Special Board Meeting

The Board of Directors of Everett School District No. 2, Snohomish County, Washington, held a special

board meeting on August 26 & 27, 2010, Lively Environmental Center, Mill Creek, Washington. Board

members in attendance were Carol Andrews, Kristie Dutton, Jessica Olson, Ed Petersen and Jeff Russell.

The special board meeting began at 9 a.m. on August 26, 2010, and ended at 4:30 p.m. on August 27,

2010.

BOARD ACTION AND/OR BOARD DISCUSSION

The purpose of the special meeting was to hold a board workshop to discuss and consider plans for the

2010-2011 school year, including board development and goals, strategic leadership and decision-making,

and planning cycles and process. The meeting was held in open session.

President Petersen called the special meeting to order at 9 a.m. on August 26, 2010. Topics discussed

throughout the day included policy governance, strategic planning, possible book studies,

ends/means/process/linkage; and operational, tactical and strategic levels of functioning for

administration, staff, board and superintendent. The board reviewed the board self-appraisal document,

talked about ways to help enhance board team performance, obstacles to reaching strategic priorities, and

board-superintendent operating protocol.

At 5:20 p.m., President Petersen recessed the special meeting until August 27, 2010, at 8:30 a.m.

At 8:30 a.m. on August 27, 2010, President Petersen re-convened the special meeting.

The morning began with a discussion of amending the board-superintendent operating protocol followed

by a discussion relating to strategic planning. Next came a review of the board’s 2009-2010 work plan

and progress statement, and then development of the 2010-2011 board work plan followed by a review of

the 2010-2011 annual agenda plan including suggested additions.

A synthetization and reorganization of some of the thoughts as well as strategic policy implications from

community feedback follows:

Resources



how do we retain and recruit diverse staff?



paper versus hardware/software – budget implication



should we create a management system to assure the wisest use of resources and assure impacts



legislative – how do we interface with policy makers at federal and state levels with respect to

funding



alignment of strategic plan and resources



implications of declining resources



how do we create accountability systems for resource management and performance (employees

and students)



how do we exercise fiduciary and fiscal responsibility and demonstrate this to our public (owners)



professional development – skill set of staff not to level of students

Social



social aspects – cyber-bullying, personal responsibility

Student Achievement



what roles can schools (EPS) play in improving health of our students?



how do we ensure children in special education are included in discussions of student

achievement



how do we define 21

st

century skills



how do we measure input from our partnerships

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2



what roles can schools/district serve in providing information to parents and students regarding

the impact of exercise, diet, nutrition on student achievement



define expectations for technology effect on student learning (define the end)



define exercise and nutrition outcomes for preparing students for successful lives after school



early learning in conjunction with demographics



should we define kindergarten readiness? expectations?



do we push into pre-schools? what is district responsibility?



define technology competence required (the standard and related assessment)



we value the role of instructional facilitators

o whole child skills (arts, etc.)

o development of a coherent system of delivery for efficiency

o fostering collaboration



develop career and tech pathways as well

o 21

st

century skills focus



how do we provide readiness pathways for non-college-going students



how do we foster world language skills for success in college and global workplaces



how do we create an environment that fosters the belief that all children can learn at high levels



how do we create a system for assessment of student progress toward college and career

readiness?

Access



access for kids at home (don’t assume)



wireless issues – city versus school district implications



equity and access of learning styles through technology



address needs of children in poverty – transient issues – how to deliver service



how do we foster cultural competency skills



continual process of assessing need – poverty issues, language barriers

Community



what does family support look like –coaching, student need-centered



external partnerships development



continual work on welcoming environment

o cultural implications

o everyone is responsible



how can we encourage and facilitate family, school, business, university partnerships



what resource investment is required for impactful partnerships which enhance student outcomes

o define expectations

o enhancement programs for gifted students and/or remediation/assistance for struggling

students

A task list that arose out of the two-day workshop:

Approve revised Board-Superintendent Operating Protocol (Sept. 7, 21)

Approve revised Board Work Plan 2010-11 (Sept. 7)

Approve revised Board School Assignments 2010-11 (Sept. 7)

Approve revised board meeting agenda structure (Sept. 7;

BoardDocs

)

Standard agenda category names

Future agenda topics

Agree upon revised Board Annual Meeting Plan 2010-11 (Sept. 7)

Set special meeting to agree upon Superintendent’s Annual Performance Priorities

Set special meeting to discuss approach to superintendent’s compensation review

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Consider book study/readings for board study sessions

Greenleaf,

Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness

Carver,

Boards that Make a Difference

Tschannen-Moran,

Trust Matters: Leadership for Successful Schools

Keep a policy perspective

1)

develop priorities for the year that inform agenda setting and use of time

2)

set goals collectively and for superintendent

3)

clarification of ENDS and process defining for developing and establishing core metrics

4)

take advantage of learning training opportunities—to learn, inform board.

5)

develop greater clarity of agenda and policy for setting agenda

6)

policy framework—what are we trying to accomplish and what do we need to do to get there

7)

clear correlation between the agenda and the Strategic Plan

8)

make choices on what to spend time on and what not to spend time on

9)

provide feedback—develop ENDS as to how we communicate with owners

What will help enhance board team performance?

1)

evaluate how well we accomplish board goals

2)

set board goals for FY 2011

3)

dissect the meaning of team and team process

4)

self-assess board performance at end of each board meeting (focus on ENDS/behaviors)

5)

be clear about board values and expectations and role

6)

get clear about definitions (e.g., diversity)

7)

willing to accept feedback on our performance from a variety of owners and participants to

use feedback

At 4:30 p.m., President Petersen adjourned the special meeting.

_____________________________

_______________________________

Gary Cohn, Secretary

Ed Petersen, President