Board Report - 10/27/2023
Vea la versión en español del Informe de la Junta Directiva aqui.
This is a summary of the Pasco School District Board Meeting on October 24, 2023.
View the School Board Meeting Online
Celebrating National Principals Month
As part of National Principals Month, we proudly celebrated and recognized the exceptional individuals who are the backbone of our education system – our Principals and Assistant Principals.
Principals and Assistant Principals are more than just administrators; they are the guiding lights for our schools, the architects of educational excellence, and the champions of our students' success. Their influence reaches far beyond the walls of the classrooms and corridors, shaping the very futures of the young minds under their care. Their hard work, innovative ideas, and leadership inspire us all to strive for the best in education.
School Improvement Plan Process
During the Board Study Session, Mira Gobel, Assistant Superintendent of Schools & Social Emotional Learning, and Carla Lobos, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services, provided an overview of the school improvement identification process and its alignment to the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) expectations, with a focus on Pasco's education system. Pasco's committed to aligning with OSPI's expectations and utilizing data-driven strategies to improve student outcomes.
Also reported during the study session were positive outcomes of 2023 Smarter Balanced Assessment data and the sharing of site-level school improvement plans are essential components of the district's improvement process by the school principals.
Naming of Comprehensive High School #3 and the Career and College Academy
Seth Johnson, Planning Principal for the Career and College Academy, and Raquel Martinez, Planning Principal for the Comprehensive High School #3, delivered an update on the naming process and name recommendations for Comprehensive High School #3 and the Career and College Academy.
Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Martinez provided the recommended names the committee decided on for both high schools which are:
Comprehensive High School #3:
Desert Vista High School
Great Forks High School
Harvest View High School
Sageview High School
Sunset High School
Career and College Academy
Orion High School
Pathways High School
Sun Willows High School
Tradewinds High School
The Board was asked to take action on choosing the new high school names and they moved to approve the name Harvest View High School for Comprehensive High School #3 and Orion High School for the Career and College Academy.
Next steps involve unveiling preliminary branding concepts, which will include colors, taglines, and a mascot mock-up for Comprehensive High School #3. This presentation will take place during the upcoming Board Meeting on Tuesday, November 14. Your input is highly encouraged as it will play a pivotal role in helping the Board determine whether "Harvest View High School" is the best fit for the school's name. Your voice matters, and we look forward to your feedback!
Superintendent’s Student Action Council October Update
PSD Student Board Representatives Kimberly Joya Manzanarez and Samantha Quiroga presented a summary of their first Student Action Council meeting held on October 11.
During their meetings, students were presented with the naming recommendations for the new high schools. They also discussed what the needs are from students for mental health and student support services in their high schools.
The next Student Action Council meeting is scheduled for January 24.
High School Boundary Process: Outcome of ThoughtExchange and Next Steps
Jake Stueckle, Director of Secondary Instructional Systems, presented an update on the boundary process for the new high schools and discussed how the district utilized ThoughtExchange to engage the community.
Mr. Stueckle invited the Board to discuss the initial guiding principles for elementary, middle, and high school boundaries.
The next steps involve forming the Boundary Input Team, which will create boundary scenarios based on themes and priorities collected through ThoughtExchange. A series of stakeholder meetings will be conducted to gather input, and multiple rounds of boundary proposals and revisions will be carried out, involving gathering stakeholder input, analyzing and implementing changes, and sharing findings with stakeholders. The district staff will then engage the board to determine boundaries based on stakeholder input and data.
Employee Services Program
Dr. Bob Smart, Executive Director of Employee Services, provided the board with the information they had requested about substitute absences. He also shared insights on the long-term priorities of Employee Services, focusing on enhancing systems for data-driven planning and decision-making.
Next steps involve completing the development of data dashboards that will showcase real-time substitute teacher request fill rates. Additionally, the plan includes establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) for Employee Services, aligned with the three pillars of Human Resource Management: Recruiting, Retention, and Development. Furthermore, additional tools and reports for position control will be crafted to support site leaders, system leaders, and policymakers.
Next Board Meeting
Attend in-person, via Zoom, phone, or live-stream.
Tuesday, Nov 14, 2023, 06:30 PM
1215 West Lewis Street, Pasco, WA, USA
