Consent agenda item added: 

• Personnel Report Addendum

PHS ASB Report added to Reports, Correspondence and Program section of the agenda.

The PHS ASB student representative provided an update on recent and upcoming ASB activities, including a welcome-back assembly and the annual Block Party, which will be open to the public and provide an opportunity for clubs to connect with students through activities and yard games.

• Stephanie Horn: Attended Elementary Back-to-School Night at Sunnyside Elementary. 
• Deena Bayoumi: Reported on the LMS Spartan Start-Up and recognized the student volunteers who supported the event. She shared that LMS will host an open house on September 10, with volleyball and cross-country tryouts underway. She encouraged students to try new sports and noted that free physicals will continue to be available for students considering participation in athletics during the school year. She also reported that a DEIB Task Force meeting is tentatively scheduled for September 15.. 
• Craig Nelson: Noted that Transportation staff have been working effectively with constituents and that additional work remains to strengthen transportation services. Shared appreciation regarding efforts to offer Physics, the hiring of a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, and continued work to align club advisors with teachers in the related program.
• Lisa Waananen Jones: Provided an update on Jefferson Elementary’s successful Back-to-School Night, which featured popsicles and live music, as well as a display of the school’s outdoor learning lab. Appreciation was also expressed to everyone who contributed to the Stuff the Bus effort.
• Arron Carter: 
  • Provided an update on the Clear Risk Report, noting that the report has been reviewed and discussed individually and by the Board, with additional discussion moved to the annual retreat. He identified potential outcomes including additional Board training and a review of policies and protocols, particularly related to social media use and communication. He emphasized the Board’s continued efforts toward improvement.
  • Director Carter also reported attending PHS Freshman Night, which was well attended and included rotating breakout sessions, as well as KES Elementary’s Back-to-School Night. He welcomed families at KES and attended the school’s first day, noting the positive support provided by WSU student-athletes.
  • For Board business, Director Carter noted that weekly Board meetings will resume next month on a rotating basis and that planning for the January mini-retreat should begin soon. He also shared that a template was reviewed to help Board members prepare for strategic plan review work sessions. The Board will review Priority 1 at the September work session.

Reported a successful first day of school and expressed appreciation to staff for their efforts in welcoming students. Visited every district building and recognized WSU Athletics for providing student-athlete volunteers at each building to welcome students.

Appreciation was also extended to the Pullman Education Foundation and PTA/PTO/Booster organizations that participated in school open houses. Reported that the district successfully hired a preschool teacher and was able to offer a Physics course at PHS with some adjustments. Enrollment will continue to be monitored, with the September enrollment count providing a clearer estimate of student participation.

DEIB Task Force is tentatively scheduled to meet September 15th.

Speaker: Hailey

Topic(s): Representing the SES PTO, the speaker provided an update on fall fundraising and the book fair and shared that the PTO Board has been meeting during the summer to prepare for the school year.

Speaker: Steven

Topic(s): Speaker declined to speak.

Speaker: Stephanie Bray

Topic(s): Provided comments regarding the successful first day of school and encouraged the Board to publicly share outcomes and next steps from Board retreats, the Board self-assessment, and discussions related to the Clear Risk Report and public records, and expressed appreciation for those who attended Back-to-School Night.

Speaker: Nathalie Herrin

Topic(s): Provided comments regarding equitable transportation, including challenges for students who rely on city transit and the impact on timely arrival at school, and noted concerns regarding alignment between Board policy and the current transportation schedule. 

The following vouchers as audited and certified by the auditing officer, as required by RCW 42.24.080, and those expense reimbursement claims certified, as required by RCW 42.24.090, are approved for payment. 

Fund: ASB 

Check Numbers 26738251 through 26738259, totaling $29,953.05

Check Numbers 26738250 through 26738250, totaling $8,106.53

Check Numbers 26738260 through 26738260, totaling $2,256.70

Fund: Capital Projects

Wire Transfer Payments 202600047 through 202600047, totaling $779.41

Check Numbers 26738261 through 26738261, totaling $82,863.75

Fund: General

Wire Transfer Payments 202600047 through 202600047, totaling $1,353.07

Check Numbers 26738209 through 26738209, totaling $49,290.13

Check Numbers 26738262 through 26738263, totaling $210.65

Check Numbers 26738264 through 26738295, totaling $278,459.26

AP ACH Numbers 9000000014 through 9000000015, totaling $621.48

AP ACH Numbers 9000000016 through 9000000017, totaling $58,681.20

Presenter: Bob Maxwell, Superintendent

This item was presented at the last meeting and there have been no questions since it was last presented. WSSDA has updated this model policy by removing language that is redundant to Board Procedure 2410 High School Graduation Requirements. 

Presenter: Bob Maxwell, Superintendent

This item was presented at the last meeting and there have been no questions since it was last presented. WSSDA has revised the model attendance policy to improve clarity, organization, and consistency while maintaining compliance with RCW Chapter 28A.225 and WAC 392-401.

Presenter: Ryan Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent

The Board considered revisions to the High School Graduation Requirements policy and procedure, previously presented at the prior meeting. It was clarified that the revisions reflect recent legislative changes related to High School and Beyond Plans, special education transition planning, Running Start, and postsecondary financial aid applications, and do not include changes currently under legislative consideration.

Presenter: Ryan Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent

This item was presented at the last meeting and there have been no questions since it was last presented. Presented is a list of state and federal grants the district applies for annually which also included the purpose and funding overview for each grant.

Presenter: Bob Maxwell, Superintendent

The district is in compliance with the Basic Education Act, offering a district-wide average of 1,027 instructional hours for grades 1–12, 180 school days, and PHS meeting all state graduation requirements. Board members noted the difference instructional hours at K-5 versus 6-12. Dr. Maxwell noted that a lot of the calculation is based on contact time and noted some of the factors at the secondary level that impact instructional time versus elementary. 

Presenter: Arron Carter, Board President

The Board discussed the format and purpose of Board reports and reviewed a proposed template to support consistent and effective communication while allowing flexibility for individual perspectives. Directors discussed using the template to identify communication gaps, align reports with Board goals, and assign Directors to specific topics as appropriate. The Board discussed possible revisions to the categories and format, including suggestions from Dr. Maxwell, and agreed to pilot the template and make adjustments as needed. Suggested revisions may be submitted, with a revised draft to be considered following further discussion of the Board’s communication protocols; Board Director Carter will review whether formal Board action is required. It was also noted that Sandra Woodrow is entering her final year supporting the Stuff the Bus effort.

• August

A. Carter announced there will be an Executive Session to discuss negotiations that will end at 7:43pm. No action will be taken.