Regular School Board Meetings
Regular meetings are held the fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. except in June and December. June and December Regular School Board meetings are held the second Monday at 6:00 p.m.. All regular meetings will be held at the District office and via zoom.
The Governor’s Office updated its Miscellaneous Venues guidance sometime between 12:40 and 1:40 p.m. on June 30, 2021. It now provides that the following apply to “governing bodies of public agencies opting to host in-person public meetings under the [OPMA], as permitted under Emergency Proclamation 20-28, et seq.”
- No restrictions on capacity.
- No physical distancing requirements.
- Follow current applicable face covering requirements as outlined in:
- Proclamation 20-25, et seq.;
- Secretary of Health Order 20-3.2; and
- LNI Publication F4140179.
Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 8402 (2021) and Proclamation 20-28.15 extended Proclamation 20-28, et seq., “until the termination of the state of emergency…, or until rescinded by gubernatorial or legislative action, whichever occurs first…” Although Washington is reopening, the Governor has been clear that we aren’t out of the woods yet and the state of emergency remains in effect. The most recent version of Proclamation 20-28 addressing OPMA issues for public bodies, Proclamation 20-28.14, extended the prohibition on in-person meetings, but created an exemption for public meetings that “compl[y] with the guidelines for ‘business meetings,’ found in the ‘Miscellaneous Venues’ guidance…”
In other words, under the most recent Miscellaneous Venues guidance, there are no restrictions on capacity limitations on a public body’s meeting venue and no physical distancing requirements. However, masking requirements have not yet gone away. The Roadmap to Recovery continues to incorporate the CDC face covering guidance, which has stricter requirements for identified sensitive locations, including schools.
The requirements for mask wearing at board meetings for school board members and staff is unclear. The safest approach regarding mask wearing at board meetings is to require that if students will be present, everyone must be masked.
Local community members will always have the right to bring their grievances to their elected leaders, but in the case of these public health measures, they are not local decisions. Local boards of directors have broad discretion on the details of instructional delivery. They are not empowered, however, to override the legal authority of public health officers or the Governor in times of a public health emergency. Community actions that result in board actions that violate the law, including executive orders, will jeopardize school budgets, local school personnel, and ultimately the opening of school to in-person learning this fall and beyond.
RCW 28A.300.040
In-person attendees must fill out a registration form to assist with contact tracing. Attendees are encouraged to do so in advance: School Board Meeting Pre-Registration
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Do not attend in person if you are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19.
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Public comment is welcome during the evening business meeting, both in-person and via zoom. Public comment is limited to 3 minutes per speaker. The Board does not typically respond to the comments during the meeting, but will follow up as necessary.
School Board Meeting Pre-Registration
Board work sessions
For the 2021-2022 School Board Work Sessions will be held via zoom. Work sessions are held the second Monday of each month at 4:30 p.m. and the zoom links will be advertised. There are no work sessions during the months of May, June, July, August and December.
