School Board Meeting Recap: April 10, 2025

The Issaquah School Board held a regular meeting on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at the District Administration Building. The meeting was open to the public and livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel. A recording is available for community viewing.

Today we are sharing a summary of the key topics discussed and actions taken. This recap is not an official record. For formal minutes and other board-related information, visit the School Board page.

 

City of Issaquah Engagement Recap

The meeting began with a discussion about the board's recent joint engagement meeting with the City of Issaquah, held at the Holly Street Early Learning Center on March 31, 2025. The joint meeting served as a valuable opportunity to share updates and strengthen collaboration between district and city leaders.

Board members emphasized the importance of aligning growth projections across both agencies, particularly as the city anticipates a significant increase in housing development. These shared insights are expected to inform the district’s long-term planning and capital projects strategy.

Key topics included:

• Prior growth over the past couple of decades and anticipated construction of new housing units through 2044
• Primary growth speculated to be multifamily structures within the central region of the city
• The impact of projected growth on school enrollment and district facilities
• Coordination on infrastructure and city services related to school sites
• A request for the city to publish independent growth projections to validate planning assumptions

Board members expressed appreciation for the meeting's collaborative spirit and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining open communication with city partners as the region grows.

 

PTSA Council Engagement

Members of the board shared about a work study session with Issaquah PTSA Council leaders; that session took place before the regular meeting. The conversation focused on declining membership, lower volunteer participation and strategies to increase family engagement across school communities.

Board members and PTSA leaders identified a variety of factors contributing to decreased involvement, including changes in work patterns and demographics, loss of generational knowledge due to the pandemic, and limited awareness of the role of school PTSA organizations in supporting students and schools.

Discussion highlights included:

• Membership and volunteerism are declining at the national and state levels.
• Issaquah PTSA Membership dropped from 76% in 2018 to 41% in 2024.
• PTSA leaders shared reasons for declining enrollment, including the pandemic, changes to enrollment process and newsletters and volunteer onboarding gaps.
• PTSA Council leaders want to improve collaboration between school PTSA presidents and principals to increase engagement and communication with school communities.
• ISD leaders discussed making volunteer roles more visible and accessible, best practices from districts experiencing post-pandemic growth and a greater need for grassroots recruitment.

Board members praised the PTSA Council for its leadership and underscored the value of restoring a strong culture of family engagement. Directors encouraged all district families to join their schools’ PTSAs and get involved in shaping vibrant school communities.

 

NSBA and ASU+GSV Conference Reports

Board members and Superintendent Heather Tow-Yick provided reflections from their participation in two major national conferences: the National School Boards Association (NSBA) Annual Conference in Atlanta and the ASU+GSV (Arizona State University + Global Silicon Valley) Summit in San Diego. Each event offered professional development and insights into national trends in education.

Directors who attended the NSBA conference shared takeaways from sessions focused on crisis communication, student engagement and school governance best practices. Those who attended the ASU+GSV Summit emphasized its focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology in transforming education.

Key themes included:

• Using AI to enhance access to education and personalize learning
• The value of aptitude-based learning models over traditional academic tracks
• Concerns about data ethics and student perspectives on AI exploitation
• The need for public education systems to adapt rapidly to changing workforce demands

 

Board members emphasized that while technology offers powerful tools for innovation, districts must also navigate emerging equity and ethical challenges thoughtfully. The conferences reinforced the importance of preparing students for a future shaped by AI, adaptability and lifelong learning.

 

Superintendent’s Report – Works in Progress

Superintendent Tow-Yick offered a brief update on two timely initiatives currently underway across the district. Each effort reflects the district’s continued focus on student opportunity and family engagement.

The first was a reminder about the upcoming April 30 deadline for open enrollment, which allows families to request school transfers for the 2025–26 school year. Updated information about the capacity for each school is available on the district website.

The second initiative was the launch of Career Kickstart, a free, two-week summer program for rising juniors and seniors. With generous support from the Issaquah Schools Foundation, the program offers hands-on career exploration, worksite visits and job shadowing.

Program details include:

• Open to students at Issaquah, Liberty and Skyline High Schools
• Hosted in August with up to 50 participants selected
• Includes skills workshops, on-site experiences and career pathway guidance
• Designed in collaboration with school counselors and staff from Gibson Ek
• Applications are due by Friday, April 25 at 9:00 p.m.

The superintendent highlighted the strong early interest in the program and reaffirmed the district’s commitment to helping students explore meaningful pathways after graduation.

 

Sustainability Policy – First Read

Student ambassadors presented a proposed sustainability policy to the board for its first reading. The policy, which has been in development for more than a year, reflects a collaborative effort between students, district staff and board representatives.

Board members commended the students’ leadership and said they appreciated revisions that clarified expectations and acknowledged financial considerations. Directors also offered feedback on refining language and adding a stronger vision statement to guide the policy’s long-term goals.

Policy highlights include:

• Consolidation from 179 detailed directives to five high-level expectations
• Emphasis on sustainable transportation, resource use and facilities planning
• Inclusion of language ensuring alignment with available district resources
• Cross-references to existing monitoring reports for clarity and cohesion

The policy will return for a second reading and possible adoption at the next board meeting. Directors expressed their desire to finalize the policy before senior student leaders graduate in June.

 

Capital Projects and New High School Update

The board members reviewed a proposal to begin phased construction of the New High School on the property the district owns near the border of the city of Issaquah and the city of Sammamish. District staff informed the school board that a land use permit extension letter and a building permit extension letter were submitted to the City of Issaquah to allow additional time for the district to engage the community to shape the school’s programming.

District staff then reviewed a plan to reduce overcrowding to build the initial phase within the pre-approved footprint and design. This plan recommended moving forward with the “west section” using existing voter-approved funding and resources. This approach provides some relief from overcrowding and adapts to future enrollment changes, is cost effective and allows for programming flexibility.

Key elements of the proposal:

• Construction of a 74,000-square-foot west wing with 23 classrooms
• Capacity for approximately 650 students
• A parking structure and athletic field with lights and track
• With approximately $146 million in available funding, $90 million from 2016 funds, $44 million from the 2022 levy, and $12 million from other funding sources (i.e., School Assistance Program Funds and interest earnings), the project aligns with the district’s preliminary cost estimate of $145.7 million.
• Project start in March 2026 with completion by August 2027

Board members voiced their strong support for the plan, citing its potential to relieve pressure at Skyline and Issaquah high schools. They also stressed the importance of keeping programming flexible to meet future students and workforce needs. The board directed district staff to proceed with formal planning for the project.

 

2025–26 Budget Update

Martin Turney, ISD Chief of Finance and Operations, introduced the development of the 2025–26 district budget. He reminded the school board that the district is taking a balanced, equity-informed approach aligned with board guidance, state and federal mandates, and emerging student needs.

The 2025–26 budget planning process continues to focus on equity-informed priorities aligned with the district’s strategic goals. Moriah Banasick, CPA and Executive Director of Finance and Budget, shared that approximately $2.5 million is projected for equity-driven investments, supported by a model that enables differentiated staffing and resource allocation. She also outlined key opportunities and risks, including enrollment trends and legislative impacts, and emphasized next steps such as continued engagement with school leaders and community feedback.

Discussion topics included:

• Budgetary impact of federal funding uncertainty
• The use of "start, stop, continue" reviews to evaluate program relevance
• Growing interest in preschool and middle school BASC programming
• Requests for more transparent definitions of equity funding criteria
• Interest in broader teacher involvement in budget input processes

Board members praised the continued use of equity-based practices and asked for simpler public communication tools to explain how budget decisions are made. A more detailed budget presentation is scheduled for June.

 

Strategic Plan Update – Priority Areas 3 & 4

Marcel Hauser, Senior Advisor and Strategy, and team members presented progress updates on Priority Area 3 (Diverse Talent) and Priority Area 4 (Authentic Engagement), two components of the district’s Strategic Plan.

Board members reviewed data showing that students of color now make up 60% of the district’s student population. Staff shared updates on residency programs for paraeducators and strategies to support more inclusive hiring, along with efforts to strengthen family and student engagement.

Highlights from the update:

• Expansion of teacher certification pathways through WEA partnerships
• Use of stipends for teacher residents to reduce certification barriers
• Student survey feedback on engagement and school belonging
• Plans to explore online and reengagement program options

Directors praised the district’s efforts and urged continued focus on measuring goal progress transparently. They also emphasized expanding definitions of staff diversity to include neurodiversity, socioeconomic background and lived experience.

 

Legislative Matters

Director A.J. Taylor updated the board on recent state legislative developments, including bills related to funding special education and materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC). He also raised concerns about potential changes to the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) that could affect district funding. District staff confirmed they had submitted formal feedback to lawmakers advocating for the original version of a front-funding bill and opposing amendments that would reduce SCAP access.

The board members reaffirmed their commitment to active legislative advocacy and continued engagement with policymakers on issues affecting students, funding, and facilities.

 

Planning and Future Topics

To close the meeting, the board confirmed participation in several upcoming events and took action on scheduling adjustments.

Board-approved actions included:

• Attending the Issaquah Schools Foundation Nourish Every Mind Student Showcase on May 1, 2025
• Attending the ACT Graduation Ceremony on June 13, 2025, at Gibson Ek High School
• Moving the July 10, 2025, board meeting to a 9:00 a.m. start time via Zoom

The board members also reviewed plans for the April 23 School Board Candidate Workshop and continued discussions around scheduling fall School Improvement Plan presentations by feeder pattern.