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Ellensburg School District board meeting, Jul 22, 2026

2 h 29 min · 0 public speakers

Phones in school ▶ 1:56:24Reading and test scores ▶ 1:16

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Ellensburg School Board approves new meal prices for 2026⁠-⁠27 1:36:12

  • A district staff member presented a review of the District Learning Improvement Plan from last year, looking at results for student outcome goals based on indicators of success from the strategic plan. 2:02
  • The board approved the new proposed prices for 2026⁠-⁠27 and approved Policy 3246. 1:38:25
  • Board members also discussed what information they wanted for a possible cell phone policy update and draft guidelines for students from outside the district who take part in district activities. 1:56:37

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Item by item (11)
  1. Opening and consent agenda 0:00
    • The meeting opened with introductions of the Board of Directors, and some board members were reported as not present. 0:00
    • Cathie Day moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. 0:52
    • The consent agenda was approved. 0:57
  2. Teaching and learning update 1:16
    • A district staff member said the district met its math growth goal on the MAP assessment and reached the 59th percentile in reading against a goal of the 61st. 15:27
    • The staff member said 3rd grade reading scores exceeded the state average for the first time since prior to 2022, and that 5% of first graders mastered all 4 foundational skills areas. 17:49
    • Jeff Dermond asked whether the district had a way to measure whether grades awarded accurately reflect student learning, and a staff member said those curves definitely do not align right now. 43:27
  3. Administrative report 1:15:36
    • A district staff member reported that Mount Stewart won another Schools on the Rise Award. 1:16:33
    • A staff member said the traditional leadership retreat would run the 10th through the 12th, with a half day added on the 10th and the 11th and 12th set aside to work with presenters the district has a contract with on feedback. 1:20:18
  4. Financial update 1:28:42
    • A district staff member reported the general fund spent $4.9 million in June, with 86% going to salaries and benefits for a total of $4.2 million. 1:28:42
    • The staff member said the district had a total of $59.17 million in debt outstanding as of the end of June 2026. 1:28:42
    • The staff member said the 2026⁠-⁠27 budget had been sent to ESD 105 for review and would be presented to the board on August 26th for adoption. 1:33:05
  5. Meal price increase 1:34:44
    • A district staff member said the increase was meant to cover expenses. 1:35:43
    • Jeff Dermond asked whether the increase responded to a deficit from last year, and a staff member said the program was in a deficit last year. 1:36:29
    • Jeff Dermond asked what dollar figure the increases represented over a year, and a staff member said that would have to be found out. 1:36:58
    • The board passed the proposed meal prices for 2026⁠-⁠27. 1:38:25
  6. Electronic signature policy first reading 1:38:39
    • A district staff member presented new Policy 6225 on use of electronic signatures as a first reading, with a second reading and vote planned in August. 1:38:39
    • The staff member said the district has been following the law on the matter and the policy codifies it. 1:39:48
  7. Restraint and isolation policy revision 1:39:58
    • A district staff member said the legislature passed a law this spring further restricting the types of restraint and defining isolation and reasonable force. 1:40:43
    • One board member asked about the addition of the word spontaneous, saying it seemed to exclude planned behavior. 1:45:42
    • Policy 3246 was approved. 1:51:06
  8. Board reports and public comment 1:51:06
    • A board member said a parent at the farmers market asked about the dual language program, another parent asked about the transportation schedule, and teachers talked about the cell phone policy. 1:51:06
    • Public comment was skipped because no one appeared to be present to speak. ~1:56:24
  9. Cell phone policy information gathering 1:56:24
    • Cathie Day asked how the district would make sure any policy chosen is enforceable. 1:57:20
    • Jeff Dermond asked how adults are held accountable for enforcing the cell phone policy. 1:59:57
    • One board member suggested devoting the year to determining how much time students spend in front of screens during the school day. 2:04:21
  10. Outside student participation in activities 2:05:17
    • A district staff member presented draft guidelines for students enrolled in other districts who take part in district activities, saying the district has no guidelines now. 2:05:17
    • A staff member said the number one concern was knowing which students are on campus if a disaster, lockdown or evacuation to reunification areas occurs. 2:14:27
    • One board member suggested charging such students the ASB fee and possibly a nominal outside participation fee. 2:16:12
  11. Meeting closing 2:24:38
    • The board held no executive session and adjourned. 2:24:38

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “Ellensburg School District Board Meeting - 7/22/26”