MISD Board Meeting Recap – November 13, 2025

KMIH 88.9 The Bridge broadcast media students and teachers with the Board Thursday evening being recognized for three awards received in the annual John Drury High School Radio Awards.

Mercer Island, WA, November 14, 2025 – The Mercer Island School District School Board held a Regular Meeting on Thursday, November 13 at the District's Administration Building.

View Board Meeting Agenda

The Board meeting started at 5pm in the District Administration Building. The Board held a moment of silence at the start of the meeting to honor a IMS seventh grader who passed away on Monday after a courageous battle against cancer.

There were six items on the Partial Governance Process Monitoring agenda.

1. Board Policy 1800 OE-7: Financial Administration - Year-End Financial Report 2024-2025

Board Policy 1800, Operational Expectation 7 (OE-7), Financial Administration, requires, in part, that the Superintendent . . . "[k]eep the Board of Directors informed of the District's financial condition . . ."

Accordingly, the Board reviewed the District's Year-End Financial Report for the period September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board asked questions of District finance staff. No action was taken by the Board.

2. Board Policy 1800 OE-7: Financial Administration - 2025-2026 Financial Dashboard and September 2025 Budget Status Report

District staff presented the financial dashboard for the fiscal year beginning September 1, 2025, through September 30, 2025, as well as the September 2025 financial report.

Notes to the Financial Dashboard - Finances through September 30^th, 2025

• We’re through September, or 8.3% of the (fiscal/school) year. 
• Expenditures are at 8.6%, a little over due to the start of the year.
• Revenues are at 7.1%, this is lower than the 8.3% measure, as we will be receiving our local taxes (EP&O and Cap/Tech) in October.

Expenditures/Revenues

• No notes as there are no month-over-month comps as this is looking at September.

Monthly Fund Balance/Cash-on-Hand

• The fund balance, at the end of September, was $1,976,399. This past September (2024-25) we had a month-ending fund balance of $1,700,510. This is a positive increase year-over-year/September over September of +$275,889.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

District Finance staff answered questions from the Board. No action was taken by the Board.

3. Board Policy 1800 OE-9: Communication and Support to the Board - Superintendent’s Recommended Policy Adoption of Board Policy 1111 - Oath of Office and updates to Oath of Office/Affirmation

As required pursuant to RCW 28A.343.360, every person elected or appointed to the office of school director must take an oath or affirmation before assuming official duties, including incumbents who are re-elected to the board.

If a director refuses to take the required oath or omits or alters any part of it, the individual cannot lawfully assume office. The elected or appointed individual will not be seated as a board member and will not be able to vote or act as a director. Any vote or action taken by such an individual is considered invalid. Willful or negligent noncompliance with state law constitutes a violation of the oath of office under RCW 29A.56.110, and a member of a board of directors may be subject to recall or discharge.

If an elected or appointed member is not duly seated, the position is considered vacant under RCW 42.12.010(6), and Districts may incur legal risk if they treat an unseated person as a member. School board directors must take an oath or affirmation before the first official board meeting following certification of the election results.

The Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) recommends that all school districts, as a best practice, adopt or update WSSDA Model Policy 1111 - Oath of Office to ensure full compliance and clear communication of legal obligations.

While the Superintendent has always administered the Oath of Office as directed by statute to newly elected or reelected school board directors, the District does not currently have an active policy reflecting this practice. The Superintendent is proposing adoption of Board Policy 1111 - Oath of Office, which aligns with WSSDA Model Policy 1111. Additionally, the Superintendent recommends updating the language in the Oath of Office/Affirmation to conform to the language used in RCW 28A.343.360.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board voted 4-1 (No: Glowitz) and Student Representatives voted 2-0 to approve the new Board policy as revised.

4. Board Policy 1800 OE-7: Financial Administration - Appointment of Pro & Con Committee Members for Replacement EP&O Levy Proposition

The Board will appoint committee members, up to three per committee, to Pro and Con Committees to write statements in favor of and in opposition to the Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy proposition to be included on the February 2026 special election ballot. The statements will be included in the local voters' pamphlet.

If the District does not receive any applications for either a Pro or Con Committee, it will notify King County Elections by December 12. The notification will detail the District's efforts to recruit committee members. King County Elections may solicit members by placing a public notification on their website. Should this occur, requests to be a committee member must be received by King County Elections by December 15. King County Elections will provide notification to the requestor and to the District if a committee is formed.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board voted 5-0 and Student Representatives 2-0 to assign the three community members who applied to the pro committee. No community members signed up for the con committee.

5. Board Policy 6970: Naming District Facilities - Naming Committee Update 

The Board adopted Board Policy 6970 - Naming District Facilities on March 27, 2025, to guide the naming and renaming of facilities owned and operated by the District. 

The District received a formal nomination to name the Mercer Island High School gym court/floor after former Boys Basketball Coach Ed Pepple. Upon receiving this submission, the District solicited additional nominations from community members and alumni. No additional nominations were submitted.

The District formed a committee composed of students, parents, alumni, and community members to consider the nomination. The first action of the committee was to seek input from community members, alumni, staff, and students to assist members in forming their recommendation to the school board. Presently, the committee is in the process of reviewing the nomination.

The Board recognizes the significance of this nomination and anticipates receiving a formal recommendation from the committee in November. However, due to the number of critical and time-pressing matters currently before the Board, the consideration of this nomination, including presentation of the committee's recommendation and board discussion, has been postponed. The Board recognizes that facility naming is a meaningful act and wishes to ensure that this nomination is considered with the care and focus appropriate to its impact.

Presentation of the Facility Naming Committee's recommendation will be placed on the agenda for a future meeting.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

No action was taken by the Board

6. Board Policy 1800 OE-9: Communication and Support to the Board - Recommended Policy Revisions to Board Policy 1005: Board Officer and Board Member Duties (1st rdg)

Board directors have proposed revisions to the language of Board Policy 1005: Board Officer and Board Member Duties. Markup Version 1 with these proposed revisions will be reviewed by the Board. The Superintendent has proposed alternative yet similar language to consider which might provide further clarification. Markup Version 2 includes the Superintendent's proposed revisions.

It is recommended that policy revisions be approved after this first reading so that the updated policy will be in place for the annual organizational meeting on December 11, 2025.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board voted 5-0 and Student Representatives voted 2-0 to approve Markup Version of Board Policy 1800. 

After the Partial Governance Process Agenda, the meeting transitioned to Recognitions, Student Representatives Report, and Public Input.

Recognitions

KMIH 88.9 The Bridge – Superintendent Rundle recognized broadcast media students from KMIH 88.9 The Bridge at tonight’s Board meeting for the national recognition they received for excellence in broadcasting from the annual John Drury High School Radio Awards. KMIH was honored for Best Website, Best Public Affairs Program, and for a Specialty Music Program.

MIHS Boys Golf – Superintendent Rundle recognized the MIHS boys golf team for winning the 3A State Championship at Creek at Qualchan Golf Course in Spokane on May 21 at tonight’s Board meeting. Members of the team and the head coach spoke to the Board about coming from 8 shots back to play their best match and beat Bellevue in shocking fashion.

Student Representatives Report – Student Representatives to the Board Lucy Dorer and Brody Newcomer presented their monthly report to the Board.At the end of their report Dorer and Newcomer spoke to the Board about the wide range of emotions and opinions from MIHS students regarding the allegations of sexual misconduct involving a former teacher.

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.

After Public Input there was one item on the Full Governance Process Monitoring agenda.

1. Board Policy 1005: Board Officer and Board Member Duties (L-1)

This is the annual monitoring of Board Policy 1005, Board Officer and Board Member Duties. The Board Report of Compliance was reviewed.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board voted on each of the four sections in the Board Report of Compliance.

Section I - The Board voted 5-0 and Student Representatives voted 2-0 the Board was in compliance with Section I of the Report of Compliance.

Section II - The Board voted 5-0 and Student Representatives voted 2-0 the Board was in compliance with Section II of the Report of Compliance.

Section III – The Board voted 4-1 that they were not in compliance with Section III of the Board Report of Compliance. The Student Representatives abstained from voting.

Section IV – The Board voted 5-0 and Student Representatives voted 2-0 the Board was in compliance with Section IV of the Report of Compliance. 

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

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

Superintendent Report – Superintendent Rundle presented a report about the continuing work the district is undertaking to support students in the wake of the news about sexual misconduct by former teachers. He also spoke about how MIHS and MISD are creating an updated reporting flowchart for administrators and staff and a District partnership with an organization called Praesidium Prevention Services, a nationwide organization, that the District will be working with to develop staff and student training academies and certified workshops and certification for staff.

Legislative Report – Director Martinez spoke about the visit from the Legislative Representatives from the 41^st District to MISD on Monday, November 10. Student Representative Dorer spoke about the tour given to the legislators and what they saw in the classrooms they visited. Director Lurie spoke to the Board about what they discussed with the legislators.

Board Announcements, Inquiries, and Reports

Director Tucker – Director Tucker did not have anything to report.

Director Lee – Director Lee talked about attending a community event of healing local faith community organizations held.

Director Glowitz – Director Glowitz made final remarks on the end of his term as a Board Director.

Director Martinez – Director Martinez thanked Director Glowitz and Director Lurie for their service to MISD as Board Directors. She attended the Superintendent Equity Advisory Council meeting. Director Martinez attended the first Student Safety & Well-Being Committee meeting on November 4. She attended a dress rehearsal of the MIHS Drama production of Mean Girls.

Director Lurie – Director Lurie attended a MISD Band fundraising auction and spoke about the band program. She expressed gratitude for MISD staff that took part in Student Safety & Well-Being webinar with members of the PTA Council. Director Lurie attended the PTA Council meeting on Wednesday.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:36pm.

We encourage community members to watch the YouTube recording of the November 13 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.