School Board Recap: September 24, 2026

School Board Recap: September 24, 2026

The Issaquah School Board held a regular meeting on Thursday, September 24, at the Issaquah School District Administration Building. The meeting was open to the public and broadcast live on the district’s YouTube channel, where a recording of the meeting is available. This recap highlights selected topics of discussion and Board actions. It is not an official record of the meeting. Official minutes and meeting materials can be found on the district’s Board Meeting Archive webpage, and additional information about future meetings is available on the School Board page.

Work Study Recap

Before the regular session, Board members met with district administrators for an implementation update and discussion about Operational Expectation 14, Instructional Program. The discussion focused on college-credit opportunities and the addition of Advanced Placement courses. Board members highlighted the value of expanding student choice while sustaining the strength and growth of other offerings such as the International Baccalaureate program. No action was taken during the work study.

Works in Progress

Superintendent Heather Tow-Yick shared highlights and information from across the district, including:

• Superintendent Tow-Yick has visited 27 of the district’s 29 learning sites during the first 30 days of school, including curriculum nights, professional development and school arrival activities.
• The district is deepening its partnership with Youth Eastside Services and expanding supports for student well-being, belonging and mental health.
• New special education teachers are receiving support with specially designed instruction that includes dedicated collaboration time for general and special education staff.
• A new English language arts curriculum has launched in grades 6-8, and elementary schools are in the third year of implementing Benchmark literacy materials.
• Planning continues for the Mandarin Dual Language Program, including formation of a family advisory group, a site-selection process expected this winter and a needs assessment based on the state’s dual-language framework.
• Staff connection and question-and-answer sessions will be held at every district site, and the annual parent and caregiver survey will be open Oct. 1-31.
• Preliminary enrollment is lower than last year, particularly at the elementary level. High school enrollment remains stable and above projections, reinforcing the need for the new high school. The official enrollment count is Oct. 1.

Capital Projects Update

Director of Capital Projects Tom Mullins shared an update on the New High School construction project and the Capital Projects Oversight Committee. The project was reported at approximately 28% complete. Structural-steel erection was underway, work continued on the parking garage, utilities, grading, stormwater systems and retaining walls, and roadway improvements along 228th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 43rd Way had begun.

The district reported $437,486 in approved change orders, representing 3.3% of the project contingency, which is already included in the construction budget. Board members requested continued public communication about budget performance, environmental protections, tree replacement and traffic improvements. Planned roadway work includes two lanes in each direction near the site, two additional turn lanes northbound into the school, a dedicated right-turn lane southbound into the school, bicycle lanes, a traffic signal and a longer on-site road entry to the school intended to keep school traffic off 228th Avenue SE.

The Capital Projects Oversight Committee met Sept. 15 and reviewed the 2022 levy, early preparation for the 2026 levy and the new high school project budget, change orders and contingency. The district plans to recruit additional committee members this fall.

New High School Update

Principal on Special Assignment Julia Bamba shared an update on program design for the new high school. The core design team began work on the student and staff experience, schedule prototypes and potential courses, with future sessions focused on curriculum, learning growth, mastery and assessment. An advisory team will review ideas and provide feedback as the work moves from design to implementation.

Board members discussed mentorships, internships, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship, sponsorships and partnerships with businesses, professional associations, higher education, families and community members. They also expressed interest in robotics competition space, clear transportation planning for students from all feeder patterns and helping families understand how students could combine courses at their home high school, the new high school and Running Start.

Students, families, staff and community members are invited to the High School Information and Community Collaboration Event from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at Pickering Barn. The event will offer information about the district’s high school options and opportunities to provide input on the new high school experience. A public process to suggest names, mascot and colors is scheduled to begin Sept. 28 and end Oct. 14, 2026.

Monitoring Report for Operational Expectation 2: Treatment of People

The administration presented the 2025-26 monitoring report for Operational Expectation 2 (OE-2), Treatment of People. The report found the district in compliance with two exceptions: monitoring access to electronically distributed student information and strengthening consistent communication about concern, complaint and appeal processes.

The report highlighted positive or sustained student perceptions of physical safety, belonging, respect, student voice and access to trusted adults. District leaders also identified areas for continued attention, including emotional safety, middle school family communication, fear of retaliation when reporting concerns and clearer communication about appeal rights. Board members and student representatives discussed the value of student focus groups and other ways to understand the experiences behind survey results.

Student representatives voted 6-0 to recommend acceptance of the report. The Board then voted unanimously to accept the monitoring report.

Governance Culture 12: Student Representatives

The Board began discussing potential policy updates to Governance Culture 12 (GC 12), the policy governing Student Representatives to the School Board. The discussion was prompted in part by the opening of the new high school and the need to determine how students from that school will be represented.

Board members and student representatives discussed the number of representatives, term length, mentorship between first- and second-year representatives, meeting efficiency, onboarding, attendance expectations and stronger connections with principals, activities coordinators and student leadership groups. Student representatives emphasized the value of having two students from each school and retaining two-year terms because the model supports continuity, mentorship and broader student voice. Board members expressed differing views about the total number of representatives and how to balance representation with efficient meetings. No action was taken. The discussion will inform a future first reading of proposed policy revisions.

Consent Agenda, Legislative Matters and Looking Ahead

The Board unanimously approved the consent agenda, and discussed state and federal education issues and reflected on the 2026 Washington State School Directors’ Association General Assembly. The Board mentioned that they are hosting listening sessions with elementary staff at Briarwood Elementary, Sunset Elementary, Clark Elementary and Sunny Hills Elementary this fall. They also mentioned and promoted the High School Information and Community Collaboration Event from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at Pickering Barn, and the next regular School Board meeting will be Oct. 22, 2026.