MISD Board Meeting Recap – January 15, 2025

Left to right: Island Park principal Joby McGowan, Lakeridge principal Jennifer Cleaves, Northwood principal Julie Newcomer, and West Mercer principal Megan Isakson

Mercer Island, WA, January 16, 2026 – The Mercer Island School District School Board held a Regular Meeting on Thursday, January 15 at the District's Administration Building.

View Board Meeting Agenda

The Board meeting started at 5pm in the District Administration Building with Board Announcement, Inquiries, and Reports. The Board decided to move announcements, inquiries to the start of Board meetings moving forward.

Board Announcements, Inquiries, and Reports

Director Burnett – Director Burnett thanked MISD staff who have taken part in the onboarding and training for her and Board Director Julian Bradley. Director Burnett is now joining the Student Safety and Well-Being Committee and attended her first meeting on Wednesday, January 14. Burnett is glad to see the direction the District is going in regard to student safety. Director Burnett attended a meeting at IMS with several private school families to help these families

Director Lee – Director Lee spoke about the MIHS Band’s trip to London for the New Year’s Day parade.

Director Martinez – Director Martinez spoke about the learning the Student Safety and Well-Being Committee has been doing over the course of three committee meetings so far. Director Martinez about the synergy between having a linkage session with State Legislators and the Education Funding Town Hall at Newport High School last week.

Director Bradley – Director Bradley attended a legislative conference this past weekend and indicated there is significant work being done around school funding. Director Bradley has attended two sessions of the Tier 1 team at IMS. He attended the Island Park Principal Advisory Council. Director Burnett has been attending as many events as possible in the MIHS gym as a member of the Facility Naming Committee.

Director Tucker – Director Tucker appreciated the Linkage Session with State Legislators and was very buoyed by the conversation.

After announcements the meeting moved to four of five items on the Partial Governance Process Monitoring agenda.

1. Board Policy 1800 OE-10: Instructional Program - Elementary School Improvement Plans (SIPs)

According to WAC 180-16-220, each school is required to have a School Improvement Plan (SIP). Additionally, Board Policy 1800, Operational Expectation 10, requires that the Superintendent "... share with the Board, on an annual basis, data-driven plans for improvement at each school...including reflection on the prior year’s SIP."

Principals from each MISD elementary school discussed their school's 2025-26 SIP with the Board. Additionally, each principal shared reflections, commendations, and opportunities in reviewing the 2024-2025 school year.

The SIPs are driven by strategic actions based on contextual data and are designed to promote a positive impact on student learning. Each SIP is intended to be dynamic and may evolve as the school assesses progress and adapts strategies. Each 2025-26 SIP is aligned to the District's Values, Vision and Mission in Board Policy 0001; Student-Focused Fundamentals stated in Board Policy 1800 OE-01; and the 2024-2029 District Improvement Plan. 

View Island Park SIP      View Lakeridge SIP    View Northwood SIP    View West Mercer SIP

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board asked questions of MISD elementary principals about their SIPs. No action was taken by the Board.

2. Board Policy 1005: Board Officer and Board Member Duties - Island Crest Way Corridor Improvements and Trail Easement (2nd rdg)

The Board heard a first reading of the proposed Island Crest Way Corridor Improvements and Trail Easement at their meeting on December 11, 2025. Directors expressed concern over potential liability. The District partnered with the City of Mercer Island to address directors' concerns.

Summary

The Mercer Island School District granted the City of Mercer Island the existing 5-foot-wide easement in 1978 along the east property line of the Island Park Elementary parcel 192405-9040.  This easement provided for the construction of the original pathway but is now too narrow to accommodate the City’s wider proposed shared-use path. To construct the new shared-use path, the City requires a 10.5-foot-wide easement spanning the frontage along the south 180 feet of the parcel.

Following approvals by the Mercer Island School District and the City of Mercer Island (in January 2026) and after the recording of the documents, there will be two easements in place for Island Park Elementary’s frontage. One at 10.5 feet for the southern 180-foot portion of the Island Crest Way frontage and the existing 5-foot easement for the remainder. Brandy Fox, Owner’s Representative, will attend the board meeting to answer any questions related to this request.

City Council addressed the Island Crest Way corridor improvements during its linkage session with the Board on February 6, 2025. To view the City’s presentation on its 2025-2030 Safe Routes to School Project List, please link here.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board voted 5-0 and Student Representatives voted 2-0 to approve the Island Crest Way Improvements and Trail Easement.

3. Board Policy 1800 OE-6: Budgeting/Financial Planning - Budget Timeline 2026-2027

The Board heard a review from District staff on the budget timeline for 2026-27.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board asked questions of District staff. The Board took no action.

4. Board Policy 5010: Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action - 2023-27 Workforce Diversification and Inclusion Plan - 2025 Annual Update

The Board received an update on the District's efforts related to Board Policy 5010, Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action, and the current District's Workforce Diversification and Inclusion Plan (2023-2027) (the "Plan"). The Plan is reviewed annually and modified, if necessary, to ensure compliance with applicable laws.

The comparison figures representing the available workforce is sourced from 2014-2018 EEO Census Data for King County and the 2022-23 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI’s) Classroom Teacher by Demographics.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board asked questions of District staff on the Workforce Diversification and Inclusion Plan. The Board took no action.

After four of five items on the Partial Governance Process Monitoring agenda the meeting transitioned to Recognitions, Student Representatives Report, and Public Input.

Recognition - Superintendent Rundle had remarks recognizing School Board Recognition Month, Whole Child Month, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Student Representatives Report – Student Representatives to the Board Lucy Dorer and Brody Newcomer updated the Board on student voice and events happening at MISD schools.

Public Input - No community members 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.

The Board took up two items on the Full Governance Process Monitoring Agenda after the Student Representative Report.

1. Board Policy 1800 OE-3: Appropriate Treatment of Community Members (L-1; L-2 for item 2) (1st rdg.)

The Board agreed by consensus to shift this agenda item from the December 11, 2025, board meeting to the January 15, 2026, meeting due to time constraints. This is the annual monitoring of Board Policy 1800, Operational Expectations 3 (OE-3), Appropriate Treatment of Community Members. 

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board voted 5-0 and the Student Representatives voted 2-0 that the Superintendent was in compliance with OE-3.

2. Board Policy 1605: Monitoring Superintendent Performance (L-0)

The Board Report of Compliance for Board Policy 1605: Monitoring Superintendent Performance was presented for Board review and approval.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board voted 5-0 and the Student Representatives voted 2-0 that the Board was incompliance with Board Policy 1605.

The last three items on the agenda for the meeting were the Consent Agenda, Superintendent Report & Announcements, and the Legislative Report.

Consent Agenda – The Consent Agenda was passed 5-0 by the Board and 2-0 by the Student Representatives.

The final item on the Partial Governance Process Monitoring agenda was taken up after the Full Governance Process Monitoring Agenda.

5. Board Policy 1002: Governing Style - Proposed Language Revisions to Board Policy 1605: Monitoring Superintendent Performance (1st rdg)

The Board wishes to delay the formal summative evaluation of the Superintendent, which, pursuant to Board Policy 1605: Monitoring Superintendent Performance, must be completed annually in January. The Board is proposing language revisions, effective for the 2025 monitoring cycle only, to postpone the annual evaluation to February 2026.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board voted 5-0 and the Student Representatives voted 2-0 to change language in Board Policy 1605 on when the Board will conduct the Superintendent summative evaluation.

The last three items on the agenda for the meeting were the Consent Agenda, Superintendent Report & Announcements, and the Legislative Report.

Consent Agenda – The Consent Agenda was passed 5-0 by the Board and 2-0 by the Student Representatives.

Superintendent Report – Superintendent Rundle discussed the work of the Student Safety & Well-Being Committee, which held a meeting on Wednesday, January 14. He also informed the Board about the District partnership with Praesidium, a nationwide abuse-prevention and intervention firm.

Legislative Report – Director Martinez spoke about the opening of the Legislative Session in Olympia and the impact of the Education Town Hall at Newport High School on January 7 attended by 10 school districts. Director Bradley spoke about being in Olympia during the legislative session and how he is seeing and hearing language used by legislators and lobbyists changing when they speak about education funding.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:05pm.

We encourage community members to watch the YouTube recording of the January 15 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.