Clover Park School District announcement.
At its Jan. 10 board meeting, the Clover Park School District (CPSD) Board of Directors heard a report from Superintendent Ron Banner, viewed presentations on census data/redistricting boundaries and the Clover Park High School (CPHS) mascot, and discussed a variety of topics as board member discussions. January is School Board Recognition Month, and Tillicum Elementary School Principal Jeff Miller recognized the school board on behalf of the principals advisory group.
Census Data and Redistricting Boundaries
Parker Howell from the law firm Porter, Foster and Rorick presented on potential boundary changes and the director redistricting process.
Potential Boundary Changes: It was recently determined that a section of Joint Base Lewis-McChord is currently zoned as part of the Bethel School District, but the 34 students who live in that area are served by CPSD. Bethel and CPSD must come to an agreement on how to serve these students going forward, which could include a waiver process, an inter-district cooperation program, transfer of students to Bethel schools or official transfer of territory in question to CPSD.
Director Redistricting Process: Based on the 2020 census data, director district boundaries must be redrawn. A plan for re-drawing of director district boundaries is due to the state of Washington by Nov. 15, 2022. Public participation is a requirement, which includes publishing the plan, holding a public meeting, amending the plan as necessary and allowing for additional written comments.
CPHS Mascot Change
Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools Kevin Ikeda and Director of Marketing and Community Relations Leanna Albrecht presented an update on the process of the CPHS mascot change committee.
The Washington State Legislature passed a bill (SHB 1356) in May of 2021 prohibiting the inappropriate use of Native American names, symbols or images as public school mascots, logos or team names. Following a review of the bill and associated materials and written consultation with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the committee recommended changing CPHS’s warriors mascot due to its historical association with Native American imagery.
Superintendent’s Report
In his report, Banner discussed recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr., student achievement, staff appreciation, community engagement and COVID-19.
MLK Recognition
- Schools were closed Monday, Jan. 17, in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
- The city of Lakewood recognized Dr. King through it’s virtual MLK celebration on Jan. 15. The district was represented on the city’s MLK planning team.
Student Achievement
- The district’s Open Doors Youth Reengagement Program held its winter Awarding of Diploma Ceremony on Jan. 21, at the McGavick Conference Center on the Clover Park Technical College Campus. Read more about the event on the district website and view the live stream on the district’s YouTube channel.
Staff Appreciation
- Banner thanked all of the staff members in the district for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Banner gave a special thank you to the maintenance, ground and custodial staff for their diligent work during weekends and early mornings to help make sure school sites were safe during adverse weather at the beginning of January.
Community Engagement
- The Lakewood Rotary conducted its annual bicycle donation on Dec. 18, 2021. Forty bicycles were delivered to students attending Beachwood, Four Heroes, Idlewild, Lakeview, Rainier and Tyee Park elementary schools.
- Banner thanked the Lakewood Rotary and its many volunteers for supporting CPSD students and families.
COVID-19
- The Washington State Department of Health issued guidance for schools on isolation and quarantine timelines for students and staff.
- The district is analyzing the impact of staffing shortages and necessary steps to mitigate them (including instructional and transportation programming).
- The district recognizes there may be an incident where it is necessary to consider temporarily closing an individual classroom or school but is making every effort to keep from having to make that decision. Additionally, the district is not considering any action in which the entire district goes to remote instruction.
Board Discussions
As part of its meeting, the board held discussions on hosting a public forum regarding the CPHS mascot change, a school discipline report, whether to hold future board meetings virtually or in person, posting recordings of board meetings online, and its standard operating procedures, district policies and Washington state law.
CPHS Mascot Change Forum: The board discussed holding a public forum to discuss the CPHS mascot change with the greater CPSD community. Due to the timing of the mascot change process and deadline requirements within SHB 1356, the board voted against holding a forum.
School Discipline Presentation: The board discussed district discipline statistics and the state of Washington’s new discipline requirement with regards to zero tolerance discipline. The board voted to hold a workshop and receive a presentation on discipline in CPSD.
Future Board Meeting Format: The board discussed the benefits of holding board meetings in person or virtually. Civility and COVID-19 are considerations for which format is the most effective. The board voted for meetings to be in person going forward.
Posting Recordings of Board Meetings Online: The board discussed posting school board meetings online for viewing by the public and the potential costs associated with it. The board agreed it would like the Superintendent to explore the cost and feasibility of posting the board meetings online.
Standard Operating Procedures and District Policies: Director David Anderson discussed areas he believed the board’s standard operating procedures and district policies were not in agreement with Washington state law. Anderson motioned to place the standard operating procedures and policies under review. The board voted against Anderson’s motion. The board also voted against an amendment to utilize Robert’s Rules of Order, 12th edition, as its parliamentary procedure in place of its standard operating procedures.
As part of the Individual Action Agenda, the Board of Directors:
- Approved updated salary schedules for non-represented classified staff effective Sept. 1, 2021.
- Approved collective bargaining agreement between Clover Park School District and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302, for the period of Sept. 1, 2021 through Aug. 31, 2024.
- Approved increase in project budget for Dr. Claudia Thomas Middle School modular building addition.
- Adopted the following policies:
- 2420 on Grading and Progress Reports
- 3116 on Students in Foster Care
- 3122 on Excused and Unexcused Absences
- 3231 on Student Records
- 3427 on Parental Administration of Marijuana
- 3520 on Student Fees, Fines or Charges
- 4311 on School Safety and Security Team
- 5011 on Sexual Harassment
- 5515 on Workforce Secondary Traumatic Stress
The next regular meeting of the school board will be Monday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m.
Jan. 24 Regular Meeting/Workshop
The school board held a regular meeting/workshop on Jan. 24. It heard reports on academic recovery due to the COVID-19 pandemic, discipline and graduation rates, received a board president report and discussed two topics as board member discussions.
Academic Recovery
Deputy Superintendent Brian Laubach provided an update on the district’s COVID-19 academic recovery. The report included information on updated guidance from the Washington State Department of Health on isolation and quarantine, COVID-19 symptoms and when students/staff should stay home, and district protocols.
Discipline in CPSD
Laubach provided an update on discipline in the district, which included information on how and when to discipline students according to state law, district policies and procedures, and how school procedures for discipline have been updated since the most recent legislation on school discipline (SHB 1541) was passed in 2016.
When the Washington State Legislature passed SHB 1541, it noted that discipline excluding students from school was associated with negative school climate and had a strong correlation with reduced graduation rates and increased involvement in the juvenile justice system. As a result, discipline statewide has adapted to focus on less exclusion.
Laubach reviewed district data on discipline from 2014-2019, which showed discipline breakdowns by racial and ethnic demographics and the year-to-year changes in discipline rate and amount of time students are being excluded from school due to behavioral violations.
Graduation Rates
Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools Kevin Ikeda presented on graduation rates in the district. CPSD posted an overall district graduation rate of 88 percent for the 2020-21 school year, which was five percentage points above the state average. The district graduated at least 85 percent of students in each demographic cohort, which includes race and ethnicity.
Ikeda compared CPSD’s graduation rates to surrounding districts and showed that when accounting for level of income, CPSD rates as higher or comparable to seven of the 11 districts in the comparison. The district is pursuing three strategies to increase graduation rates, which include increasing quality of teaching and learning, expanding graduation pathways available for students and implementing stronger tracking and engagement support for students.
Board President Report
Board President Alyssa Anderson Pearson assigned Vice President Carole Jacobs and Director Anthony Veliz to the superintendent evaluation subcommittee.
Board Discussions
As part of its meeting, the board held discussions on a citizen complaint about a board director and a mascot naming question from a board director.
Response to Citizen Complaint about a Board Director: The board president opened this topic to discussion prior to responding to the citizen. The citizen addresses a potential recall election in his complaint, which is not in the board’s purview.
Board Director Mascot Naming Question: A question had been raised by a board director about district policies detailing the board’s inclusion in the school mascot renaming process. Policy 6970 and procedure 6970-P1 focus on the naming of schools and facilities and do not include naming school mascots. Renaming of mascots has historically been conducted at the school level.
The next regular meeting/workshop of the school board will be Monday, Feb. 28, at 5:30 p.m.
Honestly, I do find myself shaking my head… “Due to the timing of the mascot change process and deadline requirements”… The Committee kept this as quiet as possible until time WAS an issue.
“Director David Anderson discussed areas he believed the board’s standard operating procedures and district policies were not in agreement with Washington state law. Anderson motioned to place the standard operating procedures and policies under review. The board voted against Anderson’s motion”. While I do not know if there is basis for this question, I would at least would have like the Board to say “we will have legal take a look at this” or something instead of an immediate “nope”.
I always want to have faith in my elected officials, whether I voted for them or not, they were duly elected. I am concerned that this current Board will make more decisions based on who proposes a topic than whether the topic is legitimate. If Directors Anderson and Wagemann were to propose that day is light and dark is night, they would be voted against.
I ask all 5 of the Directors to work towards the benefit of our students, the benefits of the staff and the benefits to the community and put politics aside.
This detailed account of the school board meetings is appreciated. I encourage all to attend future meetings in person or via zoom if possible and keep updated and informed with facts. The presentations/reports made to the Board a by administration are excellent!
I’m still waiting for the board or the administration to explain an 88% graduation rate when math, science, and English, required classes to graduate, are 50% and below.
I find it interesting that they will hide behind RCW on some issues, but refuse to align Policies and SOP’s with those RCWs.
I also find it inconsistent that the CPSD youtube can live stream and store certain ZOOM events, but not board meetings.
Well it is about time! See, it is possible to post draft minutes of Board meetings within 10 days of their occurrence (for the 24 January workshop at least). This should be part of the Board’s SOP if it isn’t already.
Yet another issue addressed along with school discipline, graduation rates, post graduation tracking, SOP/Policy revision, minute completeness and timelines, Roberts Rules of Order, push for public forums and the recording and public release of all Board meetings………in just 2+ months since the “new” Board was sworn in. It was time for a change and we’re seeing that change before our very eyes. Hold on to your hats: more is on the way!
Why? Because we think the primary value of the Clover Park School District is “…..to provide an academically challenging educational experience for all students which prepares them for adult life, in family, trades, business or college.” That has to be the underlying bases for everything the District does.
Oh! I forgot to mention the unilateral change by the past Board President to virtual Board meetings only (a violation of RCW requiring Board approval) to one of both virtual and in person meetings. Another check mark!
Regarding David Anderson’s motion and Paul Wagemann’s second to the motion that current District policies and the School Board’s standard operating procedures be reviewed, updated and reconciled with Washington State law, Alyssa Anderson Pearson, Carole Jacobs and Anthony Veliz voted no. Paul Wagemann and David Anderson voted yes. Events near the end of 2021 occurred where some board directors did not follow standard operating procedures on two separate occasions and, when questioned about one, gave conflicting incorrect answers in support of their actions. At lease one of those was in violation of Washington State Law. I am puzzled and concerned as to why three board members voted against what was Anderson’s and Wagemann’s obvious attempt to improve and safe guard the work of the school board, administration, parents and students. This is not professional behavior.