MISD Board Meeting Recap – September 10, 2026

Superintendent Rundle swore in Junior Student Board Representative Kavya Muralidhar. Muralidhar will serve a two-year term as a Student Board Representative. 

Mercer Island, WA, September 11, 2026 – The Mercer Island School District School Board held a Regular Meeting on Thursday, September 10 at the District's Administration Building.

View Board Meeting Agenda

The Board meeting started at 5pm with the first item 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 III

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 and II of the report at their regular meetings on August 12, 2026, and August 27, 2026, respectively. This is an opportunity for the Board to hear Part III of the report on item 1.

Item 1 states, "The Superintendet 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 III of the report and the Praesidium Dashboard at this meeting. 

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

District staff presented information on the District’s Raptor system, new vendor pass system that will better identify vendors and volunteers in our schools, and updates on staff safety training. The Board asked questions of Superintendent Rundle and District staff and held a discussion on Part III of the report. The Board took no action. 

Swearing In of Junior Student Board Representative

After the first item on the agenda Superintendent Rundle swore in Junior Student Board Representative Kavya Muralidhar. Muralidhar will serve a two-year term as a Student Board Representative.

Read Kavya’s Oath of Office

Read Kavya’s Bio

After the swearing-in the Board took up four items on the Partial Governance Process Monitoring agenda.

2. Board Policy 1800 OE-9: Communication and Support to the Board - Proposed Revisions to Board Policy 3205: Sexual Harassment of Students Prohibited (1st rdg)

The Board approved revisions to Board Policy 3205: Sexual Harassment of Students Prohibited at the March 12,2026, regular meeting to meet the District's compliance obligations. Further revisions were discussed at that time, and it was agreed that additional changes would be brought forward at a future meeting after the Student Safety and Well-Being Committee completed its policy review and Praesidium issued its report.

The revisions to Board Policy 3205 take into account recommendations from the Committee and Praesidium. The Board may take action on this policy following any discussion or may elect to place this item on the consent agenda for a second reading and formal action at the next regular meeting.

Under Board Policy 1800 OE-9: Communication and Support to the Board, this policy requires review annually. Recommendations for any further revisions pursuant to this review will be included in the OE-9 annual monitoring report scheduled to be reviewed by the Board in December.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board held a discussion on this agenda item and determined technology and a potential bond were two topics to speak to the community about at this listening session.

3. Board Policy 1800 OE-9: Communication and Support to the Board - Community Listening & Information Session Planning Discussion

The Board will hold discussion around planning for the Community Listening & Information Session scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

Items to Discuss:

• Confirm time (currently proposed from 6:00pm to 7:30pm)
• Confirm Location (currently MIHS)
• Discuss topics to address
• Agree upon format for the evening

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board held a discussion on this agenda item and determined technology and a potential bond were two topics to speak to the community about at this listening session.

4. Board Policy 1005: Board Officer and Board Member Duties - Board Committee Assignments

Board Policy 1005: Board Officer and Board Member Duties states, in part, that "[i]ndividual Board members serve the District in numerous roles, including but not limited to, school site liaisons and members of superintendent advisory committees. Board members will regularly attend meetings as required by such assignments and keep the Board updated on significant information or actions shared at these meetings."

This is an opportunity for Board members to determine 2026-27 committee assignments for school liaisons, PTA committees, Superintendent advisories and other committees as determined by the Board.

Board committee assignments are linked here and the current assignments, made December 11, 2025, are here.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board held a discussion to determine committee assignments for 2026-27.

5. Board Policy 1005: Board Officer and Board Member Duties - Legislative Priorities for 2026 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 2026-27 advocacy platform. The GA represents an opportunity for school boards 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.

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. The Board's legislative reps will bring forward several legislative priorities for the full Board's consideration, which may include but are not limited to: Special education, MSOC, Transportation, Substitute costs. To the extent possible, staff will provide data to support the priorities. 

This was an opportunity for the Board to review recommendations for proposals to be voted on by the Board's designee at the General Assembly.

The Board also reviewed MISD State Funding Gaps and their 2026 Legislative Priorities as part of reviewing both the District’s priorities and WSSDA’s priorities.

Board Discussion, Action, and/or Recommendations

The Board held a discussion to review recommendations for proposals. The Board took no action.

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

Recognitions
Superintendent Rundle recognized the 25-year anniversary of September 11, 2011, Rosh Hashanah, Childhood Cancer Awareness Day in the District on Thursday, September 17, National Hispanic Heritage Month, Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and Yom Kippur.

Student Representative Report
Student Representatives to the board Brody Newcomer and Kavya Muralidhar presented the first Student Representative Report of the school year.

Student Representatives also spoke to the Board about the use of AI at MIHS by students. The Board had questions on the use of AI by students and they held a discussion on this topic.

They also spoke about how they are hearing from peers at MIHS about students search history on District issued devices are being made available to parents through Securly. Students do not like that this is happening.   

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.

After Public Input 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 a Enrollment Update to the Board. The District projected an FTE of 3,681 students for 2026-27 but as of September 8, 2026, there is an FTE of 3,788 students, an increase of 107 students. FTE stands for Full Time Equivalent.  

Board Announcements, Inquiries, and Reports

Director Burnett – Director Stephanie Burnett attended the new 6^th grade family pizza night at IMS last week.

Director Lee – Director Jody Lee attended the first PTA Council meeting of the school year on Wednesday. Director Lee has been meeting with community members as the school year has started.

Director Martinez – Director Cristina Martinez reminded Directors she will not be at the next Board meeting because she will at a WSSDA meeting.

Director Bradley – Director Julian Bradley has been meeting with community members and feels it has been a good start to the school year.

Director Tucker – Director Maggie Tai Tucker attended the pre-meeting of the PTA Belonging and Voice committee.

Legislative Report – Director Martinez and Director Bradley did not have a report.

The meeting adjourned at 8:18pm.

We encourage community members to watch the YouTube recording of the September 10 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.