MISD Board Meeting Recap – August 12, 2026

MISD School Board Directors listen to presentations from school principals during a Study Session.

Mercer Island, WA, August 13, 2026 – The Mercer Island School District School Board held a Regular Meeting on Thursday, August 12 at the District's Administration Building.

View Board Meeting Agenda

The Board meeting started at 9am with a Study Session on two topics.

School Improvement and District Strategic Report Updates & Discussion

The Board received an update from School and District leaders on the District’s Five-Year Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Implementation Plan. The update included progress made during the 2025-26 school year. The implementation plan was originally presented to the Board at the October 9, 2025, meeting. School principals also reviewed their School Improvement Plan (SIP) from 2025-26 and looked forward to their 2026-27 SIP.

Assistant Superintendent, Teaching & Learning Nova Williams facilitated the presentation by school principals and administrators on their school and the subsequent discussion and the Board.

Island Park principal Joby McGowan was the first principal to present to the Board and review the school’s SIP.

Lakeridge principal Jennifer Cleaves was second school principal to review the school’s SIP and speak to the Board about the main takeaways from the SIP.

Following Cleaves, Northwood principal Julie Newcomer spoke to the Board about her school’s SIP.

West Mercer principal Megan Isakson finished up the elementary presentations to the Board.

After the elementary presentations there was a five-minute recess.

Islander Middle School principal Katie Gallagher and associate principal Emily Mills presented a review of the school’s SIP after the recess.

Mercer Island High school administrators were the last school to present to the Board.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

During the presentations Board Directors asked questions of the school principals and engaged in discussions with staff about the data in their SIPs and what the schools will be focusing on this coming year.

Board Policy 1800 OE-3: Appropriate Treatment of Community Members - Report on Item 1 (Student Safety and Well-Being)

When the Board conducted their annual monitoring of Board Policy 1800 OE-3: Appropriate Treatment of Community Members, at the January 15, 2026, regular meeting, they agreed by consensus to move item 1 of the report from a Level 1 to a Level 2 monitoring and directed the Superintendent to report data in August. During the Study Session the Board heard the Superintendent's report on item 1, which reads, "The Superintendent will establish, apply and maintain a learning environment that is safe, respectful and conducive to effective learning, placing priority on responsiveness to student needs." Link here to view the 2025 monitoring report. 

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

District staff presented a semi-annual update to the Board on safe and secure learning settings. Board Directors had questions for staff during the presentation. The Board paused the update at 1:30pm as Director Julian Bradley had to leave the meeting. The Board will take up the remaining portions of the semi-annual update at a future meeting.

After the Study Session, the meeting had three items on the Partial Governance Process Monitoring agenda.

1. Board Policy 1800 OE-7: Financial Administration - Resolution No. 759: Budget Extension for Capital Projects Fund (1st rdg)

This spring (2026), the District purchased approximately $1.5 million in Lenovo laptops and $491,000 in Apple laptops for use during the upcoming 2026–27 school year. These purchases were funded through the District's Capital and Technology Levy as part of the planned technology replacement program.

Pursuant to RCW 28A.335.170 and the accounting requirements established by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), these purchases must be recognized as expenditures in the District's 2025–26 fiscal year, even though the equipment will be placed into service during the 2026–27 school year. Because these transactions are accounted for as conditional lease purchases, the District must adopt a budget extension resolution to appropriate the additional expenditures within the current fiscal year.

This budget extension is solely an accounting requirement necessary to ensure compliance with state law and OSPI accounting guidance. It does not represent an unplanned or unbudgeted expenditure, an increase in the District's overall technology replacement costs, or additional spending beyond the Board approved Capital and Technology Levy. Rather, it reflects the quirky timing requirements for financial reporting via OSPI, as the purchases were planned, fully funded through the Capital and Technology Levy, and intended to support student and staff technology needs during the 2026–27 school year.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board voted 4-0 to approve Resolution No. 759.

2. Board Policy 1008: Annual Agenda Planning - Annual Agenda Planning Calendar for 2026-2027 (1008 P, 1st rdg)

The Board reviewed as a first reading the board agenda planning calendar for 2026-2027 (1008 P). The calendar was previewed at the Board's regular meeting on May 28, 2026, and again at the special meeting on June 4, 2026. The following changes have been made:

• Two additional study sessions, which were initially scheduled to follow site visits, have been rescheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2026, and Thursday, April 1, 2027.
• The Community Listening Session scheduled for Thursday, October 1 has been added.
• Pursuant to Board discussion at the special meeting on June 4, 2026, and formal action taken at the regular meeting on June 11, 2026, the annual reorganization for president and vice president was moved to June 2027 to coincide with the reorganization of the co-legislative representatives.
• At the Board's request, linkage sessions have been scheduled to precede regular meetings rather than being held as separate special meetings.
• The WASA | WSSDA | WASBO Legislative Conference has been confirmed for January 8 and 9, 2027.
• Modeled after the changes for the first meeting in August 2026, the Thursday, August 12, 2027, meeting will be a combined study session/regular meeting beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board discussed the calendar. The Board did not take any action.

3. Board Policy 1005: Board Officer and Board Member Duties - Board Legislative Priorities 2026-2027 and Priorities for WSSDA General Assembly

The Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) will hold its annual General Assembly (GA) virtually on September 19, 2026. Throughout 2026, Washington's 1,477 school directors were invited to propose amendments or additions to WSSDA's permanent positions. Permanent positions are advisory guidelines that represent WSSDA's beliefs and values and indicate WSSDA's stance on issues of widespread concern to students, its membership, other educational organizations and the general public. They serve to support public school boards and educational stakeholders as well as to inform its work. Additionally, school directors have had the opportunity to propose amendments or additions to WSSDA's Legislative Positions, which represent its call to action and define and direct its advocacy work. Both positions and WSSDA's legislative priorities form the organization's 2026-2027 advocacy platform. The GA represents an opportunity for school board's to vote on proposals to revise WSSDA's platform.

View the 2026 Pre-Amendments GA Handbook here. WSSDA's Legislative Priorities for the 2027 legislative session will be available in October. The final GA Handbook will be available on August 19.

At its study session on March 10, 2026, the Board held discussion on identifying priorities, specifically around student safety and well-being; healthy and balanced technology use; and bond/levy-funded facility repairs and improvements. The Board's legislative priorities are distinct from those of WSSDA, and, while not yet formalized, shall help direct Board action on WSSDA proposals at the GA.

This is an opportunity for the Board to take a preliminary look at information for the upcoming General Assembly as well as to review Board priorities for 2026-2027.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board held a discussion on the WSSDA general assembly and their pre-amendments. No action was taken by the Board.

After the Partial Governance Process Monitoring agenda, the Board took up Public Input, the Consent Agenda, Superintendent Report, Board Director Announcements, Inquiries and Reports and the Legislative Report.  

Public Input

No community member gave Public Input at this meeting. To find out how you can give Public Input at a future Board meeting visit our Public Input page.

Consent Agenda – The Consent Agenda was passed 4-0 by the Board.

Superintendent Report – Superintendent Rundle did not present his report as he had to leave during the Study Session for a personal reason.

Board Announcements

Director Burnett – Director Burnett is looking forward to the school year.

Director Lee – Director Lee did not have any updates.

Director Martinez – Director Martinez has been connecting with other school districts on the start of the school year and how they start their school year.

Director Tucker – Director Tucker recommended community members watch the video this board meeting to learn more about what our schools are doing.

Legislative Report – There was not a legislative report.

The meeting adjourned at 1:45pm.

We encourage community members to watch the YouTube recording of the August 12 Board Meeting to learn more about what was discussed by Board Directors. 

To see when the next Board Meeting is visit the Meeting Calendar and Agendas page.

To learn more about MISD’s School Board Directors visit our School Board Information page.