Submitted by John Arbeeny.
Two prominent and important actions were taken at the Clover Park School Board meeting this past Valentine’s Day.
The issue of District discipline (Policy 3241 “Student Discipline”) had been brought up in a previous Board meeting (10 January 2022) by Director David Anderson based upon some shocking numbers received in a District FOIA request: 36118 disciplinary events 2017-2021, concentrated (85%) in just 5 out of 27 District schools.
Initially these statistics were somewhat dismissed by Superintendent Banner and Director Jacobs. However it was agreed that staff report on discipline at the working session on 24 January 2022. That briefing indicated that there were disciplinary problems generally but lacked specificity relating to individual schools.
At the 14 February 2022 Board meeting Director Wagemann moved “…that this matter of Student Discipline be placed on our retreat agenda for more in-depth discussion following on the update we received at our January workshop.” The motion was seconded by Director Anderson. Discussion ensued with the following points in support of the motion.
Data presented in the District’s briefing had not been disaggregated by school which covered up the concentration of disciplinary issues (85%) in just 5 schools. Policy suggests that “Accurate and complete reporting of all disciplinary actions . . . is essential for effective review of this policy; therefore, the district will ensure such reporting.” Yet, there have been no such reports observed in the several past years worth of Board meetings. There is also the requirements that “With regards discipline, each school will create an action plan, evaluate previous plans, and revise accordingly – all of which are shared with the community.”
Director Anderson asked to see those plans.
Director Jacobs countered that the previous staff briefing on discipline was all the Board needed to know about the alleged problem.
Director Jacobs commented further that discipline and all the related statistics and reporting were “below the line” which is to say only within the purview of the Superintendent and not the Board’s responsibility.
Director Anderson responded that since discipline has a critical impact on the learning environment and academic competence (actual learning) it must be within the Board’s sphere of interest.
The motion to place discipline on the retreat agenda passed: 3 yes (Wagemann, Anderson, Veliz); 1 abstention (Jacobs); 1 no (Pearson).
Another issue addressed concerned Policy 1822: Training and Development for Board Members” – specifically, “Cultural Competency, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (CCDEI).
Director Anderson made a motion “……that Policy 1822 be removed from the 1st reading (Jan. 10, 2022) and 2nd reading (Feb. 14, 2022) process and placed in a regular meeting for further discussion.” This motion was further amended to make the discussion part of the upcoming Board Retreat on 28 February and 7 March 2022. The motion and amendment were seconded by Director Wagemann and discussion ensued with the following statement by Director Anderson.
“Per the minutes of the January 10, 2022, meeting of the school board: ’Director
Anderson asked if the school board can have a voice at the table for the development of the curriculum for cultural competency, equity, diversity and inclusion training. It was agreed that Director Anderson will reach out to the WSSDA DA3 representative, who is from University Place School District. Director Wagemann agreed to provide the contact information to him.’
“On January 19, 2022 – Unable to contact the WSSDA DA3 representative, Director David Anderson was able to contact Tim Garchow, Executive Director for WSSDA, in an email in which Director Anderson copied CPSD Board President and the Superintendent.
“On Jan. 27, 2022 Garchow invited Director Anderson to the final CCDEI standards
community feedback session. Unaware that there had been a first feedback session and that now this was the last, which was held on Feb. 2 and which Director Anderson attended via Zoom, Director Anderson learned the following that explain why he believes passage of Policy 1822 Cultural Competency is premature.
“As with all curriculums, the school board should have a chance to review the
curriculum for which board directors, and district employees, are to be trained. But
that curriculum is still being developed.
“We should also have an opportunity to peruse the 2nd and final draft of what is
being called the CCDEI Training Rubric. But community input for that was only recently conducted Feb. 2. As of this meeting tonight, I do not believe we know the specifics of the criteria an instructor will use to evaluate the project.
“The Public Education Standards Board subcommittee is not scheduled to finalize what the standards shall be until sometime, TBD, in March.
“In summary, we are being asked as a CPSD board to approve at our meeting tonight a policy that directs our board to be trained in Cultural Competency, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
- and yet the criteria have not been finalized;
- nor has the curriculum been completed;
- nor has this board had opportunity to peruse the list of available training programs that WSSDA “must develop” for school employees – let alone the school board – per the language of SB 5044.
“And finally, as added incentive to not pass tonight Policy 1822, Garchow said that
he would make himself available in a Zoom meeting with our school board, if
contacted by our school board president or superintendent, should we forestall this
vote on Policy 1822, and explain to all of us where WSSDA is on all of this, there
being – as hopefully raised and made clear here – many questions that remain.”
Opposition stated that the Policy 1822 had to be passed at the 14 February since it was the second reading (although no Board discussion of the issue had occurred since the first reading on 10 January 2022). Director Jacobs stated such training was required by law regardless of the current status of WSSDA curriculum development.
It was further claimed that the District could always request revisions of WSSDA policy and curriculum in the future if and when they were found wanting. Apparently, the fine distinction between the law and the implementation of the law was lost on the opponents to this motion.
The motion as amended to place Policy 1822 on the Board’s retreat agenda passed: 3 yes (Wagemann, Anderson, Velez); 2 no (Pearson, Jacobs).
The public is invited to attend the two Board retreats to be held on 28 February and 7 March 2022, 5:30PM – 9:30PM at the CPSD Student Services Center to hear the debate on these two issues and other Board matters. Public comment will not be allowed.
Fantastic summary John! Thank you so much!
Thank you David and Paul! Thank you for seeing the bigger picture here! I am one of hundreds of parents who are very concerned about the future of our children as they get older and go off to middle school and high school if we stay in this district. Very disappointed but not surprised to see our superintendent, along with Board member Carole Jacobs, dismiss these concerns.
Thank you for caring about the kids and their safety!
This seems like a no-brainer to me. If cultural competency training is required by law, then passage of Policy 1822 is required . Period! The exact specifics of this training shouldn’t matter at this time. Our school board and teachers are professionals and I’m confident they can handle the specifics of this training whenever they are completed. Let’s not make a mountain out of a mole hill.
So you ascribe to the motto “We have to pass it to see what’s in it”? There is a difference between the law and implementation of the law. WSSDA is in a pickle over what that implementation should look like (the law passed in April 2021) and is coming to CPSD Board to discuss it starting with “what exactly is cultural competence and is it even possible?” You don’t throw away the opportunity to affect the implementation by laying down and “playing dead” for every law passed by the legislature. We have locally elected Board members to represent us for a reason. As I recall history did not take kindly to the excuse that “We were just following orders”!
Mr. Arbeeny’s succinct yet thorough review of key issues addressed by the CPSD School Board provides a valuable resource for community members. It eliminates the time, which some cannot afford, that is required to sit through the multiple administrative proceedings of an entire in-person or virtual school board meeting; and it focuses on issues of major concern regarding the education of children in the district. Furthermore, it records how board directors are addressing, or not, these challenges.
A review of this quality takes substantial time and effort. Thank you for caring and for providing a valuable service to concerned citizens, Mr. Arbeeny.
The implementation of SHB 5044 is the responsibility of Washington State School Board of Directors Association (WSSDA) to plan, organize and implement to all local school boards across the State of Washington. The local school board directors’ Wagemann and Anderson have no standing to demand what they are going to be trained on by the WSDDA policy that follows in line with SHB 5044. The two board directors are required by their Oath of office to faithfully support the Washington State legislator’s passed law SHB 5044. Any deviation from abiding to and supporting the law is a violation of said oath of office. These questions, raised by Mr. Anderson, Mr. Wagemann and Mr. Arbenny, could have been raised when the bill was being planned at the Washington State legislature level-instead of trying to delay the implementation of the law. They have demonstrated, through their actions, that any attempt to pass an equity policy which is supported by state law will be opposed by this group of individuals. They have no desire to support basic human decency, respect and equality for all American Citizens living in Lakewood, Washington.
“They have no desire to support basic human decency, respect and equality for all American Citizens living in Lakewood, Washington.” And I suppose you’re a mind reader? What do you know of any of these people in your ad hominem attack? Shows just how weak your argument is. Did you contact WSSDA to find out how far along they are towards implementation or the conflicts they face in coming up with a plan. Director Anderson has and it is important enough for WSSDA’s CEO to make a special visit to CPSD Board retreat to discuss the issue. You too don’t seem to get the difference between law and its implementation. One size does not fit all or we’d only have a federal government and nothing else. At each level implementation is the responsibility down to the local level which is closest to the electorate.
LMAO….someone is triggered! I trust that everyone is seeing right through your argument because you guys are truly the r*cist people in Lakewood. Why didn’t you guys raise these questions at the State Legislature level?
I feel compelled to inform the Clover Park School District Board of Directors that Directors Paul Wagemann and David Anderson are wrong to question the legal implementation of ESSB 5044 because according to RCW 28A.315.005 the local school board of directors is the lowest in the established chain of command and responsibility. The established State laws regarding the level of authority is as follows:
1. Washington State Constitution
2. Washington State Legislature
3. Washington State Governor
4. The Superintendent of Public Instruction
5. The State Board of Education
6. The Educational Service District Board of Directors
7. The Local School Board of Directors.
Washington State law ESSB 5044 Sec. 3. A new section is added to Chapter 28A.345 RCW to read as follows:
1. The Washington State School Directors’ association SHALL: (a) Develop cultural competency, diversity, equity and inclusion standards for school director governance;
In addition, Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 28A.345 RCW to read as follows:
1. The Washington state school directors’ association SHALL identify or develop and periodically update governance training programs that align with the cultural competency, diversity, equity and inclusion standard for school director governance developed under section 3 of this act.
With this information, I feel the two school board directors are violating their “Oath of Office” by not abiding by ESSB 5044, RCW 28A.315.005 and RCW 28A.345. these legal documents are binding on all publicly elected school board directors when they took the Oath of Office to faithfully support the US Constitution and the Washington State Constitution. Because the two school board directors are questioning the topics of the lawful training directed by Washington State law, they are not FAITHFULLY abiding by the proper legal authority and chain of command outlined by established Washington State law as previously stated in my memorandum. Their continued obstruction or delay tactics do not align with the school districts Goals, Visions and Beliefs by engaging in rhetoric that subverts the true intent of cooperation and faithful obedience to their oath of office.
I highly recommend the Clover Park school board of directors to immediately cease their unlawful behavior by “Censuring” them for the continuation of unlawful disobedience to the Washington State Constitution and continued defiance to the legal authority of those appointed above them. Nowhere in ESSB 5044 nor in the Washington State law provides for the questioning of training topics is allowed by Director Paul Wagemann or Director David Anderson.
Please act now to prevent further disruption to the delegated lawful operation of the Clover Park School District board of directors’ responsibilities and duties. Directors Paul Wagemann and David Anderson are no longer supporting nor giving respect to the Washington State legislature by engaging in defiant behavior that should be recognized for what it is—dishonorable conduct that undermines their Oath of Office.
If you hadn’t noticed the vote was 3 in favor (Anderson, Wagemann, Veliz) and 2 against (Pearson, Jacobs) for tabling the second reading of CCDEI to the Board retreat which it could be discussed. It takes a majority to pass a motion. Indeed the CCDEI first reading had never been discussed in the prior regular meeting on 10 January or subsequently before coming up for approval as a “second reading” on 14 February.
When you don’t have an argument that can stand on its own legs you decry “RACIST”. It’s a logical fallacy called “ad hominem” attack. I suppose that you consider Director Veliz a “racist” too because he voted in favor of the motion. Let’s try to keep the vitriolic pejoratives out of the conversation and deal with the issues.
Think you can do that?
Regarding the law; the law is written in language which is subject to interpretation linguistically both as to the “letter of the law” and “spirit of the law”. If the law were so “sacred” and absolute without interpretation then why would we need LAW-yers or courts for that matter?
Law enacted at one level of government is invariably interpreted where it is actually implemented at lower levels. Indeed sometimes it is ignored at the implementation level. Washington’s marijuana legalization is in direct conflict with Federal law or should we rather have marched in lock step with Federal law? In many liberal states, Federal immigration laws are ignored by state and local governments to the obvious detriment of everyone beyond just the scofflaws.
So while the law may appear absolute, it is never the less still subject to interpretation and ultimately implementation. That’s why we have local elections to include school boards. That’s why WSSDA’s CCDEI is subject to CPSD Board discussion before, not after it is implemented.
My name is Jonn Mason.
At best people like Raymond Tsumpti who think that citizens should blindly go along with and not question the leadership we have in our state, country and world are at best naïve. Most of the politicians of the world are not working for the tax paying citizen who contributes to the good of society. They are working for themselves and their political parties in order to further their own agendas. Evidence they do not care about anything else is abundant and overwhelming. Politicians routinely lie and we let them do so with impunity. There are so many examples of this there isn’t enough paper in the world to print them all. People like MR Tsumpti support not questioning them which enables them to get away with murder. All one has to do is look around. If gas prices go up to two hundred dollars a gallon do you think that will negatively impact your lifestyle? It won’t negatively impact Jay Inslee’s lifestyle. He will just take more of the tax payers money so his lifestyle will stay the same or improve and people who don’t question what is going on will help him do it. Let me ask you; have you heard Jay Inslee say; get vaccinated or loose your job? Sure you have. Have you heard him say, get vaccinated or loose your food stamps? Or lose your welfare? Think about it.
The majority of politicians solution to every problem is to spend more of the taxpayer’s money. How many politicians can you name who are devoted to finding ways to reduce what government takes from the taxpayer and have a track record that proves it?
Everything John Arbeeny says above is common sense. Government is evil because it is made up of human beings and human beings are inherently corrupt. They are corrupted even more by power and position. This is human nature. There is no law that is perfect. Interpretation and Implementation of the law is a huge issue. What if the state patrol implemented the law against speeding by shooting speeding drivers? There are people who enjoy killing. Wouldn’t it be great for them to be able to do it legally? We must question all officials on every issue to keep them straight. And we must have term limits on every one of them. I think political parties should be outlawed. People like David Anderson and Paul Wagemann and maybe Director Veliz realize they are human beings who are subject to human frailties which is why they question things and why they are all for being truly transparent and held accountable. We need more people in leadership positions like this. This whole thing about developing cultural competency, diversity, equity and inclusion standards for school employees is divisive. And therefore counterproductive. It is just another way for our leaders to increase the size of the government bureaucracy, gain more power and spend more money. It is counter productive. For anyone to think they are superior to another because they are of a certain race is the height of ignorance. Yes, there are people who are racist. However no baby of any race is born with hate in their heart. Unfortunately some people are taught to hate. This will never change and having cultural competency, diversity, equity and inclusion standards for school director governance will not change this. In my opinion it would increase the problem. Having leaders who realize they are born with an evil element in them who strive to starve that element and feed the Godly part of our nature teach love and respect for each other by their actions. We need more people like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and the like. We do not need more crap to deal with.