[A. Regular Board Meeting - 7:00 p.m.]
[00:00:08]
WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE DECEMBER 4, 2023 LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN EXCUSED FOR THIS EVENING. THE BOARD VALUES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT IN THE MEETINGS OF THE BOARD. BOARD MEETINGS WILL CONTINUE TO BE LIVE STREAMED ON THE WEBSITE AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE BOARD MEETING AS WELL. THE PUBLIC ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO EMAIL INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS
[B. Opening Items]
AT LW SD.ORG. DIRECTOR GUTHRIE CAN YOU PLEASE READ OUR LANDACKNOWLEDGMENT? >> YES. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT OUR DISTRICT IS ON THE INDIGENOUS LAND OF THE COAST SALISH PEOPLES, WHO HAVE RESERVED TREATY RIGHTS ON THIS LAND, INCLUDING THE DUWAMISH AND THE SNOQUALMIE INDIAN TRIBE. WE THANK THESE CARETAKERS OF THIS LAND WHO HAVE LIVED HERE SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL. WE COMMIT TO CONTINUE COLLABORATING WITH OUR NATIVE COMMUNITY, TO TEACH THE INDIGENOUS HISTORY OF THIS LAND AND THESE LOCAL TRIBES TO ALL CHILDREN OF THE DISTRICT. WE ALSO COMMIT TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN OF NATIVE DESCENT WHO
ATTEND OUR SCHOOLS. >> THANK YOU DIRECTOR GUTHRIE.
I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 4 2023
>> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY DIRECT OR GUTHRIE AND SECONDED BY VICE PRESIDENT ERIC LALIBERTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR WE SIGNIFY BY VOTING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED?
[C. Oath of Office]
HEARING NONE THE MOTION CARRIES. OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING IS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTED ON NOVEMBER 6, 2023. AT THIS TIME DOCTOR HOLMAN WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE. DOCTOR HOLMAN, MISS YOCUM, DIRECTOR GUTHRIE AND VICE PRESIDENT ERIC LALIBERTE PLEASE STAND BY THE DICE TO CONDUCT YOUR OATH OF OFFICE.>> PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HANDS. I, STATE YOUR NAME.
>> I, VICE PRESIDENT ERIC LALIBERTE, DO HEREBY SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES. >> IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON. >> IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON. >> AND WILL FAITHFULLY
DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF. >> AND WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF DIRECTOR OF LAKE WASHINGTON
SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 414. >> IN THE COUNTY OF KING.
>> IN THE COUNTY OF KING IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. THANK YOU DOCTOR
HOLMAN. >> PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME. I,
STATE YOUR NAME. >> LISA GUTHRIE DO HEREBY SOLEMNLY AFFIRM THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF DIRECTOR OF LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 414 IN THE COUNTY OF KING, STATE OF WASHINGTON, ACCORDING TO THE
BEST OF MY ABILITY. >> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. >> PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME. I,
STATE YOUR NAME. >> I, LINSEY YOCUM, DUBAI SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. AND WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF DIRECTOR OF LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 414.
>> IN THE COUNTY OF KING, STATE OF WASHINGTON, ACCORDING
TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. >> CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU DOCTOR HOLMAN.
[00:05:05]
CONGRATULATIONS VICE PRESIDENT ERIC LALIBERTE, LISA GUTHRIE[D. Audience Participation]
AND LINSEY YOCUM THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING WILL BE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE BOARD MEMBERS WELCOME THE PUBLIC TO THE BUSINESS MEETINGS OF THE BOARD AND ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE BOARD DEDICATES 30 MINUTES TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF THE MEETING. OUR DISCIPLINES SHOULD NOT EXPECT A RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD AT THE END OF THEIR COMMENTS AS WE DEDICATE THIS TIME TO LISTENING TO YOUR VOICE AND WOULD LIKE TO GET AS MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK AS TIME ALLOWS. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CONSIGNMENT TO PARTICIPATE ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE ON LW SD. ORG. SIGN UP CLOSES AT NOON AT THE DAY OF THE BOARD MEETING AND COMMENTS WILL BE OFFERED IN THE ORDER OF SIGN-UP. THIS EVENING WE HAVE 39 INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. UNFORTUNATELY WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO EVERYONE'S COMMENTS THIS EVENING HOWEVER IF YOU HAVE A WRITTEN VERSION OF YOUR COMMENTS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL THEM TO THE BOARD. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE HERE THIS EVENING THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO MODEL RESPECTFUL DISCOURSE TO OUR COMMUNITY. EVEN AROUND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT PERSONAL SUBJECTS, WE ASKED THE AUDIENCE REFRAIN FROM COMMENTING AND FROM PROLONGED APPLAUSE FOLLOWING EACH COMMENT AS IT TAKES UP TIME AND IT WILL PREVENT US FROM LISTENING TO AS MANY SPEAKERS AS WE CAN GET IN THE ALLOTTED 30 MINUTE. ONCE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING CONCLUDES WE ASKED THAT EVERYONE WHO IS NOT INTERESTED IN LISTENING TO THE REST OF THE AGENDA ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT EXIT QUIETLY AND IN AN ORDERLY FASHION SO WE CANCONTINUE THE REST OF OUR MEETING. >> TYPICALLY I DON'T SPEAK BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENTS BUT I DID ASK RESIDENT TROY IF I COULD SAY A FEW WORDS. I FIRST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND PROVIDING YOUR VOICE IN THIS SPACE. OUR COMMITMENT IS TO EACH AND EVERY CHILD IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I HAVE SOME PREPARED REMARKS THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU AS WELL. AS AN ORGANIZATION WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF ALL STUDENTS. SUCCESS MEANS OF ALIGNMENT WITH OUR MISSION AND VISION WHICH REQUIRES US TO ADDRESS THE WHOLE CHILD NOT JUST ACADEMICS BUT THE WHOLE CHILD. IT IS WRONG AND HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE FOR STUDENTS TO BE SUBJECT OF ANTI-SEMITIC, ANTI-MUSLIM OR ANY FORM OF HATE SPEECH. ANY FORM OF HATE SPEECH. OUR COMMITMENT IS TO DEVELOP SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND WELL-BEING AND IN THAT IT AIMS TO DEVELOP THE PATHY, COMMUNITY AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP FOR EACH AND EVERY STUDENT WITHIN OUR DISTRICT. WE WILL RESPOND TO REPORTS TO EVALUATE IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR POLICIES AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. WHENTHIS OCCURS WE ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND WE ENCOURAGE BY STANDARDS AND BYSTANDERS ARE THOSE WHO SEE DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION OR BULLYING OCCURRING. WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO REPORT CONCERNS SO APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-UP CAN TAKE PLACE. AS A DISTRICT WE ARE LEARNING ORGANIZATION. OUR COMMITMENT IS TO CONTINUE LEARNING AND DEVELOP OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCTIVE AND SAFE DIALOGUE. OUR SCHOOLS ARE CONSIDERING THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND AS A DISTRICT WE ARE SEEKING OUTSIDE SUPPORT TO HELP US GROW AND LEARN AS LEADERS IN A CULTURALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING ALL STUDENTS EVEN IN THE MIDST OF CURRENT EVENTS. WE APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR FAMILIES OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND I APPRECIATE THE ORDINATION MY TEAM HAS HAD WITH A NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE EXPERIENCES AND NEEDS OF OUR VARIOUS COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR READING THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU DOCTOR HOLMAN. [APPLAUSE] THE FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER WE HAVE ON THE LIST TONIGHT IS HASSAN HATEM.
>> JUST AS A REMINDER YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE IS A STOPLIGHT OVER HERE AND IT WILL BE GREEN AND AS YOU ARE SPEAKING IT WILL TURN YELLOW AT ONE MINUTE AND READ AT THREE AND THEN WE ASK YOU TO WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS AND TAKE YOUR SEAT. THANK YOU.
>> YOUR MICROPHONE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING.
[00:10:19]
>> IS THIS GOOD? JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN TO START. I WILL BE BRIEF LESS THAN 3 MINUTES. ONE, TAKINGTHANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME LISTENING. AND TWO, HEARD THE APPLAUSE IN THIS ISSUE TO ME IS NOT AN APPLAUSE THING IS A JOB WELL DONE.
THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT A JOB WELL DONE WHEN IT COMES TO RELENTLESS AND ENDLESS MASSACRE THAT IS MAN-MADE. I WOULD APPRECIATE NO APPLAUSE AFTER THIS. I UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S SO MUCH PASSION, OBVIOUSLY FROM WHAT YOU ARE SEEING THROUGH YOUR ECHO CHAMBERS OR SEEING YOURSELF AND THE LOSS OF LIFE OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT SPEAK. THEY UNDERSTAND THE PASSION AND I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL SO I WILL TRY TO BE AS RELEVANT AS POSSIBLE AND NOT MAKE IT A NATIONAL MESSAGE. BRIEFLY ABOUT MYSELF I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER THAT EXPERIENCE IN I REMEMBER BEING -EXPERIENCING THE ISLAMIC PHOBIA AS WE CALL IT NOW IT WAS NOT ISLAMIC PHOBIA THEN. FAST FORWARD 22 YOU YEARS LATER I VIVIDLY REMEMBER HEARING THAT EVEN WISHING IT WAS NOT DONE BY MUSLIMS BUT KNOWING IT HAPPENED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE ONLY REASON I'M SHARING IT PERSONALLY BECAUSE 20 YEARS LATER I VIVIDLY REMEMBER NO MEMBER, TEACHER NO ONE I'M ASKING YOU TO BE THAT REPRESENTATION OF KIDS DOWN THE ROAD. THAT STUCK WITH ME. THE OTHER PIECE I WANTED TO SHARE WAS IN TERMS OF ISLAMIC PHOBIA I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A HANDFUL OF KIDS SUMMER MUSLIM SUMMER PALESTINIAN ONE OF WHICH LOST 20 MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY.
I AM RELAYING WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. THEY ARE IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT THEY ARE YOUR STUDENTS AND THEY FELT THAT THEY DID NOT INDIVIDUALLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SELECTIVELY SHARE THEIR STORY.
THEY CAN DO IT ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS BUT NOT AS A TEAM OR ORGANIZATION AND NOT TOGETHER. THEY DID NOT FEEL THEY RECEIVED THE SAME LEVEL OF SYMPATHY AND SUPPORT AS THEIR ISRAELI OR JEWISH STUDENTS DID. THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS AFFORDED TO THEM SO THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS UNFAIR TREATMENT OF THEM AND MAYBE NOT INTENDED BUT THAT IS THEIR EXPERIENCE. THE OTHER PIECE FELT WAS FEAR OF SPEAKING OUT. THEY DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFER THAN FOR INDIVIDUALS IN ANY FORM OF WALKOUT OR PROTEST THEY DID NOT FEEL THEY WERE AFFORDED THE SAFETY TO ARTICULATE THEIR EXPRESSION. SO THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE I PROMISED THAT I WOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ECHO TO YOU.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT PUBLIC
COMMENT IS SAMANTHA TAL. >> HI. WITH YOUR PERMISSION I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE SPEAKER NUMBER 18 TO TALK AND I WILL
TAKE HIS PLACE INSTEAD. >> MY NAME IS GAIL AND I AM A PARENT OF TWO KIDS IN LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOLS. MY WIFE VOLUNTEERS IN THE PTA AND I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF LAKE UNDOUBTEDLY ANTI-SEMITISM AND ISLAMIC PHOBIA ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN RACISM AND HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION. I WILL QUOTE FROM A BLOG FROM JULIA STEINBERG A RECENT GRADUATE OF HIGH SCHOOL IN LA AND CURRENTLY A JUNIOR IN STANFORD. SHE WRITES, I AM 21 YEARS OLD AND JEWISH. APPARENTLY 48 PERCENT OF MY PEERS WANTS PEOPLE LIKE ME DEAD. SHE IS REFERRING TO A POLE WHERE 48 PERCENT OF 18 TO 24-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN SAID THEY SIDE MORE WITH HAMAS THAN ISRAEL. SHE CONTINUES TO WRITE, I AM NOT SURPRISED. IN HIGH SCHOOL MY HOMEROOM HAD AN EXERCISE WHERE HE MADE A T CHART DIVIDING ETHNICITIES
[00:15:04]
RELIGIONS AND OTHER IDENTITIES INTO THE CATEGORIES OF OPPRESSOR AND OPPRESSED. WOMEN OPPRESSED STREET PEOPLE OPPRESSORS. BLACK PEOPLE OPPRESSED. THEN WE REACHED THE JEW CATEGORY AND WE PAUSED. THIS BEING A HIGH SCHOOL IN LOS ANGELES MANY OF MY CLASSMATES WERE JEWISH. THE T CHART STAYED ON THE WHITE BOARD IF THERE WERE FEWER JEWS IN THE ROOM I'M CONFIDENT THAT JEWS WOULD'VE GONE SQUARELY IN THE OPPRESSOR COLUMN. SOCIAL JUSTICE THEORY BECAME PART OF EVERYTHING. MY SENIOR ENGLISH CLASS WAS ABOUT READINGS AND CRITICAL THEORY MOSTLY ABOUT RACE AND GENDER. I HAD A NON- ACADEMIC HOMEROOM CLASS WE LEARNED EVERY RIGHT PERSON IS RACIST AND ALL MEN ARE EVIL. IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO SHAKE OFF THE HATRED OF MEN IT WASN'T ACCEPTABLEACCEPTABLE TO DISAGREE AND MANY DID NOT TRY. AFTER READING THIS BLOG I FELT IT WAS A TERRIFIC EXAMPLE OF ONE SCHOOL IN LA BUT IT WON'T HAPPEN IN LAKE WASHINGTON. THEN I CHECKED THE COURSE CATALOG THAT MY DAUGHTER WILL ATTEND AND I FOUND A COURSE CALLED D COLONIZING US HISTORY. I WILL QUOTE FROM THE CURRICULUM. WE WILL TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO STUDYING US HISTORY BY CENTERING HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED PERSPECTIVE AND IDENTITIES INCLUDING THE PERSPECTIVE OF WOMEN, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, LATINX, ASIAN AMERICANS AND LGBTQ+ PEOPLE. WE WILL FOCUS ON UNIQUE IDENTITIES AND THEMES OF POWER AND OPPRESSION AND THEMES OF RESISTANCE. I CONTINUE SEARCHING AND FOUND ANOTHER COURSE AT EMERSON HIGH CALLED ETHICS STUDIES AND I WILL QUOTE FROM THAT SYLLABUS. THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLES OF AMERICA WILL BE STUDIED THROUGH THE CONTEXT OF FIVE CORE THEMES AMONG THE POWER AND OPPRESSION AND LIBERATION IN RESISTANCE.>> IF YOU COULD WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS PLEASE.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD DOES ANYONE AUDIT HIGH SCHOOL COURSES? HOW DO WE KNOW THAT TEACHERS ARE NOT CREATING KEY CHARTS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS WHERE ALL WHITE PEOPLE ARE LABELED AS OPPRESSORS? HOW DO WE KNOW THEY ARE SIGNING BOOKS ABOUT LITERATURE AND NOT JUST ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY?
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT PUBLIC
COMMENT TONIGHT IS AMIR AWAD. >> I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONSIDER MY CONCERNS. MY NAME IS AMIR AWAD I AM A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR. I WAS BORN IN BELLEVUE I AM A MUSLIM ANTI-AMERICAN AND I AM A PROUD PALESTINIAN.
LABELS HAVE BEEN A CONSISTENT PORTION OF MY ACADEMIC CAREER AT LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT. TERRACE AND BALLMER ARE TWO OF THE LABELS THAT SECURELY STUCK WITH ME. AS A STUDENT AND MOVE FROM A PRIVATE MUSLIM SCHOOL IN FIFTH GRADE THESE REMARKS FROM OTHER STUDENTS WERE CONFUSING TO ME.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME I HAD NEVER WILL HEARD RACIALLY INSENSITIVE TERMS BY ANYONE LET ALONE BY MY FELLOW STUDENTS.
MY SCHOOL PEERS WERE OPEN BUT TO USE THESE TERMS WITHIN AN ACADEMIC SETTING TO ELICIT HUMOR FROM OTHERS OR A REACTION FROM ME. THESE EVENTS ALL OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE EVENTS PRIOR TO OCTOBER 7. MY EXPERIENCE WITH RACISM WAS DEVELOPED SOLELY WITH INTERACTION WITH STUDENTS.
THIS WAS UNTIL THE LAST BOARD MEETING. TO MY SURPRISE THE MOST RECENT ACT OF RACISM DIRECTED AT ME WAS VOCALIZED FROM THE MOUTH OF A PARENT. AFTER PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT EVENING I ASKED SELECT PARENTS WHY THEY CHOSE TO LAUGH DURING A TESTIMONY OF THE PALESTINIAN PARENT ABOUT THE DEATH OF CHILDREN IN GAZA. AFTER APPOINTMENT ACTS AND POINTING FINGERS TOWARDS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY I WAS MET WITH THE DISTASTEFUL REMARK OF, IF THIS IS HOW YOU WILL ARE ACTING NOW I AM SCARED OF WHAT YOU WILL BECOME. IGNORANCE FROM STUDENTS IS SOMETHING I WAS FORCED TO ACCLIMATE TO HOWEVER, WORDS CANNOT BEGIN TO DESCRIBE THE DISAPPOINTMENT I FELT TOWARDS THAT PARENT. I SPEAK WITH THE UTMOST CERTAINTY WHEN I SAY MY DARKER COMPLEXION, CURLY HAIR AND PALESTINIAN HERITAGE PLAYS A ROLE IN THE WORD CHOICE OF THE SPIRIT.
WHAT WAS THERE TO FEAR ABOUT ME? HOW COULD THIS DISPLAY OF BLATANT DISCRIMINANT RACIST COMMENTS BE ALLOWED AND GO UNCHECKED WITH LWSD ADMINISTRATION. I WILL CLARIFY
[00:20:02]
I WILL NOT STAND TO HAVE THE REAL EXPERIENCES OF PALESTINIANS BELITTLED AS I WATCH THE DESTRUCTION OF MY HERITAGE WITH HEINOUS ACTS OF HATRED AGAINST JEWISH, ARAB AND MUSLIM PEOPLE ON THE RISE. I URGE THE LWSD SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PLACE AN IMMEDIATE EMPHASIS IN EDUCATING STUDENTS AND PROVIDING A NO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR SUCH HATRED TOWARDS ANYONE BY ANYONE REGARDING THE GENOCIDE THAT IS UNFOLDING HERE ARE SOME TRUTHS I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU. AS OF TODAY, THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS REPORTS THERE ARE 15 THOUSAND 523 DEATHS IN GAZA. 4257 OF WHICH ARE WOMEN, 6387 OF WHICH ARE CHILDREN. WE THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE ARE NOT CHILDREN OF DARKNESS NOR DO WE ABIDE BY THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE. WE ARE HUMAN AND DESERVE TO BE TREATED AS SUCH. THROUGHOUT MY ACADEMIC CAREER I HAVE BEEN MADE WELL AWARE OF THE HISTORICAL INJUSTICES AND TRAGEDIES THAT HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO COLONIZATION AND OCCUPATION OF LAND. I ASKED THE LWSD BOARD DO NOT ALLOW THIS CONFLICT TO BE UNREPENTED FOR FUTURE HISTORY BOOKS. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE][CHEERING] >> THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT WE HAVE THE NEXT PERSON WE HAVE SPEAKING THIS EVENING IS ALI ELKAHKY. I THINK I BUTCHERED THE LAST NAME I AM SORRY.
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE AND THE EFFECTS ON THE CITIZENS AND QUESTIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I'M SURE YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE CONFLICT. THE CONFLICT EXISTED FOR 75 YEARS WITH DEATH TOLLS OF TENS OF THOUSANDS. 96 PERCENT OF THEM ARE NO GO. BEFORE OCTOBER 27 TO 50 PALESTINIANS WERE KILLED BY IDF AND SETTLERS. IN MORE THAN 1000 ARE IN DEFINITELY KEPT IN ISRAELI JAILS WITHOUT A CHARGE.
BUT ALL OF THAT FOR US FOR JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL IN THE US.
AND THEN OCTOBER 7 WITH ALL OF ITS EVENTS IN THE KILLING OF MORE THAN 1200 AND THEN WE SAW A STRONG MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CONDEMN WHAT HAPPENED AND WE SAW OUR FLAG FLYING AT HALF MAST AT A LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL BUILDING IN THE EVENTS CONTINUED AFTER THAT. WE HAVE BEEN WITNESSING THE KILLING OF MORE THAN 15,000 PALESTINIANS OF WHICH ABOUT 5000 OUR KIDS. SOME OF US IN THIS COMMUNITY LOST FAMILIES AND PEOPLE THEY KNOW AND LOVE. OUR KIDS IN LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT WERE LOOKING FOR SIMILAR SUPPORT SIMILAR CONDEMNATION OR SIMILAR EMPATHY BUT THEY GOT NONE. NOT ONLY THAT, WE ARE CALLED HERE TO CENSOR THE VOICES. IT IS COMPLICATED. NOT ONLY THAT OUR SCHOOLS HERE WERE STUDENTS WHO WERE FORCED TO COMMENT ON THE NEWS ONLY WHEN IT IS ABOUT ATTACKS ON ONE SIDE AND COMPLETELY ASK BLIND WHEN THE ATTACKS ARE CAUSED BY THE OTHER SIDE. FOR OUR KIDS WHO CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING, THAT IS NOT ONLY MAKING THEM FEEL ULTIMATELY UNSAFE BUT ALSO MAKES THEM FEEL OPPRESSED.
SILENCED AND TARGETED. THIS IS NOT WHAT THIS COUNTRY IS ABOUT IN THIS IS NOT WHY MANY OF US CHOOSE TO COME HERE AND CONTRIBUTE IN THIS COUNTRY. WE DO NOT WANT A SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE 75 YEARS OF CONFLICT AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE KILLED ARE FROM THE PALESTINIAN SIDE. TO USE A SINGLE TARGET IS OKAY AND HAS TO DISCUSS AND CONDEMN WHAT HAPPENED ON 7 OCTOBER. SOME WOULD SAY LET'S NOT TALK WHAT DIVIDES US BUT FOCUS ON WHAT UNITES US AND I AGREE WITH THAT BUT THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF ALL THE KILLING AND DESTRUCTION AND THAT WILL NOT MAKE IT BETTER AND SILENCING PEOPLE WILL MAKE IT WORSE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER IN SITUATIONS? JUSTICE. JUSTICE IS WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT OBLIGATED SOLUTIONS OF THE WHOLE CONFLICTS. I AM TALKING ABOUT COMMON SENSE JUSTICE IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A CHANCE BECAUSE IT HAS ONE POSSIBLE IDENTIFICATION TO OFFER CONCERNED ABOUT THAT HE SHOULD ALLOW OUR KIDS TO STAND AGAINST WHAT THEY SEE AS A GENOCIDE THAT IS BEEN HAPPENING FOR TWO MONTHS. IN SIMPLE WORDS WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE ARE TWO PERSPECTIVES.
[00:25:05]
TWO SIDES OF THE STORY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO VALUE LIVES IN BOTH SIDES EQUALLY. THAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS JUSTICE AND THAT IS WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT COMMENT IS FROM MARION READER.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARION READER AND I AM A LWSD ALUMNI. I'M ALSO AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR. I AM ALSO A JEW WHO STANDS IN ABSOLUTE SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND THEIR FIGHT FOR LIBERATION AND BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. I AM ALSO A JEWISH EDUCATOR. EACH SATURDAY I SPENT MY MORNINGS IN A SCHOOL LIBRARY WITH CHILDREN 0-3 AND THEIR FAMILIES BUILDING COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING THEM AND DEVELOPING JUSTICE DRIVEN JEWISH ABOUT USE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS I HAVE SAT THESE PARENTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN AS THEY WADE THROUGH THE DEEP GRIEF OF SEEING THE TRAGIC LOSS OF PALESTINIAN LIVES. I HAVE SAT WITH THESE FAMILIES AS THEY FEAR THE RISE OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I'VE SAT WITH THEM AS THEY MOURN THE KILLINGS OF PALESTINIAN CITIZENS BY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT. I HAVE SAT WITH THEM AND HELP THEM AS WE NAVIGATE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE JEWISH AND WANT JEWISH SAFETY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY STANDING AGAINST IS REALLY OCCUPATION AND THE KILLING OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS THOUSANDS OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN. I AM HERE TODAY TO STAND ALONGSIDE PALESTINIAN AND MUSLIM FAMILIES AND STUDENTS IN LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO HAVE RECEIVED HARASSMENT, BACKLASH AND MOCKING AS THEY TRY TO EXIST IN THEIR GRIEF AND STAND STRONG IN THEIR ROBUST CULTURAL IDENTITIES AND WISDOM.
FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT STANDING FOR THE LIBERATION OF THEIR PEOPLE IS ANTI-SEMITIC. BUT CRITICIZING THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IS ANTI-SEMITIC WHICH UNEQUIVOCABLY IS NOT. WE MUST DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN ANTI-SEMITISM WHICH TARGETS JEWS AND CRITICISM OF THE ISRAELI NATIONSTATE WHICH DOES NOT STAND FOR ALL JEWS. I AM ASKING YOU TO TAKE ACTION AND IN THE HARASSMENT OF PALESTINIAN AND MUSLIM FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AND TO MAKE SPACE TO SIT WITH JEWISH FAMILIES TO SUPPORT THEM IN HOLDING A MORE NUANCED VIEW WHERE BEING PRO-PALESTINE DOES NOT MEAN BEING ANTI-SEMITIC OR THREATENING JEWISH SAFETY. TO CLOSE, I WANT TO READ AN EXCERPT FROM JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE ON THE RISE OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. OUR JEWISH MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE STANDS FIRM AS AN ANTIDEPRESSANT MOVEMENT WHICH UNEQUIVOCABLY INCLUDES OPPOSING ALL ACTS OF ANTI-SEMITISM. WE ALSO WANT TO EXPLICITLY NAME THAT CRITICISM OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND THE ACTIONS OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT CAN EXIST WITHOUT HARMING JEWS OR THREATENING JEWISH SAFETY. WE KNOW OUR SAFETY IS BOUND TOGETHER WITH THE SAFETY OF ALL PEOPLE AND NONE OF US ARE FREE AND TELL ALL OF US ARE FREE. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS MOHAMED AHMED. >> GOOD EVENING. LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IN THE RECENT GAZA CONFLICT OVER 20,000 CIVILIANS LOST THEIR LIVES IN JUST 55 DAYS. AMONG THEM, 60 PERCENT WERE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. WE WITNESSED THE DESTRUCTION OF 250,000 HOMES AND THE HEARTBREAKING REALITY OF LOSING A CHILD ALMOST EVERY 10 MINUTES. BEFORE I PROCEED LET'S PAUSE FOR JUST 10 SECONDS IS A MOMENT OF SILENCE APPRECIATING THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES. THANK YOU. NOW, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH A HEAVY HEART TO DISCUSS AN ISSUE THAT DEEPLY AFFECTS OUR COMMUNITY. THE PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI CONFLICT WHICH IS A SUBJECT OF GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE IS OFTEN PRESENTED WITH OUR SCHOOL WITHIN A GLARING BIAS.
MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND NARRATIVES PREDOMINANTLY SHOWCASE ONLY ONE
[00:30:03]
SIDE. OVERSHADOWING THE ROOT OF REALITY OF THE PALESTINIANS EVERY DAY. THIS SKEWED PORTRAYAL NOT ONLY DISTORTS EVERYONE'S UNDERSTANDING BUT ALSO UNJUSTLY LABELS THOSE WHO IN THE THIGHS WITH THE PALESTINIANS AS ANTI-SEMITIC.IMAGINE IF YOU WILL, THE IMPACT OF THIS BIAS ON OUR STUDENTS.
YOUNG MINDS ARE GRAPPLING WITH THE GLOBAL ISSUES YET RECEIVING ONLY A FRACTION OF THE STORY EVERY DAY. HOW CAN WE EXPECT THEM TO DEVELOP A WELL-ROUNDED WORLDVIEW WHEN ONE SIDE SUFFERING SO PROFOUNDLY IGNORES. THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR EDUCATION IS AT STAKE AT THIS POINT. WE MUST ENCOURAGE BALANCE, EMPATHETIC DISCUSSIONS THAT RECOGNIZE THE HUMANITY ON ALL SIDES OF THIS CONFLICT. TO THIS END, I PROPOSE THE FORMATION OF APPARENT COMMITTEE. THIS WILL WORK TOWARDS ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR A BALANCED PRESENTATION OF THE PALESTINIAN ISRAELI CONFLICT. OUR STUDENTS MUST HEAR ALL SIDES. I REPEAT THAT THEY MUST HEAR ALL SIDES.
UNDERSTANDS THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE HUMAN COSTS INVOLVED. WE OWE IT TO OUR CITIZENS TO CREATE A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS EMPATHY, CRITICAL THINKING AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF CONFLICTS AND GLOBAL ISSUES. THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT RESTS ON YOUR SHOULDERS AS BOARD MEMBERS IS IMMENSE. BY PROMOTING BALANCE DISCOURSE IN OUR SCHOOLS YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SHAPE IT GENERATION OF INFORMANTS, EMPATHETIC AND COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS. IN CLOSING I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER THAT ALL THOSE WHO LOST IN THE CONFLICT IS A CALL TO ACTION AND IN THE SPIRIT OF MY WORDS, IF SHARING WITH YOU SOME FACTS AND NUMBERS TO DEMONSTRATE A CERTAIN GAP IN THE NARRATIVE OF THIS CONFLICT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT OF OUR STUDENTS FUTURE. [APPLAUSE]
>> THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS FROM NAHO NABAWI.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE AN AMERICAN EGYPTIAN FAMILY. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE BORN AND RAISED IN EGYPT AND WE ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS CONFLICT DID NOT START OCTOBER 7. RATHER OCTOBER 7 SIGNALED A WORLDWIDE AWAKENING TO THE 75+ YEARS OF ONGOING DISPLACEMENT, ETHNIC CLEANSING OF PALESTINIANS.
SINCE OCTOBER 7 THERE HAS BEEN A NOTABLE SHIFT FOR ARAB AND MUSLIM FAMILIES IN STUDENT. THE NUMBERS OF INCIDENTS AND HATE CRIMES IS ON THE RISE SINCE THEN. WITH THE MOST RECENT WHICH INVOLVE THE SHOOTING OF THREE YOUNG BRIGHT ARAB PALESTINIAN AMERICAN STUDENTS. FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THEY WERE WEARING A CLOTH LIKE THIS ONE. ONE OF THEM IS A JUNIOR STUDENT AT BROWN UNIVERSITY AND HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WALK AGAIN DUE TO THE SHOOTING. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN OF OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN AND MUSLIM HERITAGE. OUR CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL WITH A SENSE OF FEAR AND IT IS REALLY DISHEARTENING TO HEAR THAT SOME TEACHER ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ENVIRONMENT BY PRESENTING FALSE NARRATIVES AND ONE-SIDED VIEWS OF THE CONFLICT. THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT INCLUDING THE SUPPRESSION ETHNIC CLEANSING AND ONGOING GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIANS NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR A FAIR AND COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING. I URGE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DO SOME PROACTIVE MEASURES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. NUMBER 1, PROMOTE PATHY AND COMPASSION. INSTRUCT THE TEACHER TO FOSTER A CARING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPASSION AND EMPATHY. AND NUMBER 2 HISTORICAL AWARENESS. INSURED TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE WELL AND FORMED ABOUT HISTORICAL EVENTS ENABLING THEM TO PROVIDE CARE AND UNDERSTANDING FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. NUMBER 3, FORM A BALANCED MESSAGING COMMITTEE. ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE TO ASSIST TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS IN FORMULATING A BALANCED MESSAGING ON SENSITIVE SUBJECTS. THIS WILL HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION AND ENSURE A FAIR RECOMMENDATION FOR ADVERSE VIEWPOINTS. IT IS CRUCIAL FOR
[00:35:06]
OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO PLAY A ROLE IN FOSTERING EDUCATION, EMPATHY AND A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENT.WE BELIEVE THAT BY TAKING THESE THREE STEP THE SCHOOL SYSTEM CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCING HATE AND PROMOTING A MORE INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS SIRAJ LALA.
>> I ACTUALLY SIGNED UP FOR MY NIECE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ANAYA I AM A CURRENT SPEAKER AT EASTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL IN INKER FOR OUR WEEKLY BROADCAST PACK NEWS. SOMEONE WAS HELPING US WITH THE BROADCAST FOR SCHOOL.
HE OFTEN COVERED EVENTS AND IMPACTS ON THE TEACHERS.
RECENTLY I WAS IN TEMPTING TO REPORT ON THE WAR ON GAZA AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON STUDENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM A SINGLE INTERVIEW I WAS TOLD NOT TO CONTINUE REPORTING ON THE SUBJECT. WHEN REACHING OUT TO STUDENT AFFILIATE GROUPS I WAS BERATED FROM A TEACHER FOR USING THE WORD GENOCIDE WHEN REFERRING TO GAZA. I WAS TOLD THIS TERM WAS DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC AND MISLEADING.
WOULD LIKE TO QUICKLY REMINDED THAT THE SITUATION IN GAZA MEETS MULTIPLE POINTS ON THE UN DEFINITION OF GENOCIDE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WITH TRYING TO DESTROY A NATIONAL OR RELIGIOUS GROUP SUCH AS KILLING MEMBERS OF THE GROUP SUCH AS OVER 15,000 CIVILIAN DEATHS IN GAZA, SEVERE BODILY OR MENTAL HARM FOR MEMBERS OF THE GROUP SUCH AS BOMBING HOSPITALS AND REFUGEE CAMPS EATING TWO CHILDREN BEING TREATED WITHOUT ANESTHESIA AND BRINGING ABOUT THE PHYSICAL DISRUPTION OF THE GROUP. SUCH AS WHEN THEY TURN OFF CLEAN WATER SUPPLY. IN SHORT IT WAS NEITHER PROBLEMATIC OR MISLEADING TO CHARACTERIZE THE PALESTINIAN SITUATION AS GENOCIDE AND YET THE CONVERSATION WAS SHUT DOWN REGARDLESS. THIS HAS BECOME ROUTINE AT MY SCHOOL AND MANY OTHERS. THIS TEACHER I MENTIONED THREATENED TO PULL OUR NEWS PROGRAM. BY CONSISTENTLY SHUTTING DOWN FACTUAL CONVERSATIONS AROUND CURRENT EVENTS WITH IMPACTS ON STUDENTS THE SCHOOL ALLOWS IF NOT OPENLY INVITE HARASSMENT, MISINFORMATION AND FEAR. FROM THIS OCTOBER 7 THERE HAS BEEN A 182 PERCENT IN ISLAMIC HATE CRIMES INCLUDING A HIT-AND-RUN OF A STANFORD STUDENT AND THREE SHOOTINGS OF ARAB STUDENTS. I SINCERELY REQUEST THE BOARD TO INITIATE A STATEMENT WITHOUT SHYING AWAY FROM CORRECT TERMINOLOGY SUCH AS GENOCIDE. IT IS ONLY THROUGH OPEN CONVERSATION PROVIDING HISTORY AND INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN HELP ITS STUDENTS. HOWEVER HEADLEY THE REPERCUSSIONS MAY SEEM FOR YOU I PROMISE THE RUBBLE WEIGHING DOWN ON CIVILIANS IS HEAVIER.
>> I'M SORRY YOU HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS ALL. [APPLAUSE]
>> I AM SORRY. I APOLOGIZE AGAIN, I SAW IT OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY, FEEL FREE. OUR LAST PUBLIC COMMENT OF THE EVENING IS GOING TO BE ZAYNA BADR. PLEASE CORRECT ME.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ZAYNA BADR AND I'VE BEEN A STUDENT AT LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT SINCE FIRST GRADE. SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRED IS EVEN FROM A YOUNG AGE I WAS EDUCATED ABOUT INDIGENOUS AMERICANS IS LAND WE LIVE ON AND IS PAID TRIBUTE WHO ARE ETHNICALLY LENSED AND A SUFFERED SINCE THE ELITE OF THE WHITE MAN'S TO THIS LAND. SINCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WE HAVE STUDIED INDIGENOUS HISTORY AND ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT WAS DONE AGAINST THE RACE. WE HAVE STUDIED DEHUMANIZING LANGUAGE AND TOXIC IDEOLOGIES WHICH WERE IMPLEMENTED TO JUSTIFY THESE ATROCITIES. WE ALSO LEARNED THIS ISSUE INDOORS AND THE STRUGGLE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IS STILL VERY MUCH EXISTING TO THIS DAY. LIKE MANY OF MY PEERS MOST OF WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ISSUES LIKE THESE ARE ONES THAT I'M NOT PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY. IT'S WHAT THE TIME IN THE DISTRICT HAS TAUGHT ME. IT BRINGS ME TO THE ISSUE THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS IN TODAY'S MEETING. THERE IS A VERY APPARENT LACK OF ATTENTION TO THE STRUGGLES OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND BROADER ISSUES RELATED TO MIDDLE EAST AND EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM. IF THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT COVERAGE OF GEOPOLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST ESPECIALLY CONCERNING THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WHICH CREATES FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY IN OUR ACADEMIC COMMUNITY. BEFORE OCTOBER 7 I
[00:40:14]
RARELY IF EVER HEARD MENTION OF THE LONG EXISTING SITUATION IN PALESTINE AT SCHOOL. WE WERE NEVER EDUCATED ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL BASED ON DISPLACEMENT AND MASSACRE OF PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. WE WERE NEVER TOLD OF THE BLOCKADE THAT LASTED OUR ENTIRE LIFETIME OR THE WITHHOLDING OF PALESTINIAN RIGHTS IN THE WEST BANK. I ACCEPTED THIS FEELING IT WAS IRRELEVANT TO OUR CURRICULUM.THEN ON OCTOBER 7 WAS EMAIL SENT OUT PAYING RESPECTS AND CONDEMNING TERROR AND INJUSTICE. THE RESOURCES OFFERED TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ON HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE ISSUE OR OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED TO ASK QUESTIONS AND PURSUE THIS CONFLICT FURTHER. ANYONE UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS CONFLICT WOULD GAIN A SIMPLE AND STUNTED VIEWPOINT. FURTHERMORE WHEN THE ONGOING SEAS BEGAN THERE WAS NO SUPPORT EXPRESSED TO PALESTINIAN STUDENTS EVEN AS ENTIRE BLOODLINES WERE MURDERED IN FRONT OF OUR EYES ON TV AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THE WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE INFORMED AND EMPATHETIC STUDENT BODY IS TO ADDRESS THE STRUGGLES BASED ON ALL RACES OF PEOPLE GLOBALLY INCLUDING ARABS. WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT CONFLICT SUCH AS THIS ONE PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE TIMELINES AND UNBIASED RESOURCES FOR THEM TO EXPLORE FURTHER. I BELIEVE ONE DAY THERE WILL BE JUSTICE FOR PALESTINIANS AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE MASSACRED ON THEIR OWN LAND FOR THE GAIN OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION BUT THIS DISTRICT IS NOT DOING ITS JOB IN EDIFYING IS STUDENT BODY AND GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. [APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH THAT IS GOING TO WRAP UP OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THIS EVENING. AGAIN IF YOU HAVE YOUR COMMENTS IN WRITTEN FORM YOU CAN EASILY SUBMIT IT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. PLEASE SUBMIT THOSE. AT THIS TIME THIS IS NOT HOW WE DO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE HAVE WE DID NOT COUNT THAT TIME AS OUR 30 MINUTES OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IF EVERYONE COULD GO AHEAD AND
[E. Consent Agenda]
EXIT SO WE CAN CONTINUE OUR BOARD MEETING I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 4 2023 CONSENT AGENDA. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO GO AHEAD AND EXIT QUIETLY SO WE CAN CONTINUE WITH OUR MEETING. I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVETHE CONSENT AGENDA. >> SO MOVED.
>> SECONDED. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY DIRECTOR LIBERTY AND SECONDED BY DIRECTOR GUTHRIE. PLEASE
PULL THE BOARD. >>.PLEASE RECOGNIZE THE DONATIONS OF THIS EVENING.
>> TONIGHT ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA YOU HAVE OVER $90,000 IN DONATIONS WITH 65,000 OF THAT COMING FROM THE LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL FOUNDATION AND PRIVATE SOURCES DONATING 25,000.
[F. Non-Consent Agenda]
>> THANK YOU DOCTOR HOLMAN. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS A FIRST READING OF THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS ADMINISTRATION POLICY. DOCTOR HOLMAN?
>> ON THURSDAY I PROVIDED INFORMATION TO THE BOARD ABOUT THE UPDATE FOR THE GRADUATION POLICY 2410. THIS IS ONE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR POLICIES THAT THE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO TAKE FORMAL ACTION ON. SO THESE UP DATES THAT THE BOARD IS RECEIVING IN COMPARISON TO THE OVERALL POLICY ARE RELATIVELY MINIMAL. TYPICALLY WHEN WE DO AN UPDATE TO THE GRADUATION POLICY WE SPEND A FEW MONTHS DISCUSSING AND PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE BOARD BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF THE GRADUATION POLICY. SO, TONIGHT, THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THOSE UPDATES AND PROPOSE CHANGES TONIGHT AS A FIRST READING SO THERE'S NO ACTION REQUESTED OF THE BOARD TONIGHT WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POLICY UPDATES AND PROPOSALS.
[00:45:08]
>> I PROMISED I WOULD ALSO SAY WHILE IT'S NOT DRAMATIC CHANGES FOR POLICY FOR THE KIDS IT IMPACTS, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT.
SUCH AS THE RESOURCES, WE PUT THESE IN THE POOR BRIEFING FOR LAST WEEK AND THESE ARE THE RESOURCES THAT WE USED TO DETERMINE THE CHANGES IN POLICY REALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CHANGES THAT HAVE COME. SOME AS RECENTLY AS JULY OF LAST YEAR. WE ARE TRYING TO ALIGN THE POLICY WITH SOME OF THOSE CHANGES AND BE RESPONSIVE TO I DON'T THINK IT IS UNIQUE TO LAKE WASHINGTON BUT IT DOES IMPACT STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT AROUND HOW THE POLICY IS WRITTEN SECURELY AROUND MATH REQUIREMENTS. THE FIRST REVISION IS UNDER BE TO A IN THE STATE REQUIREMENT IS FOR THREE MATHEMATICS COURSES. WHEN ALGEBRA ONE GEOMETRY AND THE THIRD IS JUST HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL MATH. A WHILE BACK THE STATE ALLOWED COMPUTER SCIENCE TO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE THIRD MATH CREDIT. WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS TO ADD THAT LANGUAGE TO OUR GRADUATION POLICY SO A STUDENT COULD SUBSTITUTE A COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSE FOR THE THIRD MATH CREDIT IN HIGH SCHOOL. SO NOT A HUGE CHANGE IT'S JUST ALIGNING WITH LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN ALLOWED AT THE STATE LEVEL. CODIFYING THAT. AND THEN SOME BACKGROUND AND THIS IS REALLY SOME ADDITION TO THE POLICY. AND THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLES OF THIS IS WE HAD SOME STUDENTS REGISTER IN OUR DISTRICT FROM AFGHANISTAN AND THESE STUDENTS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN CANNOT PRODUCE TRANSCRIPTS TO THEIR EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. SOMETIMES THROUGH TRANSFER FROM OUT OF COUNTRY BUT ALSO FROM HOMESCHOOL SOMETIMES FOR THE ALGEBRA, GEOMETRY AND MATH CREDIT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. WHAT WE'VE TYPICALLY DONE IS THE SCHOOL ITSELF WILL DO AN ASSESSMENT WITH A STUDENT IN PLACE THE STUDENT IN THE APPROPRIATE MATH CLASS INFREQUENTLY THAT IS BEYOND GEOMETRY. THE WAY THE POLICY CURRENTLY READS THE STUDENT WOULD STILL HAVE TO TAKE ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY. SO, WE ARE PENALIZING ESSENTIALLY THE STUDENT FOR BEING GOOD AT MATH WHICH I THINK IS COUNTER TO WHAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED IN POLICY AS WELL AS WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT OUR KIDS. SO THIS ONE REALLY REMOVES THAT BARRIER FOR VERY SPECIFIC INSTANCES. SO THE LANGUAGE WE ARE PROPOSING IS THERE. I WON'T READ IT TO YOU I WILL SUMMARIZE. ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT SAYS IF YOU ARE PLACED IN A HIGHER LEVEL MATH AFTER THAT PROCESS AND YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT MATH IT WILL COUNT TOWARDS ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY THIRD CREDIT. YOU STILL HAVE TO ACCUMULATE THE THREE CREDITS BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN ALGEBRA, GEOMETRY IT CAN BE CALCULUS, CALCULUS BC AND STATISTICS IF THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THAT STUDENT.
THAT IS REALLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN REALLY IS IMPACTFUL FOR THE STUDENTS THAT I SPOKE ABOUT. THE STUDENTS WE HAVE REGISTERED IN OUR DISTRICT FROM AFGHANISTAN.
>> I THINK ANOTHER PIECE AROUND THIS IS THE TEAMWORK WITH OS PCI TO MAKE SURE IT WAS A VALID AND ACCEPTABLE PROCESS BECAUSE IT IS A NUANCE FOR STUDENT 'S.
>> WHAT WAS OS PI'S RESPONSE? HAVE WE PROPOSE LANGUAGE TO
THEM? >> THE RESPONSE IS REALLY IT IS A LOCAL MATTER THAT YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. AND THE POWERPOINT HAS JUST DECIDED TO DO A MESSAGE. THE NEXT SECTION IS ALIGNING LANGUAGE WITH WHAT WE CALL A CATERERS. COLLEGE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS. I HAD TO LOOK THAT UP FOR MYSELF. AND THAT IS A STATE REQUIREMENT FOR TWO YEARS OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IT DOES NOT SAY TWO YEARS OF THE SAME LANGUAGE BUT THE CATERERS REALLY WANT THAT LANGUAGE TO BE TWO YEARS OF THE SAME LANGUAGE. SO FOR STUDENTS IDENTIFIED A FOUR YEAR GRADUATE PATHWAY POST SECONDARY AS THEIR GRAD PATHWAY WE WANT TO ADD THE LANGUAGE THAT WILL RECOMMEND THOSE TWO CREDITS BE IN THE SAME WORLD LANGUAGE FOR THOSE
STUDENTS. >> A QUICK QUESTION. I SEEM TO RECALL MY OLDER SON WAS ABLE TO TAKE SIGN LANGUAGE. IT
>> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE. THANK YOU.
[00:50:01]
>> THIS LANGUAGE REALLY EXPIRED AND REALLY ISN'T APPLICABLE ANYMORE. IT WAS SPECIFIC TO THOSE TWO CLASSES.
>> I'M SORRY, YOU SAW ME MOUTH IT. IT WAS ABOUT THE LANGUAGE ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. IF A STUDENT IS ABLE TO RECEIVE THE SEAL OF BILITERACY ARE THEY STILL REQUIRED TO TAKE TWO
YEARS OF A WORLD LANGUAGE? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO IT BUT WE WILL FIND IT OUT FOR YOU.
MY ASSUMPTION IS NO BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE.
>> IF YOU SEAL OF BILITERACY IT MEANS YOU SCORED A CERTAIN PROFICIENCY ON THE WORLD LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT WHICH MEANS YOU CAN GET HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT FOR THAT AS WELL? THERE'S LANGUAGE WITHIN THE POLICY AND THE LAW TO BE ABLE TO SUBSTITUTE OTHER CREDITS IF YOU ARE THE SEAL OF BILITERACY OR PASS A WORLD LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT AT A PERSONAL LEVEL I THINK IT'S A LEVEL IV. OH, YES.
>> ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT? THIS ONE IS JUST REMOVING LANGUAGE THAT IS NOT TYPICAL BECAUSE IT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE STATE BOARD REQUIREMENT ANYMORE. SOLELY BECAUSE IT WAS SPECIFIC TO THOSE TWO GRADUATE. AND THE LAST LITTLE PIECE IS WE ARE DOING THIS IN PRACTICE BUT THIS WAS CODIFIED BY LAW IN JULY AND WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE IT IN OUR POLICY THAT WE WILL REMIND STUDENT GRADE 8 THROUGH 12 OF THE GRADUATION PATHWAY OPTIONS ONE OF WHICH IS STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT AND IS THE SUBJECT OF THE NEXT SLIDE THAT I ADDED THIS MORNING AFTER A CONVERSATION AT CABINET WHICH IS AROUND ALIGNING OUR POLICIES BY DEFAULT. ANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST FOR WAIVERS AROUND GRAD PATHWAYS IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE WE ARE TESTIFYING WITH THE STATE BOARD ON DECEMBER 7 WHEN THEY MEET FOR RULEMAKING AROUND THE NEW PERFORMANCE-BASED GRADUATION PATHWAY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO EXIST FOR KIDS GRADUATING THIS GRUDGE REALLY ACADEMIC YEAR BUT HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY ANY DISTRICT BECAUSE THE RULES HAVE NOT COME OUT YET. WE HAVE ASKED THE STATE TO LOOK AGAIN AT THE GRAD PATHWAY WAIVER THAT WAS IN PLACE FOR STUDENT PRIOR TO -I THINK IT EXPIRED WITH THE CLASS OF 2023 TO EXTEND IT FOR ONE MORE YEAR SO WE CAN THOUGHTFULLY IMPLEMENT THE NEW PATHWAY. WE WANT TO HAVE LANGUAGE IN OUR POLICY TO HAVE THAT AND BRING THE POLICY BACK TO ADD SPECIFIC LANGUAGE FOR THAT. WHICH IS THAT LANGUAGE RIGHT THERE THAT I JUST ADDED. I PUT THE NEW LANGUAGE IN ORANGE. SIMPLE. I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY SO IF THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO SAY THAT THEN PLEASE. PLEASE FEEL FREE. SO THAT IS THE REVISION. IT'S NOT A SIGNIFICANT WHOLESALE CHANGE OF THE POLICY. IT IS ADDRESSING SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS THAT CURRENTLY DON'T EXIST AROUND THE MATH PATHWAYS IN PARTICULAR. THE MATH CREDIT IN PARTICULAR. AND THAT IS IT.
>> THE NEXT STEPS THE BOARD WILL DO A FINAL READING AND WE WILL ASK FOR ACTION AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING. IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP THAT THE BOARD REQUIRES BEFORE THAT PLEASE LET ME KNOW NOW OR SEND ME AN EMAIL WITH REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION SO WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION PRIOR TO THOSE
[G. Closing Items]
QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, SCOTT. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE BOARD WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR 2 HOURS. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ARE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. THE PURPOSE FOR TONIGHT'S EXECUTIVE SESSION IS AS FOLLOWS. TO EVALUATE COMPLAINTS AND CHARGES BROUGHT UP IN PHILLY AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE OR EVALUATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST A PUBLIC OFFICER TO DISCUSS WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REPRESENTING THE AGENCY MATTERS RELATED TO AGENCY ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS OR DISCUSS WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REPRESENTING THE AGENCY LITIGATION OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION TO WHICH THE AGENCY, GOVERNING BODY OR A MEMBER ACTING IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY IS OR IS LIKELY TO BECOME A PARTY WHEN PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE REGARDING THE DISCUSSION IS LIKELY TO RESULT IN AN ADVERSE, LEGAL OR CONSEQUENCE TO THE AGENCY. NO FORMAL BOARD ACTION WILL BE TAKEN THIS EVENING FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
THE BOARD MEETING WILL BE ADJOURNED AT 10 PM. THE BOARD
[00:55:02]
WILL NOW CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 8 PM.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.