MISD Board Meeting Recap – August 27, 2026

Director of Instructional Technology Andreeves Ronser provided the Board a update on the use of technology in MISD.

Mercer Island, WA, August 28, 2026 – The Mercer Island School District School Board held a Regular Meeting on Thursday, August 27 at the District's Administration Building.

View Board Meeting Agenda

The Board meeting started at 5pm with four items on the Partial Governance Process Monitoring agenda.

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

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. The Board heard Part I of the report at their regular meeting on August 12, 2026. This is an opportunity for the Board to hear Part II of the 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."

The Board reviewed Part II of the report at this meeting. 

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board asked questions of Superintendent Rundle and District staff.

MISD Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral for Treatment (SBIRT) Coordinator Steph Boyer gave a presentation and spoke to the Board about the District’s adoption of HearMeWA, a program created by the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, in partnership with the Sandy Hook Promise, that provides support and resources for students facing challenges ranging from mental health to safety and security.

HearMeWA is a statewide support line designed specifically for Washington youth up to age 25 and is available 24/7, offering help for issues like bullying, anxiety, threats of violence, and more. Whether by phone (888-537-1634), text (text HEARMEWA to 738477), online, or through their mobile app, HearMeWA connects young people to trained crisis counselors who can provide immediate support and guide them to the right resources.

The Board took no action.

2. Board Policy 1800 OE-7: Financial Administration - 2025-2026 Financial Dashboard and June & July 2026 Budget Status Reports

District staff presented the financial dashboard for the fiscal year beginning September 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026, as well as the June and July 2026 financial reports to the Board. All documents have been attached to the agenda for Board review. Additionally, a summary of finances through the end of July is available below.

Notes to the Financial Dashboard - Finances through July 31st, 2026

• We are through July, representing 91.6% of the (fiscal/school) year.
• Expenditures are at 90.7%, -.9% less as compared month-over-month.    
• Revenues are at 87.3%, -4.3% under the 91.6% measure, mainly due to the receipt of local taxes coming in April and October and little-to-no student fees.  

Expenditures  

• Basic Education & Special Education, the decrease for both accounts is due to reduced or no additional time for staff due to school not being in session.
• Federal (grants), +$261,728, increase month-over-month, due to claimed federal grants being received and the receipt/staff payments of national board stipends ($255k).
• Support & Community Services, decrease, month-over-month, due to school not being in session, decrease in overtime for classified staff (bus drivers/custodial etc.).  

Revenues

• Local, decrease, due to the receipt of our local levy dollars at the end of April and little to no taxes received until October.
• State Apportionment, significant increase (+6.2MM), month-over-month, due to the start of the State’s fiscal year, hence we receive 12.5% apportionment at the end of July. Points to note: 1) June we were required to pay back the $2.5MM apportionment advance; 2) August is another large apportionment month; and 3) The safety Net reimbursement will come in as part of the August revenues ($2.1MM).
• Other, decrease is due to no reimbursement of the General Fund via the Capital Projects Fund (Cap/Tech Levy). 

Monthly Fund Balance / Cash-on-Hand

• The fund balance at the end of July was $443,863.39.  Year-over-year, this is an increase of +421k. 

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board took no 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 post-amendment 2026 GA Handbook here. WSSDA's Legislative Priorities for the 2027 legislative session will be available in October. To view the 2026 legislative priorities, link here.

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.

District staff presented the financial dashboard for the fiscal year beginning September 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026, as well as the June and July 2026 financial reports to the Board. All documents have been attached to the agenda for Board review. Additionally, a summary of finances through the end of July is available below.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board held a discussion on this agenda item. The Board took no action.

4. Board Policy 1800 OE-9: Communication and Support to the Board - Technology Update

Technology use in schools to promote learning is evolving rapidly just like tech itself. Our priorities outlined in the values, vision, and mission, Fundamentals, District improvement priorities, and school improvement plans continue to prioritize students. However, the way we meet the social, emotional, physical, and academic needs of the learners, especially using technology, continues to change. Whereas we experienced a surge in tech-focused learning, we see the benefit in greater balance and intentionality between print and screens. This is an update for the Board that is one point in time, highlighting the fact that this work neither had a beginning nor will have an end. The overarching objective is to provide the best experience for students to support the whole child. 

Director of Technology, Andreeves Ronser, members of the Teaching and Learning team, and Superintendent Rundle provided the Board and community an update on:

1. 2025-2026 priorities and progress;
2. Opportunities taken to hear from our community and overview of what we have learned; and
3. Priorities and plans for 2026-2027.

District staff presented this report to the Board.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board asked questions of District staff and had a discussion about technology in the District. The Board took no action.

After the Partial Governance Process Monitoring agenda, the Board took up Recognitions and Public Input.

Recognitions
Superintendent Rundle recognized Suicide Prevention Month, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Labor Day.

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.

There was one item on the Full Governance Process Monitoring Agenda.

5. Board Policy 1008: Annual Agenda Planning (L-1)

The Board conducted its annual monitoring of Board Policy 1008 and was presented the Board Report of Compliance for review and determination of compliance.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board voted 5-0 and the Student Representative voted 1-0 that the Superintendent was in compliance with Board Policy 1008.

After the one item on the Full Governance Process Monitoring agenda, the Board took up the Consent Agenda, Superintendent Report, Board Director Announcements, Inquiries and Reports and the Legislative Report.  

Consent Agenda – The Consent Agenda was passed 5-0 by the Board.

Superintendent Report – Superintendent Rundle presented the Board a Enrollment Update that showed as of the second day of school the District has a student headcount of 3,856, which is 175 above the projected headcount of 3,681.

Board Announcements, Inquiries, and Reports

Director Burnett – Director Stephanie Burnett spoke about the start of the school year and looking forwards to the Board priorities this year.

Director Lee – Director Jody Lee spoke about representing the Board at the District’s Special Services retreat on Wednesday, August 19 and serving lunch to staff at Instructional Tech Day on Monday, August 24.

Director Martinez – Director Cristina Martinez did not have any updates.

Director Bradley – Director Julian Bradley attended the new staff orientation Monday, August 17 and is excited for the new staff joining the District and for the start of the school year.

Director Tucker – Director Maggie Tai Tucker did not have any updates.

Legislative Report – There was not a legislative report.

The meeting adjourned at 7:38pm.

We encourage community members to watch the YouTube recording of the August 27 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.