Change the verbiage Superintendent to Head of School

• December FTE:             840.80
• December Headcount: 851
• Six (6) new students will start on January 6, 2026
• Some Running Start students will be returning to SIA campus
• Priority enrollment starts on January 5th through March 20th
• Current students will need to re-enroll by 5PM on March 20th
• The goal is 80% of current students to return or re-enroll

Advertising:

• Direct Mailers will go out to target zip codes starting the first week of January
• Digital advertising through The Agency, funded by Excellent Schools of Washington through the Gates Foundation (direct email and social media ads)
• SIA presence at local events such as the MLK, Jr. Unity Day, Rally, March & Resource Fair and the Lunar New Year celebration. Both held at the Spokane Convention Center.

School Admissions Events:

• Campus tours in January-March
• Parent Information Nights in January-March

January 5, 2026 through March 20, 2026

The Associated Student Body (ASB) representatives were: Payton Drader, Evelyn Caine, and Dylan Wise. The proposed revision to the dress code policy pertains to hair color, initiated by student, Noah Hiatt (not present at today's meeting).

Current Policy: 

• A student's hair must be one, natural hair color, worn neatly, and in such a way that does not distract from the educational environment.

Proposed Revision:

• A student's hair must be worn neatly, and in such a way that does not distract from the educational environment. Students may color or dye their hair. 

ASB proposes to allow students to color or dye their hair non-natural colors. 

Reasons behind the proposal:

• Expression of self-identity
• Change in student culture across the nation; changes in ways students represent themselves
• Hair color has no direct impact on academic performance or achievement
• According to a student poll conducted a year ago, 80% of the student body support this change

The board asked the following questions:

• Should the proposed policy revision apply to all grades or older students only?
  • ASB proposes the policy change should apply to all grade levels.
• Is there a limit to the number of hair color a student can have?
  • ASB proposes no limit
• How did this come about?
  • Student, Noah Hiatt, proposed the revision to the Head of School a year ago. Noah was directed to follow protocol, including presenting to the board.
  • Middle School and High School students participated in the survey last year
• Who decides what causes distraction or not?
  • The principal
  • Current disciplinary action is to color their hair back to natural color
• Prior research comparing SIA policy vs. other schools' policy
  • SIA's policy is comparable with a private school's policy. Private schools policy regarding hair color is open-ended and have no limitations.

Notable comments from Morgen Flowers:

• The student survey did not include the primary grades
• Parent survey was conducted this year; 45% responses were received
• Morgen supports the proposed revision for Middle School and High School only; not Kindergarten-5th Grade
• Staff survey favors the revision to apply to Middle School and High School only; they have reservations for the primary grades

Action: 

• ASB is asked to compare policies of other schools in the area (charter and public schools)
• Come up with the correct verbiage; specify policy for K-5 and 6-12
• Re-submit the proposal in the January board meeting

The board acknowledges the students' efforts and great presentation!

Melissa Pettey presented.

Background:

• Former SIA Dean of Students, during SIA's early years 
• Founding principal of SIA Middle Academy and Lumen High School
• Director of K-12 College and Career Readiness, Spokane Public Schools
• Current Director of Program Development and Student Success at SIA
  • Focuses on K-12 success strategies and program development in partnership with Excellent Schools of Washington (ESWA)
    • ESWA is a non-profit focused on expanding access to high quality, innovative public schools, especially charter schools for underserved students in WA.

Enrollment Analysis/High School Expansion:

• SIA does not accept new students in grades 11-12
• SIA students often return to their neighborhood schools in grades 9-10
• The current 11th–12th grade pathways (RS and NTN) don’t serve all students well. 
• We lose all FTE funding for students enrolled in RS and NTN. 
• There’s no clear process for students to return to campus if their pathway isn’t working.
• Students miss valuable, developmentally appropriate time on campus that supports our mission. 
• Some students leave because they don’t connect with our current high school structure.
• Our high school lacks a distinct identity that attracts and retains students.

SIA Strategy:

• Grow the base at Kindergarten 
  Rebuild the High School

What's Next:

1. Redefine our Graduate Profile (December–January) with full stakeholder input. 

2.Present and adopt the new Graduate Profile at the January Board meeting. 

3.Launch communication and marketing to middle and high school families to strengthen retention and recruitment. (March- May) 

4.Align the master schedule with new Graduate Profile values while maintaining current RS/NTN options for upperclassmen. (January - March) 

5.Begin reimagining the junior and senior experience for current freshmen and younger students (February - June)

Melissa will present again at the January board meeting.

Notable comments from the Board:

• What is offered at Running Start that SIA cannot offer to students?
• Current building capacity
• Administration capacity
• Parent survey or a task force
• Strategic growth; 5-year plan

No questions or comments.

Save the date: June 7, 2026 - High School graduation at Spokane Community College auditorium.

The Governance Committee will report during the Executive Session.

Academic Excellence committee will report in January.