due to budget issues, but also shared their concerns for the process that happened, as well as class sizes, reduction of services in early childhood programs, and staff reductions in the numbers of counselors and paraeducators, etc.
- Cynthia Greinke addressed the Board about the detrimental impact on IDEA students by moving staff member Clarissa.
C.
OPTION 2: WRITTEN COMMENT
Megan Capes wrote the Board regarding the impacts on staff and students when class sizes are under-projected and have to be corrected with the fall staffing process.
VI. Consent Agenda
A.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Motion to approve the minutes from the September 11, 2025 Board Business Meeting was made as part of the Consent Agenda.
B.
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
C.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED FINANCIAL REPORT)
D.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL REQUESTS
E.
FIELD TRIP REQUESTS
F.
APPROVAL OF THE PERSONNEL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT
G.
OTHER
H.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
C. McElroy moved that the Board of Directors approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
E. Bonbright seconded the motion.
The Board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
VII. Policy Matters
A.
SECOND READING OF REVISED POLICY 6957: CHANGE ORDERS
B.
SECOND READING OF REVISED POLICY 6959: ACCEPTANCE OF COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
VIII. Financial Report
A.
FINANCIAL PRESENTATION
Chief Financial Officer Medina presented the September 2025 financial update.
IX. Curriculum and Instruction
A.
APPROVAL OF THE 2025-26 FISCAL YEAR HIGHLY CAPABLE DISTRICT PLAN
X. Business Matters
A.
APPROVAL OF SCHOOL BUS PURCHASE FROM SCHETKY BUS SALES AND BRYSON BUS SALES
B.
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT #1 TO CONTRACT NO. TSD-23-138 BETWEEN FIRST STUDENT AND TACOMA SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10
C.
APPROVAL OF THE PRECONSTRUCTION SERVICES CONTRACT AND GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE (GMP) AMENDMENT #1 TO CONTRACT NO. TSD-25-171 BETWEEN TACOMA SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10 AND BNBUILDERS: NOVEMBER 24, 2024-DECEMBER 31, 2028
XI. Other Business
A.
ADOPTION OF BOARD ANNUAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| K. Strozier |
Aye
|
| E. Bonbright |
Aye
|
| E. Leon |
Aye
|
| C. McElroy |
Aye
|
| L. Keating |
Aye
|
XII. Closing Items
A.
BOARD COMMENTS/REPORTS
Committee Reports:
- Director Keating shared that she and members of the Superintendent's leadership team continue to meet with our Federal Affairs and WA State government affairs partners as we move towards the next legislative session. They met with Rep. Jake Fey recently regarding funding challenges facing our district and others around the state, and shared ideas to help. We recognize the restrictions facing the state as well. Our conversations with our Federal Relation Team also discussed a potential government shutdown.
- Director Bonbright shared about the recent JMAC* meeting where they discussed two different youth-driven initiatives happening in our community: The Action Mapping Project run by Dr. Matthew Kelley at UW Tacoma, which is youth-oriented planning to help remove mobility barriers for them around the city. -♦- The Mayor's Youth Commission presented on what they've been working on. -♦- She's been working a lot with the further launching of the District's Tacoma Education Dream (TED) Fund.
- Director McElroy attended the Citizen's Finance and Audit Committee (CFAC) last week, and appreciates that the district respectfully engages with our community around how we manage our finances. She shared appreciation for the Chief Financial Officer, her team, partners, etc. for what they do.
Community Events:
- Director McElroy shared that October is Tacoma Arts Month. She loves that this month-long focus highlights many of our Expanded Learning Opportunity (ELO) partners and the work they're doing with our students. -♦- She reminded that Teen Late Nights is being held every Friday evening, 7:00-11:00pm at every Parks Tacoma Community Center.
- Director Keating shared that the reason she was slightly late to the Board Meeting is that she was representing the School District in a community event hosted by Parks Tacoma at Hilltop Heritage, as they seek community and stakeholder feedback about future plans near Peck Field.
- Director Bonbright attended the Maritime|253 / Port of Tacoma building project rooftop celebration event that BNBuilders does for each of their projects. They also met with Port Commissioners regarding joint control interests.
Updates/Comments:
- Director McElroy shared that she has been visiting schools as her schedule allows, and she loves the work the Board gets to do in community.
- President Strozier and Director Keating were invited and meet with State Senator Lisa Wellman, chair of the Senate Education Committee who is meeting with specific school district staff, board members, and community members around the state to learn about the challenges we're all facing.
- Director Leon shared that the Board Goals adopted tonight are very important, and he's excited to learn more on both topics.
- Director McElroy thanked President Strozier for the leadership he provides the Board.
* JMAC: Joint Municipal Action Committee
B.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS
- October 9, 2025: 6:00PM - Business Meeting
- October 16, 2025: 6:00PM - Study Session
- October 23, 2025: 6:00PM - Business Meeting
K. Strozier called a meeting of the Board of Directors of Tacoma School District to order on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 6:00PM.