• Personnel Action Addendum

Heidi Youseph led us in the flag salute.

There was a quorum present.  

WA Governor Bob Ferguson issued a proclamation declaring October as Principals Month.  We have posted recognition through social, website and reader boards.  We are so grateful for our incredible principals at FSD!  Board Chair Annie Keebler read the proclamation.  

Being accountable, the pursuit of excellence, and the exercise of self-control.  

Freeman's new Ag-Science Teacher/FFA Advisor, Rachel Shrauger attended the meeting to explain to the Board the details of and ask permission for an upcoming Nationals trip to Utah.  She had challenged her class to see if this might be possible, and there were several students who qualified!  Here are the logistics...

Trip Name: National Rangeland Management FFA

Trip Date(s): 11/08 – 11/10/2026

Trip Location: Tremonton Utah

Purpose of Trip: Attend the national competition and compete. Learn and expand knowledge about the importance of rangeland management practices. 

Itinerary (Tentative or Firm):

Tentative 

11/08/2026

5am – Fly out of Spokane at 

10:30am – Land in Salt Lake, Utah. 

11am – Rental Car, get lunch and drive to logan Utah 

2pm – Stokes Nature Center to study plants and sites 

5pm – Dinner and more studying 

8pm – Lights out 

11/09/2026

8am – Breakfast 

9am – Drive to Tremonton to do walkthrough site 

12pm – Lunch 

1pm – More study at Tremonton 

3pm – Part one of Competition – Stocking rate, Current Issue, Group dinner 

8pm – Drive back to logan and lights out 

11/10/2026

7am – Breakfast and drive to Competition site 

8am – Competition time 

1pm – awards 

2:30 – Drive back to Salt Lake City and fly home.

Participants/Chaperones/Estimated Group Size: 

5 people, Ms. Shrauger and 4 students 

Payments (Registration, Lodging, Meals, Transportation, etc.):

Registration – 125 

Lodging – 500

Flights – 400 – 500

Meals – Kids on their own 

Transportation (rental car) – 300 – 350 

Total for all – 3,225 

Funding Sources:

CTE, ASB, and FFA 

Risk & Safety Plan (Emergency Plan, Risk Level, etc.):

Emergency Plan for Group Travel:

1. Pre-trip: All chaperones carry roster, emergency contacts, medical info, and

first-aid kit.

2. During travel: Frequent headcounts and consistent communication between

vehicles; district administration notified in case of incident.

3. At competitions I will always be with students. 

● Risk Level: Moderate (group travel & overnight stay in a secure hotel, Flight is the major populated areas, With 30 other ag teachers and 140 other students .)

FHS Senior Briley Snyder spoke about her excitement for the upcoming trip and how in their AP Environmental Science class they have been preparing for the 5 sections of the competition, which includes calculating stocking rates, identifying plants (65 kinds), measuring shrub coverage, etc. Rangeland Management is relatively new to several of the students, but one has interest in pursuing it as a career so this experience will be very valuable.  

Freeman has EP&O and Capital projects levies that are current through 2027, so the Board is debating replacement levies for 2028 through 2030.  There are only 5 schools in the entire state of WA that don't have current EP&O levy support.  Fifteen percent of WA school budgets are supported by their EP&O levies.  We'd love to think that this levy supports custom programs, athletics, music and art, but the majority is spent on electricity, insurance, class size reduction, staffing, etc.  Our bond matures in 2028 which needs to be taken into consideration as it's right in the middle of this potential levy cycle.  

December 11th is the filing deadline, so the FSD board needs to vote during their 11/30 board meeting or a separate special meeting.  Some school districts are going early for their vote - 

7 are running in November (13 months early) and 7 will in February.  A few schools in Spokane (SPS, CV, WV) are running the maximum of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.  We have preliminary assessed evaluation (statements are coming out)- average increase of 1.8%, which is more normal compared to the 5-10% growth.  We have10 million in new construction in our district, which is the lowest it has been in the past decade (speculation is that's due to high mortgage rates).  

This was covered in the Board Recognition section.  

2026-2027 FSD Commitments:

1. Strengthen a cohesive TK-12 system by aligning our practices, expectations, and student experiences across all schools.
2. Build a culture of belonging through strong relationships, collaboration, and respectful communication.
3. Strengthen our TK-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to thrive. 

Areas of Focus:

• Parent-Teacher Conferences- Thursday & Friday, October 22nd & 23rd - went very well

Curriculum Preview for Parents- Thursday, October 22nd 4:30-6:30 pm

Thank you PTSG for providing our breakfast and dinner meals

• Math Is Cool (4th and 5th grade teams - coached by Nick Rawson) & Robotics are rolling with 23 in enrollment
• Getting started with Observations
• Math Adoption Committee meeting this week - currently looking at 5 options that will be narrowed down to 2 that they will do a full pilot on with the staff

Enrollment:

TK: 34 (P3 =4)     K: 58     1: 67     2: 51      3: 67     4: 55     5: 75         Total:  407

2026-2027 FSD Commitments:

1. Strengthen a cohesive TK-12 system by aligning our practices, expectations, and student experiences across all schools.
2. Build a culture of belonging through strong relationships, collaboration, and respectful communication.
3. Strengthen our TK-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to thrive. 

Areas of Focus:

>Parent-Teacher Conferences- Thursday & Friday, October 22nd & 23rd - had 46 scheduled, 2 cancelled and 4 no-shows - overall went very well

> Curriculum Preview for Parents- Thursday, October 22nd 4:30-6:30 pm - wish more people would show up, but kudos to Mrs. Rawson, Mrs. Archibald and Ms. Bowden for their work in prepping all materials

> Fitting for Ski Fieldtrip to Mt. Spokane on October 28th (trip is January 20th) - last year cancelled due to lack of snow, so this year will be 6th and 7th grade combined

>Halloween Dance- Friday, October 30th during school day - chaperoning always available

>Clubs

            Math Is Cool - two teams (6th and 8th grade)               

            Robotics - our teams are expanding, but some in the area are decreasing - overall 17 teams in the area that will compete

>First round of observations are underway! 

>Scottie Dash Update

            Total - each grade will get around $400 that will carry with them to 12th grade

            Incentives are getting out to the kids, planning bowling event, etc.

            Drawing

Quick staff update that Jim Rae will be out until winter break - Jenny Croskrey is subbing and doing an outstanding job.  Nate Garner will be out a bit longer as he recovers, but subbing is covered for his class as well.  Kayleen Archibald will be out on maternity leave soon - intern Beth Bowden will step in during this time.  

8th grade down one in enrollment to FCE as reflected below.  Took a call today to welcome back a 7th grader who tried homeschooling but wants to return to in-person learning, so that will go up in next month's report.  

Enrollment:

            6th- 60              7th- 57              8th- 75 (-1)                   Total= 192

2026-2027 FSD Commitments:

1. Strengthen a cohesive TK-12 system by aligning our practices, expectations, and student experiences across all schools.
2. Build a culture of belonging through strong relationships, collaboration, and respectful communication.
3. Strengthen our TK-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to thrive. 

Areas of Focus:

Goal/Action

Increasing student ownership/voice and verify school experiences

• Adding more members to Student Advisory Team; 2nd meeting scheduled for 10.28

Increasing academic press, specifically rigor, relevance and feedback   

• Collaborated about “what does rigor sound like?” at recent staff meeting.    Emailed potential “sounds like” list to staff to use for walkthroughs
• Staff shared examples of rigor from one of their courses

Increasing staff efficacy and trust

• Started Staff celebrations @ staff meeting
• Mr. Ripke exploring what it means to be a TEAM at staff meeting

FHS Highlights

• Fantastic HOCO week
• PSAT - 20 students
• Student of the Month changes - originally provided 8 students with certificates that had descriptions on the back from teachers for the award, but now all students that are nominated will also get recognition from their teachers so that more kids can be recognized
• FFA had a 4th place finish at the Rangeland Management competition 
• Microsoft/AWSL AI Summit - Mr. Smith will be taking some of their ASB Leadership students to CenterPlace to learn about AI and how it impacts education
• 24 kids were represented for 48 conferences that went well overall

Enrollment:

9th = 60 (61), 10th = 68 (70), 11th = 49, 12th = 58(61).   Total: 235 

2026-2027 FSD Commitments:

1. Strengthen a cohesive TK-12 system by aligning our practices, expectations, and student experiences across all schools.
2. Build a culture of belonging through strong relationships, collaboration, and respectful communication.
3. Strengthen our TK-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to thrive. 

Areas of Focus:

• 2nd Coaches meeting of the year on 10/16 – Boundaries and Supervision, Volunteer Coaches Requirements - a couple of additional steps will be put into place soon for our volunteers
• Winter sports interest sign up meetings 10/21
• Winter Sports start on 11/16
• Soccer and Volleyball senior nights on Tuesday 10/27
• Fall sports post seasons coming up, we will host volleyball here on Tuesday 11/3 at 4 and 6 pm.  Soccer here on Wednesday 11/4
• XC regional meet on 10/31 at Reardan.  Football week 10 playoffs on 11/6 likely on the road
• Current State Rankings – Boys XC 1st, Girls XC 4th, Football 13th, Volleyball 5th, Soccer 9th

Enrollment:

• Football 46                                                                  Wrestling 19 boys 2 girls
• Boys XC 23                                                                  Boys Basketball 33
• Girls XC 13                                                                   Girls Basketball 20
• Volleyball 23
• Soccer 14 – 5 8th graders
• Cheer 16

MS Athletic Coordinator Update

Fall Sports Results

• Softball 8th- 4-3 with one tie
• Softball 7th- 4-3
• Football 8th- 1-4
• Football 7th- 3-2

XC All-League Top 5 Freeman finishers Maverick Jessop (9:37), Addy Mueller (9:47), Luke Jones (9:51), Addy James (10:21), and Emma Moesges (10:48). Each of our runners had a PR for the All-League race!

Early-Winter

• Volleyball we have over 60 girls signed up (does not include the soccer players). 
• Wrestling we have 17 boys and 1 girl signed up
• We have openings for 7th grade JV boys and girls basketball, no applicants yet. 

2026-2027 FSD Commitments:

1. Strengthen a cohesive TK-12 system by aligning our practices, expectations, and student experiences across all schools.
2. Build a culture of belonging through strong relationships, collaboration, and respectful communication.
3. Strengthen our TK-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to thrive. 

Areas of Focus and Enrollment:

Special Education

• Recommending to the board the hiring of Ashley Steenburgh- paraeducator, replacing one who was approved last month
• Thank you to anonymous community donor who gave $2,500- purchased sensory/ occupational therapy tools for students - mostly for kids in TK and early elementary
• New hire evaluations complete for special education team members. So lucky to have wonderful new additions.
• Completed Post-Secondary Outcomes Report- Great to hear the amazing careers and next steps from our former special education students
• SEPAC (Parent Committee of about 15 people) is excited to plan inclusive events for Freeman families and support our work to make Freeman a more inclusive community and school.
• 113 Students (one more coming into district in a couple of weeks)

Multilingual Learners (MLL)

• Students in FES receive paraeducator instruction with our ELL curriculum add on from our Tier 1 core curriculum (Into Reading) - Carli K. leads this program
• Students from FCE receive embedded support in the virtual classes
• Translation services are available to all staff through PLGS live translation subscription. Very helpful for nurses, front office, and conferences
• 4 Students (2 FES, 2 FCE)

McKinney Vento/ Foster Youth

• All McKinney Vento site and district liaisons (school counselors and myself) have completed required annual training. 
• Fill the Gap- local partnership through Valleyford Community Church is so appreciated!
• Completed annual child count requirement by Oct. 31
• 10 McKinney Vento/ 2 Foster

Title 1/ Learning Assistance Program (LAP) MTSS

• Title/ LAP Compacts- Parent Engagement requirement completed at conferences. 
• Paraeducators have been excellent at providing evidence-based interventions and progress monitoring students to help kids close gaps in learning
• MTSS Team- 17 staff members! Looking at district level data to ensure our supports in math, reading and SEL are improving outcomes for students 
• FES: Reading- 52, Math- 69
• FMS: 5- Math

Highly Capable

• No Updates
• 113 students 

SBIRT - mental health counseling position hired by ESD101 and Freeman - her name is Polly Johnson and she just started - she'll be here 5 days a week and can work with students ages 13+

2026-2027 FSD Commitments:

1. Strengthen a cohesive TK-12 system by aligning our practices, expectations, and student experiences across all schools.
2. Build a culture of belonging through strong relationships, collaboration, and respectful communication.
3. Strengthen our TK-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to thrive. 

Areas of Focus & Enrollment:

Flexible Learning Options: Freeman ConnectEd

• Strengthening program procedures - including the choice process
• Matt is working on his Online Teacher Certificate through OSPI
• New enrollment procedure has gone well.
• 40 students enrolled (7 choice that are our full FTE now)
• 7 on waitlist - will discuss soon 

Career & Technical Education

• FFA: Rangeland competition qualified for nationals. 
• FBLA: 30 students attended Fall Conference 
• Journalism: Attending Journalism Day Oct. 26 - took 8 students
• Focus will be to increase CTE options at the middle school level.
• 5 new ovens coming, and there was tractor driving happening at the school today

District Assessment

• Spring SBAC scores being mailed out soon.

College & Career 

• 6 students accepted to WSU on Oct. 9
• EWU will have Instant Decision Day in Nov.
• 9-12 has logged into SchooLinks for High School & Beyond Plan work.

2026-2027 FSD Commitments:

1. Strengthen a cohesive TK-12 system by aligning our practices, expectations, and student experiences across all schools.
2. Build a culture of belonging through strong relationships, collaboration, and respectful communication.
3. Strengthen our TK-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to thrive. 

Areas of Focus:

1. FHS Participation has dropped by about 50% from last year. I will be meeting with NS Staff, and Regina, to discuss possible options to address the financial shortfall.
2. I have been making phone calls to households with significant negative balances. I have sent a few letters out requesting contact with Nutrition Services to develop a payment plan to address these negative balances.  Working on payment plans with some families, and we will send some to collections if they are not responsive.  

2026-2027 FSD Commitments:
1. Strengthen a cohesive TK-12 system by aligning our practices, expectations, and student experiences across all schools.
2. Build a culture of belonging through strong relationships, collaboration, and respectful communication.
3. Strengthen our TK-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to thrive.
 

Areas of Focus:
• We have been focusing on school bus standards across buses and assisting drivers with student management. Tawnya has been on several afternoon routes and had the opportunity to share positive feedback and helpful suggestions to both drivers and students.

• Along those same lines, Tawnya has just completed a special bus ride-along with both K2 and TK classrooms. Similar to PBIS but geared towards the much younger students. We have the students along with their teachers board the bus and then we explain how to safely ride a school bus. After a quick question/answer session (a TK student asked where the restroom was), we drive through the school loop and deliver them back to their buildings along with a copy of the school bus standards written especially for their grade-levels and a certificate for doing a great job riding the bus. I want to thank Tawnya for all her time that she has devoted to doing this.

• The new bus – Bus 20 is in service and the driver couldn’t be more proud!

• Our staff is currently 13 route drivers, 8 sub drivers, 2 bus assistants, 1 sub assistant

• Starting November 2nd we will be providing a Skills Center Route. At this time, we are still working on getting as many students as possible to take advantage of this service. This is all happening fast, we are going to post a full-time driver position to hire another driver. We have to rebid on routes. We will not have time to get this done for the October Board Meeting.

• Routes include the following:
11 - Gen Ed routes
1 - SPED Wheelchair lift route
1 - SPED TK/K2 route
1- SPED Van route with two students
2- PM2 routes, 1 to Hangman and 1 to Rockford

2026-2027 FSD Commitments:

1. Strengthen a cohesive TK-12 system by aligning our practices, expectations, and student experiences across all schools.
2. Build a culture of belonging through strong relationships, collaboration, and respectful communication.
3. Strengthen our TK-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to thrive. 

Areas of Focus:

• Chad, Lisa, and I have been talking and meeting with Triumph and Qualite on the stadium light issues.  This is a Qualite issue not a Triumph issue, but communication between all has been clear this needs to be resolved ASAP.  This still has issues, still working with them to resolve.
• Preparing for winter months starting to get cold weather equipment out and ready for use.

Safety:

• Signed up for a reunification class at ESD101 with the I luv you guys foundation to help understand that process.

2026-2027 FSD Commitments:
1. Strengthen a cohesive TK-12 system by aligning our practices, expectations, and student experiences across all schools.
2. Build a culture of belonging through strong relationships, collaboration, and respectful communication.
3. Strengthen our TK-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to thrive.

Areas of Focus:
• The Technology Department is working to implement ‘ChatGPT for Teachers’ districtwide, providing staff with Plus-like AI capabilities at no cost to district personnel. The district-managed platform offers enhanced security, Single Sign-On (SSO), centralized management, and collaboration tools to support instruction, productivity, and efficiency, while ensuring district information is not used to train OpenAI's models by default.

• The Technology Department is evaluating and demoing new security solutions in preparation for Phase 2 of the Technology Plan, focused on continued safety and security upgrades throughout the district.

• Fiscal year end was submitted last Friday to ESD101 where it will be reviewed and then submitted to OSPI after an opportunity for modifications
• Cash Flow Update - working on it and will be ready to present it at the November meeting
• Enrollment - holding steady from September - even though fluctuations within the buildings it all ended up even in the end
• October was our first month reporting running start - 34 students are participating (17 of the 34 only do running start and don't come to campus)
• Capital Projects Cash Flow Update - status quo - $100,000 was spent on technology network upgrades, lighting upgrades in the K-8 MPR and final balance on the new crosswalk flashers
• We'll have a significant collection in October for property taxes

• Choice Student Enrollment - Lisa reviewed our historical document regarding choice, which includes our current 2026-2027 numbers.  Overall choice is down.

• Sent cards in the mail to the Bend, OR school administrators to let them know we are thinking of them.

• 3rd Grade Field Trip to Rockford Businesses on 9/25 was a huge success, and the Rockford Fair parade was well represented
• We have a survey that's recently gone out to staff, parents and students regarding climate and culture - we kept the survey process in-house instead of using CEE to save costs
• Harvest Hoedown is coming up on 11/6 - looking for volunteers
• The next District Newsletter will hit mailboxes November 2-4, and will include our annual Veteran's Day Program invitation for the community
• Watching the Valley schools very closely for the November elections

• Danielle expressed gratitude to Lisa for identifying areas for cost savings - postage changes, survey changes, etc. with a focus on targeting Freeman values in the process 

The next board meeting will be on Monday, November 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM (levy vote).  The following meetings are scheduled for Monday, December 14, 2026 at 4:00 PM (Advance Work Session at 2:00 PM and Winter Concert at 5:30 PM), and Monday, January 25, 2027 at 6:00 PM.  

ADMINISTRATION: None       

CLASSIFIED DIRECTOR: None

CERTIFIED:            

• Daniel Lloyd – Substitute Teacher 
• Matt Smith – Teacher Out-of-Endorsement in the Freeman ConnectEd Program (Biology, Chemistry, English Language Arts, Health/Fitness, Mathematics, Science, Visual Arts, General music, Middle level math, Middle level science) for the 2026-2027 school year
• Bethany Bowden – TK-8 School Counselor – 1.0 FTE Long-Term Substitute (11/16/26 – 2/26/27)                                                          

CLASSIFIED:

• Hayley Lewis – Substitute Secretary – pending OSPI clearance
• Ariel Kirby – Substitute Child Nutritionist III – pending OSPI clearance
• Ashley Steenburgh – Paraeducator/Special Education – One Year Only

CONTRACT: None

EXTRACURRICULAR:   

• Jacob Crow - MS Head Wrestling Coach
• Ben Cochran – Middle School Head Track Coach
• Ben Cochran – Middle School Assistant Wrestling Coach
• Bo Nielsen - High School Assistant (JV) Boys’ Basketball Coach
• Kaylynn Mendenhall – Middle School Girls Volleyball Flex Coach 

RESIGNATIONS/RETIREMENTS:                    

• Stephen Busbee – High School Assistant (JV) Boys’ Basketball Coach
• Sophie Leeper – Paraeducator/Special Education – One Year Only
• Kent Bevers – Nutrition Services Director – effective 8/31/27
• AmyJo Wright – Paraeducator/Special Education – effective 11/6/26
• AmyJo Wright – Bus Assistant – One Year Only – effective 11/6/26

EXTENDED LEAVE REQUESTS:

• Jim Rae – 10/19/26 – 12/18/26

VOLUNTEERS:

• Audrey Brantz – MS Math is Cool
• Nicholas Rawson – ES Math is Cool
• Barbara Berg – ES/MS Robotics
• Jerry Daniels – ES/MS Robotics
• Kara Gray – ES/MS Robotics
• Stephanie Pilon – ES/MS Robotics
• Autumn Ralph – ES/MS Robotics
• Annie Thompson – ES/MS Robotics
• Chris Thosath – ES/MS Robotics
• James Reynolds – HS Robotics
• Kristina Newhouse – HS Robotics
• Adam Newhouse – HS Robotics
• Heidi Johnson – FFA Trap
• Justus Snyder – FFA Trap
• Victoria Javier – MS Volleyball
• Daniel Schwartz – MS Wrestling
• Kaleb Ohler – HS Boys Basketball
• Vinny Pecht – HS Girls Basketball
• Hunter Hawk – HS Wrestling
• Hunter Nees – HS Wrestling
• Colton Orrino – HS Wrestling
• Elliott Tenner – HS Wrestling
• Erik Cole – HS Football
• Josh Olson – HS Football
• Daniel Schwartz – HS Football
• Conor Weise – HS Football
• Brenden Rivera – HS Football
• Mike McKeown – HS Football 

Recording Secretary _______________________________________

Board Secretary ___________________________________________

Board Chair _______________________________________________