Board member, Bill Morphy, was excused.

Chad Ripke led us in the flag salute.

There was a quorum present.  

Annie Keebler moved the Board approve the May 28, 2025 consent agenda, as presented.  Danielle Santman seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  

Sincerity and reverence or love for the truth.  

• Lane Mathews was honored with the Student Achievement Award.
• Joanna De Peralta was honored with the Community Service Award.

Overview 

During the 24-25 school year, FES will focus on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Professional. Learning Communities and Freeman School District's three focus areas: 1. Embrace challenging and necessary conversations with students and staff, 2. Expect Civility and Respect from everyone, 3. Enhance our MTSS grades TK-12. 

Areas of Focus 

• Math is Cool. The 4th grade team took 1st place at the state “Masters” competition in Moses Lake and the 5th grade team placed 2nd! The top individual placers were Sophia Jahns 4th, Cole Sherwood 5th, Ronin Brantz 2nd, and Tempe Durrant 8th. We are so proud of our mathletes. 
• SBAC. Grades 3rd-5th are off to a great start. The theme is “Donut Stress” students received pencils with donuts and donuts to kick off testing week. 
• 2025-26 class rosters. The draft rosters are built for the next school year. At this time, we will have three sections of TK, and K, two sections of 1st grade (Barb Gady will move to K for one year), and three sections of 2nd-5th grades. 
• Upcoming events. Field trips (too many to list), FES talent show, June 9th, and Pace/Perfect Attendance assembly, June 11th. 

Enrollment 

Tk-46, K-42, 1st-64, 2nd-58, 3rd-65, 4th-57, 5th-52 = 384

Overview

During the 2024-25 school year, FMS staff and students are focused on our academic programs as we implement a seven-period day, incorporating social emotional learning into content classes and the consistent, constant growth of our positive learning community and culture.

Areas of Focus

>ASB Officers for the 2025-26 School Year

President- Evelyn Kann                       Treasurer- Gillian Gonsalves

Vice-President- Evan Schwartz          Parliamentarian-Chuck Bowen

Secretary- Brooklyn Rumsey              Sgt-at-Arms- Jack Kindred

>Year-end events and processes.

*State Assessments                             *Aimsweb Benchmarking- May 27th-June 6th

*Yearbooks- Tuesday, June 10th 

>Student Building Transitions.

            *5th to 6th Grade Meet the Teachers & Tour

            *8th Grade Promotion - Tuesday, June 10th 6:00 pm

>Marching Band & Cheer earned a “Gold” rating at the Lilac Parade

>Band & Choir Concert 

Enrollment

6th- 70 (-1)                   7th- 61              8th- 69              Total- 200 (-1)

Overview 

FHS is continuing to improve.  As a team, we are specifically focusing on Tier 1 MTSS Instruction, Assessment in PLCs (Professional Learning Communities), and PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions & Support). 

Areas of Focus

• End of Year Evaluations are complete
• SBA and AP Testing complete (AP = 97 tests/47 students)
• Band earned a Gold Standard Award at the Lilac Parade - Spring Concert was fantastic! 
• April PD Late Start PD Days - PLC work/Revisiting cell phone policy at FHS
• ASB Color Clash week a success - thank you to all donors!
• Lane Mathews - Chase Youth Award for Entrepreneurship
• Senior Awards Night - June 3 at 6:30 pm
• Graduation - June 7 at 3 pm

Enrollment

9th = 61, 10th = 75, 11th = 76, 12th = 78.   Total: 290 

Overview

• Softball is 22-2, #1 seed in the state bracket that starts on Friday 5/23.  League and District Champs. 
• Baseball 20-2, #2 seed in the state bracket.  League Champs, 3rd at Districts.  Play Warden in the first round of state on Saturday 5/24 at Hart Field.  If they win, they play the winner of Liberty Bell and Warden.  Loser out, winner of that pod advances to the final four in Selah on May 30 and 31.
• Track districts start on Thursday 5/22 and conclude on 5/24 at Whitworth University.  Top 4 advance to state, plus state qualifying times/marks in the finals. 
• Tennis advanced 2 girls, Emma Hollen and Avery Boswell who were district doubles champs to state.  They are the #1 seed in the doubles bracket and compete in Yakima on 5/23 and 24.
• Girls golf team were state champs. Lily Knight finished 4th overall, Ashlynn Meenach and Kassie Broers tied for 9th, Anna Marie McNally was 11th, and Emerson Conklin was 19th overall.
• 3 boys golfers played in the state tournament, Tanner Goldsmith, Dawson Burk, and Logan Schultz.  Tanner was the only golfer to advance to day 2 and finished 13th overall. 

Areas of Focus

• Senior Signing Day on 5/16.  Honored 8 seniors on the 16th, one in winter, and will be 11 overall for the class of 2025.  Aspyn Reed – GCU/VB.  Brooke Berglund – Western Wash/VB, Lexie Kennedy – Northwest Univ/VB, Alena Cochran – NIC/Soccer, Ashlynn Meenach – SCC/Golf, Annie Schiene – Montana St/Cheer, Colton Wells – Vanguard Univ/Basketball, Tanner Goldsmith – WWCC/Basketball, Jack Florence – Air Force Academy/Baseball, Nash McLean – Chandler Gilbert CC/Baseball, Vance Coyner – Whitworth Univ/Football.  39 student/athletes have signed to play after HS in the last 4 years.  Great job by our athletes, coaches, and parents.
• Editorial changes to the athletic code
• Schedules for the fall and winter
• HS coaches meeting on 5/19
• Golf Fundraiser on August 16th at the Links Golf Course

Overview

Work to improve programs and support our student athletes.
Participate in partnership with the Greater Spokane County League (GSCL).

Areas of Focus

FMS Track Success at All-League
FMS Baseball Records :
         Last games tomorrow 5/29
Working to solidify Fall coaching staff and schedule pre-season athlete meetings

Enrollment

FMS Baseball - 35
FMS Track - 29

Overview

Freeman SD Nutrition Services supports the philosophy of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs and will provide wholesome and nutritious meals for children in the district’s schools.

Areas of Focus

1. Last round of negative balance letters will be mailed out by the end of June.
   1. Just over $7K owing district wide
   2. Most of the EL households who owe the most do not qualify for F/R.
   3. $979.35 of the $1000.00 Special Donation for EL households remains.
   4. Balance of $2982.96 in Brenda’s Helping Hand.
2. We had nearly 600 people turn out for Pastries w/Parents.
3. FHS BBQ June 4.
4. Still waiting for OSPI to release the Paid Lunch Equity Tool.
   1. I would be surprised if we have to raise prices for next year.
   2. We won’t know for sure until I go through the Paid Lunch Equity tool when it is released.
   3. Will update at June board meeting

• Surplus Bus 7 - We sold old bus 21 through GovDeals.com
• Hosted ESD101 School Bus Safety Competition (ROAD-E-O) on May 17th. No Freeman participants, hopefully, next year.
• Preparing for WSP Inspection in June – 100% of fleet will be inspected.
• Officially submitted spring ridership data to OSPI on May 1. We had nearly a 100-student increase in riding the bus since last year. We average
  • 2025 Spring total = 943
  • 2024 Spring total = 847
  • 2023 Spring total = 830
• Students transported in March:
  • Morning riders – 5,784
  • Afternoon riders – 5,243
  • 2nd PM Route – 394

         Total – 11,421 students 

• Mileage for March:
  • To/From –17,214 miles
  • Field Trips – 414 miles
  • Club Trips – 1,111 miles
  • Extra-Curricular Trips – 3,131 miles

         Total – 21,870 miles

• We are currently operating:
  • Regular ED bus routes                    12
  • Program Bus routes                          4
  • After school 2ND PM Routes          2
  • McKinney-Vento Routes                   3

         TOTAL ROUTES:           21

Areas of Focus:

1. Fertilizer has been applied to most fields, still have one field to go.
2. Finished evaluations for maintenance/custodial crew.
3. Visited City of Spokane parks to get information on mowers.
4. Still waiting to demo a mower, just nothing available at this time.

Safety:

1. Nothing to report at this time.

Areas of Focus

• Testing and assessments are currently being conducted district-wide and are progressing smoothly with no major technology issues impacting the process.
• Engaging in comprehensive collaboration with principals to strategically plan and coordinate the scheduling of the student Chromebook check-in process for both FMS and FHS, ensuring a seamless and efficient execution.
• Currently working on the setup and preparations for the Class of 2025 graduation ceremony.

• Dr. Russell asked the Board to please keep the Northport School District in their thoughts and prayers following a school tragedy over the weekend that resulted in the loss of life of their Superintendent and a 15-year-old student.  We have offered our support to their district during this challenging time. 
• Dr. Russell invited Middle School Principal Jim Straw to lead the Board through the review and discussion of the proposed 2026-27 School Calendar.  In February/March, a survey went out to the staff regarding school calendar feedback which led to further discussion about a possible mid-winter break.  The Calendar Committee then met and discussed calendar options of taking a full week off in February (week of President's Day) or instead adding two longer weekend options in February and March.  All but one of the committee members voted to move forward with the two longer weekends option, which was shown to the board. The first long weekend would add February 16th as a day off, and the second long weekend would push March 4th to be the first snow makeup day, and March 5th as a day off.  This addition of two days would push the final day of the school year to Friday, 6/11. The Board asked questions surrounding attendance for the shorter school weeks and how it impacts teacher instruction.  Further evaluation of those items will continue.  The board agreed for Mr. Straw to communicate the proposed schedule to the staff and let them know the Board will vote on it during the 6/10 board meeting.  

Heidi Youseph (CTE Counselor) and Matt Smith (Certificated Teacher) presented a summary about the Freeman ConnectEd program that we are rolling out for the 2025-26 school year as a Pilot Program.

• ConnectEd is an additional ALE model to our current SOARS program and is being introduced to better serve our community.  
• ConnectEd will implement the curriculum Edmentum for online resources to replace paper and pencil assessment tools.  
• Initial conversations began in September 2024 regarding this option.  A team was created in January 2025 to site visit similar programs at Newport and Deer Park.  In April, dialogue began with Edmentum regarding possible curriculum and new partnerships/conversations with East Valley and Central Valley, followed by a site visit to East Valley.  
• This program is designed for students with unique circumstances who may be returning to our program from another ALE program, or for students who are committed to significant extracurricular commitments and often have difficulty balancing their schedules with traditional school hours.  
• Our traditional format for the current SOARS program with the surrounding consortium will remain in effect.  The only difference will be the vehicle to complete their credits.  

Community Solar Project Update

• The Board previously expressed concerns regarding the solar panels on our building roofs. After discussing details with Inland Power, David Funk reworked the project proposal.  
• The new proposal moves the solar panels to the ground, which would be located behind the PRTC. This is one proposal with two parts.  The first set of panels would feed the PRTC building, and the other set of panels would feed the Elementary building. This would be a smaller project with 1/3 less savings.  
• The Board expressed concerns regarding the responsibility if there is damage with solar panels on a ground mount, and what the impact would be like to the neighbors.  The option of a fence surrounding the panels was discussed but would come at cost and reduce our overall savings.  
• Considering the 10-year coverage for any potential damage, maintenance and repair, the Board agreed to move forward to get the ball rolling so they can formally submit their proposal for grant funding.  Dr. Russell will proceed to ask Mr. Funk the additional questions from the Board.  

Cash Flow

• Dr. Russell did a thorough review with the board of the Capital Projects Fund cash flow with a 3-year outlook taking us through the final repayments of the LGO Bond.  
• It showed the levy/investment proceeds, in addition to donations, as well as anticipated expenses outlined for safety/tech and maintenance/grounds.  
• Mr. Reed will be working on a tech plan for the board for review in early 2026 that they anticipate being around $500,000.
• A primary focus will be on our communication to our community regarding how we are making good on all of the promises made in our levy funding discussions.  
• The goal has been to try and get our cash position to reasonable numbers.  We don't have much room for emergencies through April 2026. 

Dr. Russell made a special note of gratitude to Annie Keebler for her communication and coordination regarding the last-minute opportunity to secure complimentary used furniture and supplies for FSD. Several people helped with just 24-hour notice and the items are already being put to good use.  

• The next board meeting is scheduled for June 10, 2025, at 2:00 PM.
• The meeting previously scheduled for June 25, 2025, has been cancelled.  
• The following meeting will be July 28, 2025, preceded by the budget hearing. 

The board moved into Executive Session at 7:25 PM for the purpose set forth in RCW 42.30.110. specifically, the following: Evaluation of complaint or charges brought against a public office or employee.  Such session is estimated to be approximately forty-five minutes in length.  Action is not expected upon return.  The board returned to open session at 8:10 PM.  Board Chair announced an extension of approximately 30 minutes would be necessary.  The board returned at 8:40 PM.   

Recording Secretary _______________________________________

Board Secretary ___________________________________________
 

Board Chair _______________________________________________