Board Meeting Recaps

The Issaquah School Board held a regular meeting on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at the Issaquah School District Administration Center. The meeting was open to the public and recorded live on the district’s YouTube channel, where a recording is available for viewing.

This summary provides an overview of key discussions and board actions from the meeting. It is not an official record or meeting minutes. To review the official meeting minutes, visit the Board Meeting Archive. For information on future board meetings, agendas, and district updates, visit the School Board webpage.

 

Board Retreat Recap (6:10 p.m.)

The board members summarized their March 3-4 retreat, which provided an opportunity for in-depth discussions on educational priorities and long-term planning. No action was taken during the extended work study session.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) & Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

• UDL focuses on flexible learning strategies that support diverse student needs.
• Board members emphasized that teachers need more training to fully integrate UDL into classrooms.
• MTSS provides tiered interventions for academic & behavioral support, aligning with ISD’s student-centered approach.

Inclusive Practices & Special Education Services

• Parents of students with disabilities raised concerns about how inclusion efforts impact individualized support.
• Board members said that clearer communication is needed to help families understand available resources.
• ISD is expanding teacher training & classroom support to ensure smooth transitions for students with special needs.

Improving District Communication & Change Management

• Director Marnie Maraldo emphasized that education jargon can confuse families—more accessible communication is needed.
• Members of the board discussed strategies to increase transparency in curriculum & policy updates.

 

Work Study Recap – Issaquah Schools Foundation (ISF) (6:17 p.m.)

Board directors met for a work study session with ISF leadership to discuss the foundation’s funding impact and community engagement efforts.

ISF’s Role in ISD

• Funds STEM, mental health, and college readiness programs that the district budget does not fully cover.
• Supports pilot programs before districtwide implementation.

Key ISF Programs Highlighted

• Community-Based Homework Club – Provides tutoring in student neighborhoods to increase accessibility.
• Skyline High School Tutoring Program – A peer-led initiative strengthening academic support.
• Buddy Hall Program (Beaver Lake MS) – Peer mentorship for social & academic development.

Expanding ISF’s Visibility

• Director Matt Coyne emphasized that ISF is a model foundation in Washington state, but many families are unaware of its impact.
• The board members discussed increasing ISF visibility in board meetings and newsletters.

 

Superintendent’s Updates – Works in Progress (6:27 p.m.)

Superintendent Heather Tow-Yick provided updates about key district initiatives, partnerships and student engagement efforts.

City of Sammamish Collaboration

• ISD leaders met with Sammamish city officials to discuss school capacity planning, traffic safety and environmental regulations.

Superintendent Convening at UW

• Washington state is exploring a shift toward student-based education funding rather than the current resource-based model.
• Board members discussed potential impacts on ISD funding structures if these changes move forward.

Student Panels on School Transitions

• Principals and administrators hosted six student focus groups to listen to middle & high schoolers.
• Key concerns:
  • Middle schoolers want clearer guidance on scheduling & executive functioning skills.
  • High schoolers need more structured support in course selection & graduation planning.
  • Board members supported expanding mentorship programs & transition support resources.

Monitoring Report for Operational Expectation 16, Equity (6:35 p.m.)

The Board reviewed the Operational Expectation 16 (OE-16) monitoring report, which tracks ISD’s progress in ensuring equitable access to education. Student representatives from Issaquah, Skyline, Liberty, and Gibson Ek High Schools shared student perspectives on inclusion, accessibility, and fairness in school policies. High school survey responses highlighted student concerns about equity and inclusion across the district including curriculum diversity, fairness in treatment by staff, and financial barriers for limited extracurricular participation. Overall, students expressed a desire for more tangible action, better support systems and improved communication.

Recruitment & Retention Efforts

• ISD is expanding hiring at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and increasing LGBTQIA+ outreach to diversify staff.
• Board members emphasized the need to focus on long-term teacher retention strategies.

Community Engagement & Student Equity Initiatives

• ISD hosted 19 family engagement events on attendance, financial aid and student support services.
• Director Mullings suggested expanding parent advisory groups to strengthen two-way communication.

Highly Capable (HiCap) Program Access

• Board members raised concerns about disparities in HiCap program enrollment.
• The district is exploring universal screening options to increase access for underrepresented students.

Board members discussed how to better engage students and ensure equity initiatives are clearly communicated. They highlighted concerns about low survey participation and the need to ensure results reflect diverse perspectives, financial barriers to student activities, the need for regular forums to gather student input and more. Directors expressed appreciation for student insights and committed to ongoing collaboration on equity improvements.

Board members voted to approve the monitoring report for OE-16.

 

2025-26 Budget Update (7:41 p.m.)

Chief of Finance and Operations Martin Turney and Executive Director of Finance Moriah Banasick presented financial projections for the 2025-26 school year, with key concerns including changes to projected enrollment, increasing costs and potential funding shortfalls. The district’s projected enrollment is estimated to be 355 students less next year, impacting state revenue and staffing needs. The district’s reserve fund is projected to decline by $9 million, driven by curriculum investments, inflation and lower-than-expected enrollment. Federal funding, which provides about $9.4 million annually, remains uncertain, raising concerns about long-term budget stability.

Board members discussed special education costs, which continue to rise despite flat enrollment, and the need for clearer cost tracking. They also explored potential budget adjustments, including a "Start, Stop, Grow" review of programs, open enrollment strategies, and long-term planning based on local housing trends.

Next Steps & Budget Timeline

• July 2025: Preliminary budget and financial guide released.
• August 2025: Public hearing and budget adoption.
• Ongoing: Legislative monitoring, enrollment tracking, and financial adjustments as needed.

The board will continue refining budget strategies to maintain financial stability while ensuring essential student services are preserved.

 

Legislative Matters (8:13 p.m.)

Director A.J. Taylor and Director Marnie Maraldo provided updates about recent legislative actions and advocacy efforts affecting ISD, including special education funding, operational costs and federal education policies.

Key Legislative Updates

• Special Education Funding (SB5263) – The bill passed 48-0, securing $2 billion in additional special education funding statewide over four years.
• Board members said they are optimistic but noted that it does not fully cover the rising costs of special education services.
• Materials, Supplies, & Operating Costs (MSOC) Funding – Board members discussed state proposals to increase MSOC funding, which has not kept pace with inflation.
• Eminent Domain Bill – Board members reviewed a new bill passed in the Senate (47-0) that could impact school district property acquisition.
• National School Boards Association Advocacy & Equity Institute – A.J. Taylor & Maraldo attended the event in Washington, D.C., where they:
  • Advocated for increased federal education funding, particularly for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) & Title I programs.
  • Sent letters to lawmakers regarding immigrant student protections & Title IX regulations.

Board Discussion

• Director Maraldo emphasized that while the passage of SB5263 is a step forward, ISD must continue lobbying for full special education funding to prevent local budget shortfalls.
• Director Taylor stressed the importance of staying proactive in advocating for state and federal funding to support ISD students.

Next Steps:

• Monitor legislative developments that impact district funding.
• Continue direct advocacy efforts with lawmakers for increased education funding.
• Educate the community on how legislative decisions affect local schools.

The board will provide further updates as legislative sessions progress and assess how these funding changes impact ISD’s long-term financial planning.

 

Board Engagement & Future Discussions (8:25 p.m.)

The Board reviewed upcoming engagement efforts and long-term discussion topics, emphasizing student involvement, district planning, and policy development.

Upcoming Board Engagements

• High School Student Engagement:
  • The Board is scheduling focus groups with high school students with IEPs to gather insights on special education services and inclusion efforts.
• IMS/IHS Town Hall:
  • A community town hall is being planned to address concerns about school capacity, academic programs, and district funding.
• Clark Elementary PTA Open Forum:  
  • Directors Maraldo and Coyne will attend the March 25 event to discuss elementary school initiatives and community priorities.

Executive Session Scheduled

• The board scheduled an Executive Session for March 18 to discuss legal matters.
• The session will be held in a hybrid format from 9:00–10:30 a.m.

Future Policy & Committee Discussions

• Board Committee Development (GC-7): The Board discussed forming a structured committee process for the student representative program, ensuring that student voices are integrated into district decision-making.
• Standardizing Decision-Making Processes:
  • Board members noted the need for clearer procedures for reviewing, approving, and implementing policies, ensuring greater transparency and consistency in decision-making.