Presenter: Jason MacKay, Stevens Clay Law Firm

Board members received an overview of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), including the definition of what constitutes a meeting and action, requirements for regular and special meetings, and the distinction between executive sessions and closed sessions. The presentation also reviewed the purpose of public comment, common pitfalls to avoid such as serial communications via email or text, and an overview of the Public Records Act, including what constitutes a public record.

The Board reviewed an update on the District’s Strategic Plan and Board Goals, which included a comprehensive data update on enrollment, chronic absenteeism trends, graduation rate trends and high school graduate outcomes, and student achievement measures. An update was also provided on the Strategic Plan priorities, goals, and progress toward success indicator measures, along with district highlights for the 2025–2026 school year to date. The Board discussed the possibility of revisiting the current Strategic Plan at a future board retreat to determine whether revisions or adjustments are needed.

The Board discussed key reflections from the Annual WSSDA Conference, including the importance of engaging ASB and student leadership groups in Board meetings to connect student voice to Strategic Plan reporting. The Board expressed interest in identifying ways to fill student committee positions by reviewing current structures and timelines for student engagement. It was recommended that, in conjunction with the annual organizational chart review in January, current committee membership be reviewed and open positions for each district committee be outlined. Reflections from legal sessions and Open Public Meetings Act sessions were also discussed.