MISD Board Meeting Recap - May 8, 2025

The 3A State Champion MIHS Drill Team with the Board on Tuesday, May 8 

Mercer Island, WA, May 9, 2025 – The Mercer Island School District School Board held a Regular Meeting on Thursday, May 8 at the District's Administration Building. 

View Board Meeting Agenda

 

For this meeting, the Board had two items on the Partial Governance Process Monitoring Agenda and two items on the Full Governance Process Monitoring Agenda they discussed or took action on.

1. Board Policy 1800 OE-6: Budgeting/Financial Planning – Update on Certified/Classified FTE – Partial Governance Process Monitoring

The Board will hear from District staff on the anticipated certificated and classified FTE for the 2025-2026 school year.

History of Policy

An FTE, or full-time equivalent, is a unit of measurement used to determine the number of full-time hours worked by all staff employed by the District. A staff member employed to work 40 hours per week would have an FTE of 1.0. In contrast, a part-time employee working only 20 hours per week would have an FTE of 0.5, equating to hours worked that are equivalent to half the hours of a full-time employee. Total FTE classified by activity and as a total for the District is calculated by adding all full-time and part-time FTE. The concept counts total hours worked by all employees rather than the total number of employees. This approach helps the District to better budget, forecast, staff positions and determine wages.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board discussed both certificated and classified FTE for the 2025-26 school year and asked questions of District staff. No action was taken.

2. Board Policy 1800 OE-9: Communication and Support to the Board - Draft Board Policy and Procedure 4300: Limiting Immigration Enforcement in Schools (1st rdg) - Partial Governance Process Monitoring

The Board will hold a first reading of draft Board Policy 4300: Immigration Enforcement in Schools. The accompanying procedure does not require formal Board approval; however, it has been included for reference.

History of Policy

At their meeting on April 8, 2025, the Board approved Resolution No. 739: Protecting the Right to Learn - Resolution on Student Safety, Privacy and Immigration Enforcement. The policy states, in part, that the " . . . District will develop a formal District Policy based on the guidance provided to staff by the Superintendent on January 24, 2025, to ensure the District meets its duties if responding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency or agent acting to enforce federal immigration laws . . . "

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board discussed the policy and asked questions of staff of both the policy and procedure. The policy will be brought back to the Board for a second reading at the Board meeting on Thursday May 22, 2025. Formal action is anticipated at that time. Additional discussion was held around language in Resolution No. 739 - Protecting the Right to Learn: Resolution on Student Safety, Privacy and Immigration Enforcement. The revised resolution will be included on the Consent Agenda at the May 22, 2025, board meeting.

3. Board Policy 1002: Governing Style (L-1) - 90-Day Re-Monitoring – Full Governance Process Monitoring

The Board will re-monitor Board Policy 1002: Governing Style (L-1).

History

At their meeting on February 12, 2025, the Board conducted a line-by-line monitoring of Board Policy 1002: Governing Style. The Board determined that, overall, they were not in compliance with this policy over the past year and proposed a re-monitoring date in 90 days.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

Each Board member gave their opinion on whether the Board was in compliance with this policy. Since this was a full re-monitor the Board voted on whether they were in compliance. The Board voted 5-0 and Student Representatives voted 2-0 that they were not in compliance with Items 2, 3, and 4 of the policy. The Board will re-monitor this policy at a Board meeting in August.

4. Board Policy 1003: Board Job Description (L-1) - 90-Day Re-Monitoring – Full Governance Process Monitoring

The Board will re-monitor Board Policy 1003: Governing Style (L-1).

History

At their meeting on February 12, 2025, the Board conducted a line-by-line monitoring of Board Policy 1003: Board Job Description. The Board determined that, overall, they were not in compliance with this policy over the past year and proposed a re-monitoring date in 90 days.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board discussed this policy as they re-monitored the policy. The Board voted 4-1 and the Student Representatives voted 2-0 that that they were not in compliance with Items 4 and 6 of the policy. Directors Lee, Tucker, Lurie, and Martinez voted that they were not in compliance. Director Glowitz voted against finding the Board not in compliance. The Board will re-monitor this policy at a Board meeting in August.

After Partial Governance Process Monitoring the meeting transitioned to Recognitions and Public Input.

Recognitions

State Champion MIHS Drill Team – On March 28, the Mercer Island High School Drill Team finished first in all three categories - Military, Kick and Pom - to win three State Championships at the Yakima Sun Dome. The Board recognized the 24 members of the drill team as well as Coach Kyle Mosler and Assistant Coach Haley Baird for this significant accomplishment.

Drill team members and the coaches spoke to the Board about their championships and how hard the team works and the passion for drill the team members have.

You can watch all 3 State Championship routines below.

Military Routine

Kick Routine

Pom Routine 

School Communicators Day – National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) celebrates School Communicators Day on the second Friday in May in recognition of the incredibly valuable work and commitment of school public relations professionals. In 2025, School Communicators Day is May 9. Superintendent Rundle recognized District Communications Coordinator Ian Henry and voiced his appreciation for his efforts to ensure all stakeholders are kept informed of the District's programs, services, plans, decisions, and priorities.

Public Input

There were two community members who gave Public Input and they were:

Seth Landau

Samantha Rubenfield

To find out how you can give Public Input at a future Board meeting visit our Public Input page.

The last four items on the agenda for the meeting were the Consent Agenda, Superintendent Report, Legislative Report, and Board Announcements, Inquires & Reports.

Consent Agenda – The Consent Agenda was passed 5-0.

Superintendent Report – Superintendent Rundle and the Student Representatives spoke about the linkage session the Board will hold with the Superintendent Student Advisory on Thursday, May 15. Superintendent Rundle also spoke to the Board about the next steps for the District after the bond did not pass. Those next steps could include bringing in a person or organization to conduct surveys and focus groups about why the bond did not pass.

Legislative Report – Director Martinez updated the Board on the education bills that are on the desk of Governor Bob Ferguson waiting to be signed. 

Board Announcements, Inquiries, and Reports – The Board Directors spoke about District events they attended. Director Lee attended the Breakfast of Champions, the PTA SSALD Community Day of Inclusion, and the Band Solo and Ensemble Competition in Ellensburg. Director Glowitz attended the Superintendent Community Advisory. Director Martinez attended the Horticulture Plant Sale at Crest Sale, the MIHS drama production of 12 Angry Jurors, the Breakfast of Champions, the PTA SSALD Community Day of Inclusion, and the WASA District 2 meeting. Director Lurie attended the Circle of Friends luncheon at the Seattle Jewish Community Center, the Breakfast of Champions, the Healthy Youth Forum, and the PTA SSALD Community Day of Inclusion. Director Tucker attended the PTA SSALD Community Day of Inclusion. Director Tucker also spoke about the Public Input policy.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:52 pm.

We encourage community members to watch the YouTube recording of the May 8 Board Meeting to learn more about what was discussed by Board Directors and to watch the recognitions of MIHS students. 

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.