>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: —A recess
so that can all be
nicely [indistinct.]
>> DIRECTOR MACK: I’m sorry say
that again.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: I’ll
coordinate a recess
so we can make sure that there's
a clean transition for that.
But thank you for the heads up.
>> DIRECTOR MACK: Okay
thank you.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Welcome
to the March 11th 2020
regular board meeting.
First we I want to acknowledge
that we live
in a city and we live and go
to school in a city
that is the ancestral
homeland of the Duwamish
people the Muckleshoot nation
and the Suquamish Nation.
We acknowledge them
as custodians of this land
since time immemorial as guests
and in many of our
cases as settlers on this land
we extend our
deepest gratitude
and respect to their
ancestors and elders
past present and future.
Now we'll move to the roll call
portion of tonight's agenda.
Ms Loffelmann t
roll call please.
>> SCHOOL BOARD STAFF: Director
Mack here by phone
Director Hersey here Director
Rivera-Smith here
Director Rankin here
Director DeWolf
here I note that Dr.
Harris is not present
and Director Hampson here.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: And miss.
And Director Harris
has as messaged me
and said she's on her way
should be here shortly. OK.
One moment please.
In the interest and the safety
in the interest of the safety
and well-being of Seattle
Public Schools
community staff and directors
several steps are being taken
tonight to help reduce
the spread of the Corona
virus first.
The board may choose
to waive the provisions
and board policy and procedure
that guarantee members
of the public the right
to address the board in person
at board meetings.
If such a vote passes no
member of the public will be
permitted to address
the board in person
from the podium tonight until
further notice.
Second should such a vote
pass written testimony
received from individuals
on the testimony list
and as applicable the waitlist
will be read
into the record subject to a two
minute time limit for up to 20
testimonies all written
testimony will be
provided to the board.
At this point as stated
on the agenda for tonight
I will offer a motion
to waive the provisions
and board policy and procedure
that that provide specifically
for in-person public testimony.
So I move that the board
waive the revisions
and board policy 1 4 3 0
and board procedure 1 4 3 3 0
BP that provide for in person
public testimony
and that the board not
accept in-person public
testimony until further notice.
The decision to reinstate
an in-person public testimony
will be made by the board
president in consultation
with the executive committee
and on the guidance
of our public health officials
do I have a second.
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: Seconded.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: I will open
this up for a roll call vote.
Ms Loffelmann could you please
call the roll
call on this motion.
>> SCHOOL BOARD STAFF: Director
Hampson aye Director Harris oh
excuse me Director Hersey aye
Director Mack aye
Director Rankin aye Director
Rivera-Smith abstain
Director DeWolf aye This motion
has passed by a vote of 5 0 1.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank
you Miss Bennett.
As noted in the motion just
passed the board will not
accept in person public
testimony until further
notice including during
tonight's board meeting.
When we come to the public
testimony portion of tonight's
meeting written testimony will
be read into the record
and as background
the board office.
Thank you to the board office
for your outreach
and communication with the folks
on the list.
The availability of options.
I'm sorry.
Going forward the availability
of options
to provide in-person or written
public testimony
will be stated on the posted
regular board meeting agenda.
The decision whether or not
to hold public testimony will be
informed by public
health recommendations.
As I was saying as background
we did accept I think up
to we we did outreach both
yesterday and today to all
the folks on the list and we
received I think 19 or 20
email written testimonies
in into the board office.
And so at that time we will
read those into the record
to make sure that we're still
hearing from the folks
that sign up on our
public comment portion.
I will turn it over now
to Superintendent Juneau
for your comments this evening.
>> SUPERINTENDENT JUNEAU: Thank
you President DeWolf I actually
don't have a lot of comments
because we've been really
consumed with our
response to COVID —
19 in the district and have
really been just
coordinating with a lot of our
partners different agencies
government agencies
and so I really believe
that you know we had to we made
a call today to close
our district for 14 days.
And I was just on a call
with the governor as well
with other regional
superintendents and there's
an expectation that there may
be a call come in from on high.
At some point in the next
couple of days they didn't
exactly say when but
the duration
of the time of that will
also be announced
and they weren't really clear
on what that might look like.
But they know that they will
have to do something
with schools eventually.
So I do believe that we made
the right call
in this instance that with
with one of our
staff members being a confirmed
case knowing
that our educators and what
we had a press
conference today one of the
things I mentioned at
the press conference
was when all other
governmental agencies
and other businesses start
to tell their workers
they can telecommute not
travel stay home and yet
continue to send
their children to school
and with the expectation
that educators step up
to the plate and be
in those spaces.
It provides a perception
of devaluing our public
educators and that's a really
hard place for a lot
of people to be in.
And so in addition
to the health crisis
and our our ability to close
down to prevent the spread
at least slow it down for now.
I just wanted to make sure
that we were also making
that announcement that there
will be more
conversations across
this city about the value
of public education.
I think we're about to see
the value of public
education to this city and the
services it provides.
It's not just an education hub
but it is a place where people
have access to social services
that our most vulnerable
families need those
services that we have
a strategic plan that is based
in racial
equity and when we are making
these decisions.
That's what makes it super
super difficult.
But I just want our educators
in this district.
Everywhere from the bus driver
to here to the boardroom
and everywhere in between
and classroom teachers
and school leaders to know how
much we appreciate their
leadership during this health
crisis and know
that this district values
you this district hears
you and this district will
continue to support
you because we know that the
work you do matters
it matters not to the just
to the children of this city
but it matters to every
workplace every nook and cranny
of this city and neighborhood.
And we are as a public
education system we weave
the tapestry of this city
and our public educators
are the leaders in that and so
I just want
to thank them for that and know
to our students as well
that this was not a decision
that was made lightly
and we plan to work with our
other government and elected
leaders to make sure
that we can get you back
into the classroom as soon
as possible we know there
are a lot of issues to work
out graduation requirements
but we are committed to making
sure you seniors walk across
the stage and receive
that diploma
from Seattle Public Schools
because we know
how important it is.
And so we will continue
to push the office
of Superintendent public
instruction at the state
level to make sure we can
work all those issues out. So.
So everybody know there's a lot
of moving pieces.
We'll continue to stay on top
of it and we'll
communicate daily. Thanks.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank
you Superintendent Juneau
we're really grateful for your
leadership in this time.
I would now like to invite
the board directors
to share any work they're
doing with their committees
or liaison work that they
would like to report
at this time.
And just kind of giving
the gravity of today just
encourage my colleagues to be
really brief and concise
and specific to the
board community
liaison on work
that you're doing.
So do we want to start
with A&F Director Hampson.
Would you like to share first.
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: Indistinct.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Sure
Director Rankin
are you prepared.
Just any updates from committee
and if not okay
so none from C&I any
from Director Mack do
you have any updates
or committee reports from Ops.
>> DIRECTOR MACK: I do.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR MACK: We’ve actually
had quite a few meetings
we had two in February
and we actually have three
Ops committee meetings
in March we added
meetings because of the need
to have the presentations
around the design schematic
for a number of our schools.
And so the on February 6
we had a regular Ops meeting
which was full and then
on February 13th
we got to see the Northgate
Elementary School Design.
I encourage you all to go
to the packet and take
a look at the PowerPoint
to get a perspective
on the great work that's going
on in designing that building.
And then on March 2nd
we had another kind
of special operations
committee meeting
which was focused on the
schematic design
for Viewlands as well
as West Woodland
and that was very early
on in the the Corona
virus situation.
So we also added an update
about what operationally
was playing on at the time
and staff provided a really
robust clarity around all
the various things
that were being put
into place and things
that we were doing to try
to keep students
safe during that time.
Our next meeting is going
to be this Thursday tomorrow.
I do it will be next door
in the school board meeting
room I do plan to actually
attend in person
and encourage my committee
members Director Rankin
and Director Hersey if you'd
like to call
in instead you're you're
welcome to do that as well.
But I do plan to be
there tomorrow.
It is a very full agenda
and it has been posted.
We're doing it we're
actually getting a policy
6900 6901 in board
action format.
So we're getting close
to bringing
that to the full board.
We have another few other
policies that we're going
to be discussing including
the parent guardian
administration of marijuana
for medical purposes. And
there's a number of other kind
of operational related topics
and look forward
to that tomorrow.
And I think that I think
that basically all the updates
I’ve got for now. Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank
you so much.
Director Mack I appreciate
you Director Hampson.
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: So
we had an internal our
quarterly internal audit
meeting last week
and it was a relatively brief
meeting we did go over
the updates on audit
response from a number
of different departments.
Nothing that was particularly
substantive the larger part
of the conversation had to do
with what we are looking
forward to in terms of having
quite a bit more cohesiveness
between our internal audit
division better alignment
with our executive staff
in terms
of the the administrative
reporting as well as better
alignment with our enterprise
risk management
and we and I discussed
the fact that per our
committee allowances for audit
and finance that we will
be looking to add a few
community subject matter
expertise in the area
with expertise
in the areas of audit finance
and human resources.
They would be non-voting
members for our audit
and finance committee
but would help us
significantly bolster the the
expertise that we have
on committees.
So we will be looking
to draft those job
descriptions and get those out
to community and hope
that there will be some
interest in providing
that volunteer service.
I think it's a really important
one that will provide some
really important continuity
to the Audit
and Finance Committee
which as I said does
have responsibility for audit
finance and human
resources and that's about it.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: And that's
been has that been done
before in our history we've
had —
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: No —
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: —experts
as part of our —
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: —Not to my
knowledge it.
My understanding is it has not.
>> DIRECTOR HARRIS: [Indistinct]
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Interesting.
Okay.
Well thank you A&F
anything from C&I.
>> DIRECTOR RANKIN: No
we haven't had a C&I meeting
since last board board
meeting but we are setting
we're looking at the work
plan for the rest of the year
and setting priorities.
So Directors Hersey and Rivera —
Smith sent me their interests
or a wish list or priorities
that they had and I had some
of my own set those
to Erin Bennett in the board
office and every every year
there's requirements
that have to be looked at
that are driven by the state
in terms of policies.
So that goes into the calendar
first and then we can work some
of our other ones
in so I don't have
anything specific I just
I guess I just wanted to share
that that's that’s happening —
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Yes.
>> DIRECTOR RANKIN: —and getting
kind of firmed up
for the year and I'm excited
to work on improving some stuff.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Yeah.
Thank you director. Yeah.
So just for context too
so given that we had winter
break we had a pretty busy
first few weeks
then we had February
without a board meeting
we weren't meeting a bunch
and obviously snow and now
Corona virus we've really
had probably some
of the fewest number of meetings
at this time of year.
So I really appreciate
everybody’s patience and one
of the for for the audience too
as each of the committee
creates a work plan based
on as I said both state kind
of policy revisions and needs
and then also emerging issues
and things that we can take
care of through those
committees so I'm just really
grateful for everybody's
collaboration on sending
in those as part of our
conversation later I won't
talk too much about it.
with board goals the executive
committee is asking for one
of our board goals to allow
for some continuity and some
consistency and kind of all
arrows aligned toward
one goal with our work
plans and so I thank
everybody for their
help on that.
They're very robust
and ambitious and I'm looking
forward to celebrating a very
busy year at the end in 2020.
We do not have a student
joining us tonight at
the dais So we actually
are going to be moving
to the consent portion
of tonight's agenda.
May I have a motion
for the consent agenda.
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: I move
approval of the consent agenda.
>> DIRECTOR HARRIS: —the motion.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Approval
of the consent agenda has been
moved and seconded do
any directors have items
they would like to remove
from the consent agenda.
I would like to remove item
number four
from the consent agenda.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Item number
four is removed have any others.
Seeing none.
I will let Director Hampson
take it from here.
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: I move
approval of the consent
agenda as amended.
>> DIRECTOR HARRIS: I second
the motion.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: All those
are [indistinct] Thank
you Ms Loeffelman can
you do the roll call.
Oh I'm sorry. Thank you.
All those in favor [all say aye]
All those opposed any abstains.
Thank you.
Okay so we will begin
first with item number
four as the first item removed
from the consent agenda.
So do I have a motion
for for this item
from Director Hampson contract.
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: —move
that the school board
authorize the superintendent
to execute a contract
with Herff Jones in an amount
not to exceed four hundred
thousand dollars including
three optional annual
extensions for the management
and classroom support
in the preparation and printing
of middle school
and high school yearbooks
in the form of the draft
agreement presented to the
school board with any
minor additions deletions
and modifications deemed
necessary by the superintendent
and to take any necessary
actions to implement
the contract.
>> DIRECTOR HARRIS: I second
the motion.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: And
this came through
C&I for approval.
So I'll ask directors
if you have any comments
or questions and thank you.
Chief DeBacker for being
at the podium at the ready.
So open up to Directors
Director Rivera-Smith
you removed it.
Do you have comments
questions concerns.
>> DIRECTOR RIVERA-SMITH: Yes.
I just wanted to double check
so I understand back last
year February 27 2019 at
the time we had
when this contract
was up at that time
we had a community
member Mohamed Asmath came
and gave public testimony.
He is the owner of a local
printing company
and I know in our efforts
to give contracts to more
minority and women
owned businesses.
This was a great you know
an asset here this is somebody
who is local minority owned
business
who was who wanted to bid
on this bid for this contract.
At the time he'd missed
the window but I understood
there was gonna be
communications with him
for this following
year which is now.
So I'm just wondering if you
know if he was contacted.
>> DIANE DEBACKER: He
was contacted last year Dr.
Kinoshita visited with him
after that and told him how
he could get on the bidders
list and what to do for that.
So he was contacted.
>> DIRECTOR RIVERA-SMITH: —was
obviously I wasn't there
but I understand
he was going to be
contacted this year
when they went out
the requests for bids.
So you have any idea.
Was he on one of the people
we reached out
to at the time or.
>> DIANE DEBACKER: I don't.
We did not reach out
to him specifically.
>> DIRECTOR RIVERA-SMITH: Okay.
>> DIANE DEBACKER: If
he was on the builder's
exchange is what
she was instructed
to do if he wanted to be
on the bidders list
and he would have been included.
>> DIRECTOR RIVERA-SMITH: OK —
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR RIVERA-SMITH: —and
I guess I just want
to point out I know we we
are trying we're making
trying to make efforts
to bring in minority
and women owned businesses
for these contracts.
So I want to check
on it thank you.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you.
OK.
So seeing no further questions
comments or concerns.
Ms Loeffelman roll call.
>> SCHOOL BOARD STAFF: Director
Rankin aye Director Rivera-Smith
aye Director Hampson aye
Director Harris aye
Director Hersey aye
Director Mack aye
Director DeWolf aye this motion
has passed unanimously.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you.
We have now reached the public
testimony portion
of the agenda and per
the board's earlier action
and consistent
with the information
provided on the posted agenda
we will not be taking
in-person public testimony
tonight or until further notice.
Instead written testimony
received from individuals
on the testimony list and as
applicable the waitlist
will be read into the record
subject to a two minute time
limit for up to 20 testimonies.
All written testimony received
has been provided to the board.
Ms Loeffelman will be calling
the names of those who have
submitted written testimony
as ordered on the agenda for up
to 20 written testimonials.
Each testimony will be limited
to two minutes
and Ms Loeffelman will signal
when the time has expired
I think we’ll also have
a notification on the light
in front of us and we will
take turns
reading through the testimony.
And so I will cue up
Director Harris to start
us off on reading
written testimony
into the record in lieu
of in-person.
Thank you Director Harris.
Take it away.
>> DIRECTOR HARRIS: Hi my name
is Cleo Welch and I am a junior
at Franklin High School.
I am also a member of the
Franklin Mock Trial team.
Mock trial has historically
been dominated by small
private schools in the
Seattle area
but for the last two years
our diverse female dominated
my mock trial team
has placed first at
the state competition
for the past two years.
We have also gone undefeated
at nationals.
We have beat teams from all
over Washington
and from all over the country.
We are from Franklin High School
a South End Public School
in Seattle in February
of this year two of our
teams tied for first place
at the district competition.
We are the only Seattle public
school that placed high enough
to advance the state but we
are also the only school
prevented from competing
this year due to recent
Seattle Public
School restrictions.
We have worked nonstop since the
beginning of summer
to prepare for this opportunity.
We have put in countless
hours in and outside of school
and given that the state
competition has not
been canceled yet.
We asked for an exception
to the restriction and a chance
to compete this year.
Please help us maintain our
legacy at Franklin mock
trial program and our legacy
as a Seattle public school.
Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR RANKIN: This
is from Sadie Gray.
Good evening.
My name is Sadie Gray
and I'm a member and co —
captain of Franklin high
school's varsity
Mock Trial team.
As members of Franklin
High school's
award winning Mock Trial team.
We have been working since the
summer to analyze
witness statements and case
law for the district state
and national competitions.
We've worked incredibly hard
to write memorize and present
a comprehensive case including
pretrial motions opening
statements direct and cross
examinations
and closing arguments.
We've worked so hard
for so long that our two
varsity teams placed first
and second
in the King County District
competitions and have
won the final round at State
for the past two years.
However this year's ban
on overnight field trips
would prohibit our diverse all
women team from going to compete
for first place and equity at
the state competition.
We cannot help but draw
a comparison to the basketball
state competition that took
place over the course of four
days last weekend and was put
on by the Metro league.
It seems illogical to us
that even though
the circumstances
are analogous sports
are allowed to continue
with their competitions
and we are not just like the
basketball state
competition state for us
is not put on by the school
board but by the YMCA.
We are the only SPS school
invited to state just
like Garfield was the only SPS
team in the final round at
Tacoma Dome and liability
for safety at
the competition will fall
to the YMCA not SPS We have
been invited to compete
on behalf of Franklin
and as a representative
of Seattle Public Schools.
And it would be unfair
to prohibit us
from attending based
on a moratorium
that was not applied to the
Garfield basketball team.
We ask that you make the only
fair decision and give us
an exception to the new rules
limiting overnight field trips.
Thank you
for your consideration.
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: I will be
reading testimony
from Erica Ijeoma My name
is Erica Ijeoma I am a member
of the NAACP Youth Council.
Usually I come here to speak on
behalf of the council's demands.
But today I'm speaking
on an ongoing situation at
my school today West Seattle
High school's
restorative justice program
is at risk Ms A is our school's
restorative justice coordinator.
We recently lost our levy
therefore we are struggling
to fund basic things such
as tutors counselors
and restorative justice.
This district states
that diversity and equity
are priorities to them
and has even listed
African-American male
achievement as a goal
in the strategic plan.
I am asking you to please
put actions to these words.
Here is the opportunity Ms A
and our restorative justice
program at West Seattle
High School
is essential to the foundation
of the student body
and a model to the Seattle
Public School District
and other districts nationwide.
Many schools have
yet to implement
a restorative justice program
but looks but looks
towards successful ones
to follow.
And looking at how we've
started establishing leaders
to help assist in leading
circle talks
and creating safe spaces
safe places we are succeeding.
Not only that but I can see
and understand the potential
that restorative justice
in our school has to grow
and progress into further
furthering equity and diversity
within the walls of our school.
Ms.
A has created a community
for students mainly those
of marginalized groups that they
haven't had before.
Further furthermore
the tutoring is run
by graduation specialists.
Those who come into the
tutoring center
are mainly students of color.
As you can see this has a direct
correlation to the goal
of African-American
male achievement.
The loss of this outside levy
is going to set our school our
school back years disregarding
all the progress
we've made.
Please fund West Seattle
High School
to support our restorative
justice program tutoring
center and counseling staff.
This is as much as a school
level concern
as it is a district concern.
Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: And
Director Harris I think
the red means they've just
withdrawn we did have a number
of people withdraw today.
Just for context so after
the news hit about school
closure many of these people
responded and said
they were they're withdrawing
their testimony.
>> DIRECTOR HARRIS: My name
is Chris Jackins box 8 4 0
6 3 Seattle 9 8 1 2 4
on approval of instructional
materials committee IMC members.
IMC members recommend curriculum
to the board board
policy 2015 states 8.
This is not just wording
in quotes whose meeting
is changeable by the board.
State law RCW 28 A point 320
point 230 paren 1
parens small f states
recommendations excuse me.
>> GREG NARVER: There
is a request
from the speaker that it's only
the large print that he’s asking
to be read [indistinct]
>> DIRECTOR HARRIS: Fair enough.
Thank you sir.
On the BEX5 new in lieu
replacement option
for Rainier Beach High School
replacement project two points
1 district data indicates
that replacement would cost
twenty times more
than renovation 2 a duly
diligent board would examine
and require a formal report
on this gross disparity in cost.
Please vote no.
On the yearbooks contract
with Herff Jones last year
for the same contract
it provided contact
information to the district
for a specific local small
printing business
that is minority
and women owned Feb. 27, 2019.
This year this business
was not contacted.
Please delay action
on this contract.
On refinancing the district
headquarters debt three points.
1 The resolution 2019 —
20 dash —
25 states that money
from the capital
projects fund may be used
to repay the new bonds.
2 the original plans approved
by the board did not
allow such a use
of capital funds.
3 The resolution states quote
The district is not
authorized to levy
taxes to pay principal
and interest on this bond.
Page 10 paragraph 2. Yet the
district indicated
that the 2019 BEX5 Levy
contained debt payments
for the district headquarters
and on the warehouse agreement.
Two points 1 the board report
states that the district quote
used closed school buildings
to store surplus furniture
in the past end quote
but the district no longer
has those schools because quote
They have all reopened.
End quote 2 actually
a number of closed
schools were idiotically sold
by the district. Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF:  Rankin. 
>> DIRECTOR RANKIN: This
is from Sebrena Burr.
First I want to say thank
you for your leadership
for working to be intentional
to get things right
for children staff families
and the communities
that we serve.
We are in unprecedented times
district wise
and as a global community
I want to applaud you on your
board goals and for clearly
stating a pro pro black agenda.
As you know racism is the birth
defect of America
and before seventeen hundred
there was not such a thing
as the white race all over
the globe colonialism
and the great lie is destroying
our humanity.
So as we work to shape
and implement our strategic
plan we must remember
that you are also working
to restore our humanity
and to expose the truth
from the lie.
As a district we have lost
our way because somewhere
down the road we took our
focus off kids
and classrooms and shifted
to people and positions.
We must focus on what is best
for students and teachers.
As we close our doors for at
least the next 14 days
how do we leverage our power
and positions to support
them and their needs.
How will we calm their fear
with facts.
How will we use our words
to build.
How will we address their needs
with resources.
How will we as a district
use the power of all our
powerful partnerships to fill
in the gaps that will emerge.
How will we use our words
and communication
to build and unite
the communities
that we serve our students
and staff are fearful.
Fear and idle time
are a dangerous thing.
How will we communicate about
mental health habits practices
and emergency resources.
So much is still unknown.
How will we use resources
in an equitable
way to engage families.
How do we identify the need
or even capture
the story of this experience.
All over the district
we are realizing things
in many buildings are far
worse than we realized.
Just last week a teacher
who boldly and overtly
bullied my grandniece after
just returning
from administrative
leave for physical
harming of another student.
Unfortunately he is not alone.
And we also have principals
in buildings
abusing their power towards
staff students
and family members.
Many staff and students
are feeling the trauma
of what our shift to people
in positions has caused.
In this time of fear
and uncertainty how do
we consider the needs of these
individuals as well.
You have buildings with leaders
who are wrong and dangerous
for those buildings
and communities they are trusted
to lead.
How do we give extra support
and guidance to ensure
we are taking care
of their needs.
This is a time like no other.
This is an opportunity for us
to embrace our humanity
regardless of Earth
suit or zip code.
Still schools might be
closed but the learning
sharing supporting loving
and communicating
must remain open.
Together How will
we make it happen.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: This
is from Allani Seals I hope
I'm saying that correctly.
My name is Allani Seals
and I am the Trailblazers
program lead coordinator.
First I would like to thank
the school board
members the superintendent Dr.
Kiesha Scarlett and James Bush
for taking
the time to read my personal
letters as well
as the letters of our students
parents and program supporters.
I'm an undergraduate student
at the University
of Washington and if my
American ethnic studies
education has taught me
anything it's taught me
the power of community
support and education
for students of color
regardless of age.
I appreciate the school
board for investing
investigating our situation
and hearing our voices
and I deeply appreciate
all the people that have
rallied around our program.
I'd like to mainly address Dr.
Keisha's Scarlett's response
to my personal letter.
Despite your concerns
I would still like to urge
you to talk with district
administration about
reinstating Trailblazers
and SPS and hold them
accountable for doing
what's right no matter
the issues we face at one
of our sites which is in fact
the only site we had trouble at.
It was no cause to banish our
program from all
of Seattle Public Schools.
This is not fair.
This is not just
this is directly
against goal 6 and goal
7 of the strategic plan.
Please reckon with the response
you sent me and my peers please
do not say that culturally
responsive spaces
are needed while backing
a system that banish
that said space without just
cause or previous
corrective action.
I love to see women of color
especially black women and black
men in positions of power.
But it truly hurts when my
own take the side
of the oppressor
in such a fashion.
Thank you for listening to my
concerns Allani Seals.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR HARRIS: Next up
is Beth Paul — Russell.
Hello my name is Beth
Paul Russell
and I am a parent of Franklin
High School's Mock Trial
team student Annabel Russell.
A couple of weeks ago
her team participated
in District competitions
and our two top teams
placed first and second
in those competitions.
Franklin along
with Seattle Preparatory
as well as Eastlake High School
have qualified to compete
at our state competition.
Currently we are not able
to go to state
because of the restrictions SPS
has placed on overnight
field trips.
We would like to emphasize
the YMCA has taken full
legal responsibility
for competing mock trial
teams and their
health and safety.
They are aware of the dangers
of Corona virus
and have taken precautions such
as disinfecting the courtrooms
and canceling events such
as the dance
and the student mixer as well
as the awards ceremony.
We would like to point out
that no professional legal
trials have been cancelled
we would like to emphasize
that the mock trials state
competition would not
involve any physical contact
with any persons other
than our own teammates of whom
we are in contact with in class
every single day regardless.
We believe that it
is only equitable
for the board to allow our all —
female team a chance
to compete at the state
competitions that weekend
of March 20th to defend our
title and represent our school
as well as our district.
Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR RANKIN: Dear Seattle
school board directors.
My name is Mia Tuan and my
daughter Cleo Welch is a member
of the Franklin High
School Mock Trial team.
The team is seeking
an exemption to the SPS
current ban on overnight
travel for school
related events.
I am writing to express my
support of their request
for an exemption if the state
competition still takes place.
My child and her teammates
understand the risks to their
health they are taking
if they are to attend
the state competition
but feel strongly
that the choice should be theirs
to make.
I'm sure others have spoken
about the importance
of a mock trial to Franklin
High School
and the legacy of the program
to its students and alumni.
It is a major pride point
and launching pad for so many
current and former students
into college and beyond
this diverse all girl team
has what it takes to win
the Nationals competition
as it did in 2018 and wants
the chance to do so again.
We all find ourselves
in a challenging and fluid
situation right now
and I appreciate how
difficult it must be
to make sound decisions
that please everybody.
It's impossible.
What I'm asking is to give
the students and their
families the choice to decide
for ourselves. Thank you.
Sincerely Mia Tuan.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: This
is from Christiana Gutierrez.
Hi. I am the proud parent
of a Franklin High School mock
trial team member that placed
first and second at
the YMCA district tournament
in late February.
The only SPS public
school to earn a spot
in the state competition.
My daughter and her team
members represent the best
mock trial teams in the nation
placing second last year
and winning the national
title in 2018.
The students commit
themselves tirelessly
to mock trial putting in more
than ten extra hours a week
to prepare and perfect
their craft.
Please grant an exception
to the field trip ban
so they can compete at state
and have a chance to compete
at nationals as well
as the other district top
teams are not as the other
district top teams
are not restricted
from competing at this time.
The competition is a non
SPS event.
The competition is taking steps
to minimize risk
and the competition is small
gatherings of individuals
in individual courtrooms.
There will be no large
gatherings as those events
have been suspended
so the competition
can still go on. Please grant
an exception.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely Christina Gutierrez.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR HARRIS: From
Ava Bonney.
So far the District has allowed
athletic events
and competitions to occur
despite COVID 19
Franklin mock trial is a team
like no other sports team.
We've tried out.
We've all made varsity
and we've all practiced
extensively putting in many
hours a week in order
to succeed.
There is no logical reason
to allow athletics
to continue and to ban us
from participating in State.
Franklin mock trial team
has won state the past
two years and we deserve
another shot to make
Seattle Public Schools proud.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR RANKIN: I think
this is the last one.
My name is Jaila Willis
and I am a member
of the Franklin Mock Trial team.
Currently our team has been
prohibited from moving
on to the state competition
after we have come
in first and second place
in the district
wide competition.
We are asking for an exception
to be able to attend state mock
trial involves having little
to no physical
contact with others.
We have our own materials
meaning that we would not have
to share or come into contact
with anyone else's belongings
compared to activities such
as basketball mock trial
has little to no risk
of spreading any type of virus
because we are not close enough
nor do we touch [indistinct]
surfaces nor do we come
into physical contact
with people because of
the low risk
nature of mock trial and the
safety precautions
already being taken by the YMCA
to prevent large gatherings.
We ask that we get an exception
and be able
to move on to the state
competition and once again
make Seattle Public Schools
proud at a state level.
Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you.
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: This
is from —
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Yeah thank
you to directors for reading
our public testimony
into the record and thank
you to folks for being flexible
and gracious with us
in this time and we're really
grateful that you did send
in your comments and I just want
to make sure
that very clear for myself
that we are absolutely proud
of the Franklin High School
Mock Trial
team no matter what.
So I just want you to know
that we are really
proud of the work you've done.
I am so humbled by your not
only doing work in school
but out and recognize
that you put in a lot
of hard work and so really
really proud of you.
That does conclude our
public testimony
for the meeting.
I wanted to give a moment
for Director Mack to join
us in the into the meeting.
It is now five.
Would you like to take
a quick break.
Well we get that or can
you get her on the phone
thank you Ms Loffelmann
While Miss Loffelmann
is getting Loeffelman phone
ready I just wanted
to share my remarks from the
press conference
which is just as important here.
Just so folks in our
audience can hear
that message too.
I want to first thank our
educators custodial staff
administration community
partners and school
communities for help for your
help in this critical time.
I also want to give special
thanks to our
communications and crisis
response team for daily
updates and getting
information out to our
students families and community.
As as you know earlier today
Seattle Public Schools
informed our thirty five
thousand families twelve
thousand staff members
fifty three thousand
students that we will be
closing 104 schools in our
district for a minimum of 14
calendar days to mitigate
this crisis.
Our schools are providing
world class education
while also serving the critical
needs of our families.
I want to acknowledge
the extreme burden
this causes to our
students learning our
families’ ability to make
decisions and to our workforce.
While the impact of this
isn't fully known
this is the best decision
the district can make based
on public health guidance
and to mitigate future
risks to our students
families and communities.
This decision didn't come
lightly and we believe
it is the right decision at
this time.
I want to make.
I want also take this moment
to speak directly
to young people.
We are taking this issue very
seriously and working
with the district OSPI
and the state on some
of the key questions that you
are asking including
the impacts of graduating
on time 24
credits and assessments.
We also know you have questions
about extracurricular
activities and missed
instructional time
and impacts on grades.
We are taking all
of this into account
and we welcome your stories
and feedback please send
those to school board at
Seattle schools dot org
in times of great need our
students have stepped up
before to fight for a just
response to the climate
emergency to fight against
gun violence and to stand up
for Black Lives to name a few.
Today I'm calling on every
single one of the young
people who are a part of the
Seattle Public Schools
family to step up again today
young people and students
you need to be leaders too
in self —
care and community care.
Take care of yourself by washing
your hands and staying healthy.
Check in on your friends
and loved ones and lend a hand
to a neighbor in need.
Small moments of taking
care of yourself and each
other will have a lasting
and meaningful ripple
effect on our collective health.
You need to be leaders too
with your friends in your
neighborhoods and in your
school communities if we're
going to effectively
navigate this time
together we need you too.
thank you.
we have now come to the board
comments section of the agenda.
So for tonight's agenda
directors are encouraged
to offer comments
if they are relevant
to the agenda item to wait
for that agenda item.
But as you know this is our
common practice.
So if you have board
comments that you'd
like to share now we will open
it up for that and then we'll
move to our action items so do
I have any directors that wanted
to make any comments tonight.
Director Rivera-Smith.
>> DIRECTOR RIVERA-SMITH: I’ll
go first.
Thank you everybody
for being here. I do.
It's not lost on me though.
Kind of the that we're warning
everyone in our schools not
to have gatherings of 10
or more.
And we're still holding
these meetings so I'm kind
of questioning if we're setting
a good example for that.
But I understand —
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: As you know
we've talked about changing that
>> DIRECTOR RIVERA-SMITH: —yeah
I understand how
important these meetings are.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Yes we’ve
talking about changing that.
>> DIRECTOR RIVERA-SMITH: So
definitely not downplaying
928
00:45:42,886 --> 00:45:42,820
the importance
of these meetings.
I just want us to think
about it as we go forward
whether or not it's a good
idea to keep doing these
in person with those
just because we've given
that feedback to the rest
of those of our district.
So it would be good
to model that.
But we're here and I'm
glad and I'm glad
that we were able to read
the public
testimony into the record.
Today's a big day obviously
we we've made a big decision
and I commend
Superintendent Juneau
for coming with that today
because I know
that wasn't easy I know
there's a lot of pressure.
We've gotten a lot of e-mails.
Thank everybody for those
e-mails letting us know how
they feel about you know
the schools remain open
and some are actually
good some people
were very happy that we kept
schools open as long as we can.
So I know that we served
a good need there.
In doing so and now we are going
to be home for a while.
I encourage everybody to share
resources as they can
with people in need as well
as online resources
to keep people keep students
engaging during these two
weeks in whatever way they can.
I assume that a lot of us
are going to be full
you know toning back our
meeting our schedule to be out
in the be out in the community
but I still do hope to keep
in contact with people either
by email or phone calls
so please don't hesitate
to reach out.
I still want to hear
from everybody still want
to know how everyone’s feeling
and being responsive to that.
So that's all I have
to say tonight.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thanks
Director Rivera-Smith.
Any other directors
Director Hersey.
>> DIRECTOR HERSEY: Just really
quickly I want to.
Give my abundance
of appreciation
to Superintendent Juneau
in handling
the situation and our
response team
here at the district. This has
been no small feat.
And especially with our
communications around things
that are just developing
so quickly I think we're
setting a new standard
with how we are getting
information out to our families.
So big kudos big thank you.
I think also I want
to elevate that.
I am very concerned about
the food security
for our students who depend
on us for resources
that go beyond their education.
And I know that we are working
on plans to make sure
that folks have access to food
and to various other resources.
And so sharing that out
with the same communication
as clearly and as fast
as possible is a top
priority for me and I hope
that we can get behind
that as a district and I know
that we will.
Additionally if there
are resources or things
that you need please do not
hesitate to reach out and ask
and even if we as a district
and as a system may not
necessarily be able
to provide it.
We can definitely connect
you with someone who might.
So please do not hesitate
to reach out to us.
We are a team in this especially
as we look
forward to the next two weeks.
These are going to be very
trying confusing times
and approaching it from a nature
of abundance
and care and compassion.
I know is the position
that everybody
on this dais and everybody
in this room is taking.
So please do not hesitate
to contact us.
We are here to support
and we see you we care
for you and we look forward
to hearing from you.
>> SCHOOL BOARD STAFF: Thank
you Director.
Director Harris
then Director Hampson.
>> DIRECTOR HARRIS: There will
be no district 6 March 21st
2020 community meeting
because the High Point
library has closed and probably
not appropriate.
In any event as soon as we have
a clearer picture
we'll get them ramped up
for the next three
months and will get back
on the lasagna schedule.
With respect to Franklin Mock
Trial team.
It is my sincere hope
that Superintendent Juneau
state superintendent of public
instruction
Reykdal Governor Inslee and the
YMCA leadership figure
out a way to continue the state
competition until the COVID-19
scenario is clearer and to also
convince the national mock
trial competition
to stay on hold until
we have clearer facts
putting our
children in planes etc.
for a national competition
seems highly irresponsible
to me and I think we've seen
what great collaboration can
do and I echo the comments
of my colleagues on huge
thanks to our superintendent
and to our staff for walking us
through and threading
the needle here
because we have been getting
conflicting information
from all levels
of government including
the gentleman if you can call
it that in the White House.
And I'm really proud
of our response and we've
received well over a hundred
e-mails about half and half.
People are very passionate
about this as well
they should be. This is very
serious business.
The World Health Organization
named it a pandemic today
and it reminds me of the rock
and roll song
that says you don't know
what you have until it's gone.
And I believe the fact
that school districts
who have been the recipient
of more and more unfunded
mandates every day social
services food security
counseling health care
you name it and so very
many of them unfunded.
But we try and we try hard
with what we're given.
I think this was a real
welcome wakeup call
to what we in fact do in fact
do of note Director Hersey
and I were very pleased
to attend a briefing
by the City of Seattle
levy oversight committee
and staff preschool partnership.
We heard about the awards
we heard about the folks
that didn't get the awards.
Concerns were had candid
conversations
were had and for as much
poking back at the city
as I have done which has been
plenty especially with respect
to the Seattle Preschool
partnership and moving
towards an inclusion program
which you'll recall
Director Geary and I sponsored
a resolution for a task force.
I think it was our first
resolution and I think
we made a difference.
And I look forward to seeing
a goal for more inclusion.
Seattle Preschool partnerships
and let us know
and to our staff. We make jokes
about it.
This is your job title.
Dot dot dot.
And other duties as assigned
and our staff
has really stepped up and beyond
thankful and proud.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank
you Director Rankin.
>> DIRECTOR RANKIN: My community
meeting is also canceled.
It was scheduled for this
Saturday from 3
to 5 at the Lake City
library and we got notice
a couple of days ago
that the library
was canceling all of their
community reservations.
I would be happy to try doing
like a Facebook Live
or Skype meeting or something
if anybody
out there is interested.
Message me let me know.
Or email me so you can try
to figure something out.
But of course our emails
are always open
to questions or concerns.
Otherwise.
I also want to acknowledge
and thank our superintendent
and district leadership.
All of these things happening
happening in real time all
of the questions and concerns
that we got from parents
and community members
were often the same
questions we were asking
because we're all sort
of hitting these different
spots and worries
at the same time.
And I just really really
appreciate the diligence
of Seattle Public Schools
leadership to try to make
sure to get consistent
information out dependable
to know that families were gonna
in a letter every night.
It's hard to do that it's hard
to not only communicate
what you're trying
to communicate but then also
to communicate that
you are communicating
and to do that under
the communication staff.
By the way as a staff
of five four five.
And things were translated
into multiple languages audio
audio recordings emails videos.
So I just just huge shout out
shout out to everybody
that was working extremely
hard with no behind
the like truly behind the scenes
down here as well
as in our buildings our
educators and support staff
were also taking on a lot
of extra duties
and and the great uncertainty
that is around
us because it's a totally
brand new thing for everybody.
So yeah so now we shift
from planning for keeping
buildings clean and open to what
if we close
to now that we're closed.
How do we support our families
and staff and plan
for an indeterminate amount
of educational time
to make up for in addition
to food and support and care
and all of these things.
I am actually by nature
a super anxious person
but something about uncertainty
and and work
and all hands on deck kind
of calms me in a weird way.
This is really unprecedented.
It's totally unpredictable
and what Director Hampson
and I have been talking about
is the discomfort around
uncertainty and how that is
a much more challenging
place for some people to sit
in and I'm not gonna say
you shouldn't be uncomfortable
because it is hard
but we are going to be
in a place of uncertainty
for what happens
next for a while.
So I know that the school
closures brought today
brought a lot of relief
to people who had been worried
about having their kids exposed
having people in the community.
But I also want to highlight
that for some people
the stress and anxiety
is going to start now.
I was talking to my I have my
younger son has lung chronic
lung issues so I was talking
to her this morning about
his risk and keeping him safe
and something
that she mentioned
was that as she's seen
private schools and other
places close her patients
from those other schools
she has noticed
an upswing in their anxiety.
It seems more serious
to a lot of kids now
that schools are closed
and that is going to be
really scary for them.
So I I don't know I just
want to say to for us all
to just be mindful and take
really good care
of each other and be
aware of that.
Fear and uncertainty is scary
and it's normal to be worried
and and also that while you're
practicing social distancing
to not allow yourself
to become to become
completely isolated and reach
out to each other especially
especially I’m really struck
with the challenge
that this is going to be
for a lot of families
with kids with special needs.
Who are under the care
of experts and assistants
and therapists and a lot
of specialists all day those
kids and those families have
a lot a lot on a good day
and I'm really really
for for parents of kids
of kids with disabilities
I don't know what we can do
if we can do anything
please let us know
and for those of you who know
parents with kids
with disabilities please reach
out to them.
This is going to be extremely
trying and challenging
and frustrating and scary
to try to you know a lot of us
think about you know what what
about 11th grade
math and what about this and
that and the stakes
are a lot higher for some
of our families
and they're going to be the ones
that are the most out
of reach from the support
that they usually
have in this time.
So I just want to say
that and hope that we can
find a way to wrap ourselves
around those families.
On the flip side I almost
immediately received
a bunch of texts and emails
of people saying
how do we support
our food food —
insecure families
we're coordinating
where's a good meeting spot.
What is SPS doing and how can
we tap in.
So that was really just
I mean like almost 15
minutes probably after the email
went out to families
my phone started lighting up not
with oh my
god school is close but OK
what do you need us to do.
So thank you for that.
And we're going to all
just figure it out. Thanks.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank
you Director
and Director Hampson.
>> DIRECTOR HAMPSON: Hanac
hinįkaragi wina.
Pįnagigi to all of our staff
at every level that have been
working tirelessly this past.
I don't even know how long
it's been now.
I know it's been a very short
period of time in an actual
calendar days and clock hours
and minutes but has certainly
felt like a very long time.
And yet we also know that much
of the work is just beginning.
I'm really really proud to.
Have been a part
of the leadership
in this school district
that has supported us
at least getting to this point
in this crisis.
And now we have to figure
out how to keep our kids safe.
We have fifty three thousand
children who are largely
asymptomatic and and
without any real
occupation to keep them
focused during the day
to keep them safe and that's
going to be on all of us
as community members to make
sure that we figure out how
to make all that work within
the confines of a very
very new world. Oh I almost
said odor.
I meant order
of social distancing.
And I think with that comes
the one thing
that I was really worrying about
our senior staff here
and the toll on their emotional
beings and as well
as many of the community
members that I was hearing
from in terms of having
to manage
through this level of ambiguity.
And I just want to acknowledge
how deeply
difficult that is for so many.
And I I really struggled
to find good resources
I wanted to find things
to share with community
to say oh here's things
that we can do my my go —
to is always to help others
is how I make myself feel less
anxious in those situations.
But it was it was it was tough.
It was tough to find good
information about how
to support each other and how
to support our children.
At an incredibly ambiguous
time where we truly have no
idea what the next couple
of weeks are going to bring.
And we don't know after
that what's going to come
we don't know exactly how
we're going to make sure
that our high school students
are getting their credits
that they're graduating
on time their their
futures are at stake and I'm
deeply concerned about that.
We don't know how our kids
are going to be cared for.
It's how we're going to pull
together the extent
that we're going to there
we're gonna be able to pull
together we don't know
what the long term impacts
are going to be economically
very worried
about our small businesses.
I was heartened to hear
that we are encouraged
to still frequent small
businesses and I think
that that is something
that we can do.
But I think it's important
that we find ways
to acknowledge the ambiguity
with one
another the difficulty of it.
Talk about the fear the fear
of the unknown
and that we we work with through
that with our
with our kids and the kids
in our
communities and in our
neighborhoods and any
opportunity that we have
to talk to them about it.
It's gonna be a really
important part
of this learning process
for us depending on your level
of privilege you may be used
to different levels different
levels of ambiguity
in your life.
And it's it's something
that we can take advantage
of in terms of creating
additional resilience
that our kids are definitely
going to need going forward.
I know that there is in terms
of the desire
to help my phone and my text
where were blowing up
immediately after
the announcement.
I know people want to help
and I I'm just going to ask
people to give us a beat
to even have a conversation.
This is the first time
we're together
since this announcement
and I know
staff is going to have to shift.
We have sort of a community
and family engagement piece
that we're going to have
to look at now and then also
this kind of this mental
health and and keeping kids
safe piece and who are partners
and can we work with parks can
we have kids outside
in structured
environments in outdoor areas.
How are we going to do all
this we need just a just one
beat to try to get something
together so we can funnel
people into the proper channels.
I hope that folks will remain
enthusiastic about doing
that but also give us a moment
to get that organized
and I really appreciated
the calls that we got
from community to to try to stay
to not feed into the panic.
It definitely does
not hurt our kids.
This is not a time
for division or even
to the extent that our our
past failings may be
highlighted in terms of systems.
At times like this we have
no other choice
than to pull together and move
forward in the best way
possible so I encourage
everyone to.
Try to keep that that attitude
going forward.
We can we can you know start
arguing about stuff again
hopefully in a couple of months
and and disagreeing
about things but this is a time
this is an opportunity for us
to come together and agree
about what we need to do
to take care of our kids
and our communities and our
elders and so I am honored
to have the opportunity
to be here and trying
to provide what little
leadership I can in this very
difficult time.
Thank you so much.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thanks
Director
Hampson Director Harris.
>> DIRECTOR HARRIS: Just a real
quick shout out to our
retreat last Saturday and Since
Time Immemorial —
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: That felt
like a month ago.
—Gail and Shana walked us
through but a piece
of since time immemorial
training it
was beyond extraordinary.
I'm looking forward to seeing
and using some of the resources
there's a full library over at
Meany middle school
but their leadership both
in writing the curriculum
getting the statute passed
and helping us learn up is just
so critical and I encourage
anyone especially our
staff and teachers
when we’re back online
with professional
development to avail
yourself for this training.
It's awesome.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thank you
Director Harris Director Mack.
Would you like to share
any board comments.
>> DIRECTOR MACK: Yeah I'm
in the box and I'll be
up to be relatively brief.
I appreciate all of the comments
and the thank
you's and the recognition
to the hard work that staff
have been doing in the difficult
situation that we're
in and decisions that we need
to make.
I really appreciate all
the communication
and the responsiveness
and I concur
with the decision to support
our community
in making this decision and.
At the same time that during
this process
there's things that have been
highlighted to me around work.
Overall in the district
that we need to continue
working on.
So everyone knows
we're still under —
funded from the state and one
of those impacts
that has a long standing impact
is that we've been underfunded
on maintenance of our
buildings and actually
funding cleaning of our
buildings and so that to me
was one issue that got a little
more highlighted during
this process that I'll
continue looking towards
the future of how can we more
robustly support the ongoing
maintenance in our buildings.
The other issue that you know
has gotten a bit more urgency
for me is to get our technology
planning policy
in place so that we can you know
get to a place where
we are ready to provide
distance learning
for all of our students
in a situation like this.
And unfortunately we're not
there yet and but I think
that we we we have
the opportunities.
So we have the BTA Levy coming
up and we have ongoing work
that we can continue
doing now to make
improvements in that area.
So I appreciate all the comments
that everyone has made and all
of the hard work going into it.
And you know the continued
work that we're gonna
continue doing even though
school will be closed will
we will be continuing to move
forward on all these
initiatives that we need
to move forward on.
So I appreciate all of you
for being there today.
And all of the staff for all
of the hard work keeping our
kids safe and healthy and happy
no school day tomorrow.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thanks
Director Mack.
Director Rivera-Smith You
said you had one more.
>> DIRECTOR RIVERA-SMITH: I
had just one more thing I wanted
to throw out there.
Actually give a little shout
out for that in the hours
since the schools we decided
we were going
to be closing schools.
Some parents have already
put together a Facebook page
it's called the SPS COVID —
19 school closure
parent survival page.
It's a page for parents
and SPS students who wish
to share information about
SPS and school responses.
It's already got six hundred
forty five members so people
are already getting there
and sharing lots of information.
It's not a school district
page just to be very clear.
It's not run by SPS or any other
organizations just parents.
So everyone who is interested
is welcome to look that up.
Search Facebook for SPS COVID —
19 school closure parent
survival page. Thanks.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thanks
Director
Rivera-Smith Director Rankin.
>> DIRECTOR RANKIN: When
Director Mack
was talking about staff and work
and closure and everything.
I just want to I don't know
share or remind people
that while our school
buildings are closed
this building is not closed.
This is like a snow day
and central office staff will
still be here every day
continuing to do the work
that they have been doing
and the additional work
of what's happening and
responding
to this health crisis.
So I just when we talk about
schools being closed it's our
buildings where
our students are.
This building keeps going
and then all the people
in it and thank you.
>> DIRECTOR DEWOLF: Thanks
Director Rankin OK.
So we are at five thirty
so curious if people want
to take a break or if we can
head right into our
action items. What do you got
what you feel
take a ten minute break.
OK we'll take a 10 minute
recess. Thank you.
