The Highline School Board met on Wednesday, May 7; all five directors and Superintendent Duran were present.
During public testimony, the board faced several angry parents who lambasted the district over the soft policies that allow students to bully and physically violate their fellow classmates without meaningful consequence. Parents say this damages students, leaving them damaged, distraught, and disengaged.
Before the regular meeting, the directors had a special work session to review Secondary Redesigns for the four main high schools: Highline, Tyee, Mount Rainier, and Evergreen. Each school created its own redesign plan, including Highline HS that initiated a 4-period class schedule instead of a 6-period day. Burien.News wrote an article about the Highline HS schedule changes here.
The Regular board meeting opened with four recognitions, including teacher appreciation week.
Next, Raisbeck Aviation High School gave a presentation lasting nearly 40 minutes. Raisbeck boasts the top spot in the Highline district and it is also one of the top ranked public schools in the state. The school has strong community partnerships, including Boeing and the Port of Seattle, which helps provide a robust educational experience. They had lots of good things to report, and student voice was prominent, which all of the directors appreciated.
Director Angelica Alvarez asked about PTSA’s cultural diversity; and interim school board member Dr. Damarys Espinoza asked about climate change and sustainability.
Scheduled communications began with two frustrated Highline teachers who discussed the overuse of technology in the classroom.
- The first teacher, Fabian Cano Villares, shared that students are not learning critical face-to-face social skills because too much screen time with tech and gadgets are distracting students. Pencil and paper gives students a chance to think. iReady and other expensive software, at the cost of millions, could be redistributed to purchase better curricula and hire more educators to obtain better outcomes for students.
- The second teacher, Izaskun Indacoechea, offered insights about how students were more focused during the cyber incident when they did not have access to technology. She noted that the reading and writing process is very different when a written response is necessary versus multiple-choice, pre-provided answers. She questioned the replacement of Highline’s Highly Capable with software.
- The next three speakers were understandably angry parents who cried out to the school board about the repeated and increased incidence of physical, sexual, and emotional bullying that continues at Des Moines elementary and throughout the district.
- Parent Ali Himmel-Smith wept as she described “the light and passion die for education,” in her daughter, describing how unrelenting bullying at school crushed her young child’s demeanor; her daughter no longer wants to learn. She described how there are no consequences to actions, and teachers’ hands are tied.
- Mother Mindee Watt testified about Highline’s unacceptable academic failure, citing dismal OSPI statistics. She said that incessant physical and emotional bullying that is harming all students, including her own, and it causes lack of student engagement. “Highline must do better.”
- Father Mason Watt directed the district leaders to do their job and protect students from physical harm while at school. His children have been subject to abuse for two years with no meaningful action from the district. Safety is this parent’s “minimum expectation.” His daughter has come home with bumps and bruises and with bloody injuries. “You are failing to meet your mandate and do your duty. I demand that you keep [my daughter and all children] physically safe while under your care.”
- Mental health professional Alex Myrick shared a press release from HHS citing the negative outcomes and risks of continuing to push gender transitioning in the schools.
- Jenn Mackenzie who teaches sports medicine at PSSC spoke on the benefits of CTE pathways and literacy in the schools.
- Patricia Bailey plead with the district to challenge the students academically. She also asked if this is a “culture of belonging” why is attendance so low?
Superintendent Duran give his update.
Vice Chair Stephanie Tidholm reported that the legislative budget did not provide nearly as much funding as the schools had hoped for.
Director reports included current events and activities that each of the directors had participated in the last few weeks. However, no mention was made that all four of them are running for reelection in the upcoming School Board race.
Final day to file to run for School Board with King County Elections is May 9 by 5:00 pm. Director and Angelica Alverez has been there 15 years. Joe Van has served 10 years.
The remainder of the business meeting was unremarkable and lasted less than 9 minutes. The voting was unanimous; there were new agenda items, but the board did not request staff presentations to explain the items. Only a couple of cursory comments were made. The board appears fully aligned.
The meeting adjourned at 7:36 pm.
