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Committees

School Board Committees

Each committee consists of three Board Directors. Committees advise the Board and promote Board unity of action by making recommendations to the full Board on areas within their committee charter per Board Policy No. 1240. To access full committee materials from prior years please contact boardoffice@syria-events.com for assistance.

Committee Overview and Director Assignments

Ad Hoc Site-Based Hearings Committee

The Ad Hoc Site-Based Hearings Committee is charged with conducting one hearing for each school closure recommended by the Superintendent. The hearings will be for the purpose of receiving public testimony on any issues related to the recommended closure. Separate hearings will be held for, and, if feasible, at each school which is proposed to be closed.

Committee Membership: Joe Mizrahi (Chair), Evan Briggs (Member), Gina Topp (Member)

Background

The School Board has received a preliminary recommendation from the Superintendent for four school closures to take effect for the 2025-26 school year.

Policy No. 6883, School and Instructional Site Closures, requires that the Board hold hearings for each proposed closure following a 30-day period for public review of the recommendations. The policy requires that the hearings be held in the general geographic area of the schools recommended for closure and in those schools if feasible.

Board Policy No. 1240, Committees, provides that “the Board President may establish one or more time-limited ad hoc committees to support work within the Board’s scope of responsibility. Each ad hoc committee will have a charter approved by the President.”

Committee Charter

President Rankin appoints the Ad Hoc Site-Based Hearings Committee to conduct one hearing for each closure recommended by the Superintendent.

The hearings will be for the purpose of receiving public testimony on any issues related to the recommended closure. Separate hearings will be held for, and, if feasible, at each school which is proposed to be closed.

Following these hearings, it is anticipated that the Superintendent will present a final recommendation for school closures to the full Board and a subsequent public hearing on the final recommendation will be held as a special meeting of the full Board. The committee is not charged with decision-making, developing recommendations, or any actions related to the consideration of recommended school closures other than holding the Board’s site-based public hearings as required by step 3 of the school closure process provided in Board Policy No. 6883

Participation By Non-Member Directors and Substitutions

Directors not appointed to the committee may substitute for committee members as necessary and/or attend meetings in addition to the committee members.

Per Policy No. 1240, “Each committee shall consist of one chair and two additional Directors appointed by the Board President…Only Directors appointed to the committee may vote during committee meetings. However, an absent committee member may select another Director in advance to substitute as a voting member. The substitution should be communicated in advance to the Chair of the committee and designated staff. If a committee member is absent without a selected substitute present, visiting Directors will be designated in the order of the visiting Directors’ arrival, to vote on issues on the agenda, in the order such issues appear on the agenda, so long as the appointed Director(s) of the committee are absent.”

Committee Meetings and Timeline

The Ad Hoc Site-Based Hearings Committee will hold a total of four site-specific public hearings for the receipt of public testimony.

11/20/24 Update: Previously announced hearing dates have been canceled.

Overview of Board Policy No. 6883 Requirements, Anticipated Timing, and Committee Responsibility

StepPolicy RequirementAnticipated TimingResponsible
1Development and presentation of the Superintendent’s preliminary recommendation for school closure(s) and publication of analysis of possible effects of proposed school closure(s) to include: Criteria for school closure(s)Demographic and integration effects Relationship of the proposed closure(s) to any on-going, established long-range program for facility use, andProposed site classificationNovember 2, 2024Superintendent
2Public review of the Superintendent’s preliminary recommendation for school closure(s) (minimum of thirty (30) days).  A copy of the recommendation and summary shall be made available in each school proposed for closure(s) and distributed to each school parent organization and community council in the affected area.November 2024Superintendent
 3Public hearing(s) for each proposed site on the Superintendent’s preliminary recommendation for school closure(s) will be held in the general geographic area of the affected building.  The public hearing will be held in the affected school where feasible.TBDAd Hoc Committee Holds 4 Hearings
4Presentation of the Superintendent’s final recommendation for school closure(s).December 18, 2024Superintendent
5Public review of the Superintendent’s final recommendation for school closure(s) (minimum of fourteen (14) days).December 2024 – early January 2025Superintendent
6Public hearing on Superintendent’s final recommendation for school closure(s).January 8, 2025Board
7School Board discussion of Superintendent’s final recommendation for school closure(s).January 15, 2025Board
8School Board Action on school closure(s).  (The Board’s final decision shall be made within ninety (90) days of the time hearings are held for each proposed site for closure(s) (#3 above) and no less than seven (7) days after the public hearing on the Superintendent’s final recommendation for school closure(s).)January 22, 2025Board

Testimony Requirements

Board Procedure 1430BP, Audience Participation, provides the requirements for testimony taken during public hearings including the following:

  • The Board President designates the time available for each speaker.
  • Testimony will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis according to the sign-up sheet at the public hearing.
  • Speakers may sign up at the public hearing to present oral testimony and may be required to give their full name, address, and relationship to Seattle Public Schools and to designate whether they are testifying for or against the agenda item, and will be given the opportunity to submit written testimony.
  • Persons who do not testify are encouraged to submit their written testimony to the Board Office, which will make it available to the full Board.
Notice Requirements

Board Policy No. 1220, Board Officers and Duties of Board Members, provides that the Superintendent is the Board secretary and performs all duties prescribed by Board Policy and state law including, but not limited to, those responsibilities described in RCW 28A.330.050 and RCW 28A.400.030. State law and Board Policy provide for these responsibilities to be performed by a designee, and Board Policy No. 1240 states that the Superintendent will determine staffing for committees.

The Superintendent is charged with ensuring staffing adequate to ensure the following requirements for Special Meetings of the Board and hearings for school site closures are completed as required by policy and law:

  • Notices of the hearings containing the date, time, place, and purpose of the hearings shall be published in the Seattle daily newspapers. These notices shall be published once each week for two consecutive weeks, with the last notice to be published not less than seven (7) days before the hearings.
  • In addition to the notices in the daily newspapers, outreach to potentially impacted communities shall be achieved via a combination of some or all of the following methods:
    • Notices in local newspapers
    • Notices on the Seattle Public Schools website & television station
    • Notices on local television and radio stations
    • Notices sent to community centers, libraries, and city neighborhood centers
    • Notices sent to families via automated telephone service
    • Notices sent home to families in the impacted schools

The Superintendent or designee is also charged with ensuring the hearings are noticed, recorded, and minutes developed in compliance with additional Board policies and state laws for special meetings.

The Superintendent or designee will consider information presented in the public hearings in developing final recommendation for school closures.

Resources and References

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is charged with providing supervision to the Office of Internal Audit; approving and managing changes to the annual internal audit work plan; monitoring corrective action plans implemented in response to external audits and reviews; and monitoring Risk Management issues of the district. The Audit Committee generally meets quarterly on the 1st Tuesday of the month (except September) for an Audit review from 2-4 p.m.

Committee Membership: Evan Briggs (Chair), Liza Rankin (Interim Member), Gina Topp (Interim Member)

Ad Hoc Policy Manual Review Committee

The Ad Hoc Policy Manual Review Committee is charged with developing recommendations for a restructured policy manual that is informed by best practices, conforms with legal requirements, and enables the Board to review policies on a regular basis.

2024-25 Committee Meeting Agendas and Materials

Please note: meeting agendas are posted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

Audit Committee
Ad Hoc Site-Based Hearings Committee

Board Calendar

25
Nov
Family-Teacher Conferences at Elementary and K-8 Schools
November 25 – November 27
26
Nov
School Board Special Meeting – November 26, 2024
November 26 @ 5:00 pm
26
Nov
Community Meeting with School Board Director Gina Topp (District 6)
November 26 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
28
Nov
Thanksgiving, No School
November 28
Full District Calendar

Archive

2023-24 Committee Materials

Ad Hoc Community Engagement Committee

The Ad Hoc Community Engagement Committee was charged with developing recommendations for restructured community engagement approach and calendar informed by best practices, that conforms with legal requirements, and enabling the Board to engage with community on a regular and predictable basis. This committee sunsetted in October 2023 and is no longer active.

Audit Committee

Ad Hoc Policy Manual Review Committee

2022-23 Committee Materials

Audit and Finance Committee

The Audit & Finance Committee has been transitioned by the Board to an Audit Committee.

Audit Committee

Ad Hoc Community Engagement Committee

Ad Hoc Policy Manual Review Committee

2022-23 Former Board Committees

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is no longer an active committee of the Board. The Executive Committee previously acted as a liaison and provides leadership for Board activities. This committee was made up of the president, vice president, and member-at-large; these committee members are elected by the full board.

Operations Committee

The Operations Committee is no longer an active committee of the Board. The Operations Committee previously developed, reviewed, and made recommendations for operation, facility and capital program policies.

Student Services, Curriculum, and Instruction Committee

The Student Services, Curriculum & Instruction Committee is no longer an active committee of the Board. The Student Services, Curriculum & Instruction Committee previously developed and reviewed academic policies and make recommendations on Teaching & Learning Board Action Reports.

Ad Hoc Governance Committee
(Aug.-Oct. 2022)

2021-22 Committee Materials

Audit and Finance Committee

Executive Committee

Operations Committee

Student Services, Curriculum, and Instruction Committee

Ad Hoc Governance Committee

2020-21 Committee Materials

Executive Committee

Audit & Finance Committee

Student Services, Curriculum & Instruction Committee

Operations Committee

Ad Hoc Governance Committee

2019-20 Committee Materials

Executive Committee

Audit & Finance Committee

Curriculum & Instruction Policy Committee

Operations Committee

2018-19 Committee Materials

Executive Committee

June 12, 2019

May 22, 2019

April 24, 2019

March 20, 2019

February 15, 2019 (RESCHEDULED from 2/13)

January 17, 2019

January 16, 2019 – Committee of the Whole

December 19, 2018 – CANCELLED

December 13, 2018

November 8, 2018

October 11, 2018

September 13, 2018

August 27, 2018

August 23, 2018

Audit & Finance Committee

June 10, 2019

June 4, 2019 (Quarterly)

May 20, 2019

April 22, 2019

March 18, 2019

March 5, 2019 (Quarterly)

February 11  – CANCELLED

January 14, 2019

December 10, 2018

December 4, 2018 (Quarterly)

November 5, 2018

October 8, 2018

September 10, 2018

September 4, 2018

Curriculum & Instruction Committee

June 11, 2019

May 21, 2019

April 30, 2019 – Committee of the Whole

April 23, 2019

March 19, 2019

February 12, 2019 – CANCELLED (Action items moved to 2/15 Exec Committee Agenda)

January 15, 2019

December 11, 2018

November 6, 2018

October 5, 2018

September 11, 2018

August 21, 2018

Operations Committee

June 6, 2019

May 16, 2019

April 18, 2019

March 14, 2019

February 7, 2019

January 10, 2019

December 6, 2018

November 1, 2018

October 4, 2018

September 6, 2018

August 22, 2018

2017-18 Committee Materials

Executive Committee

June 14, 2018

May 17, 2018

April 19, 2018

March 15, 2018

February 8, 2018

January 11, 2018

December 14, 2017

November 9, 2017

November 8, 2017 – Committee of the Whole

November 1, 2017 – Committee of the Whole (to be rescheduled)

October 12, 2017

September 14, 2017

August 24, 2017

Audit & Finance Committee

June 11, 2018

June 5, 2018 (Quarterly)

May 14, 2018

April 16, 2018

March 12, 2018

March 6, 2018 (Quarterly)

February 5, 2018

January 8, 2018

December 11, 2017

December 5, 2017 (Quarterly)

November 6, 2017

October 9, 2017

September 11, 2017

September 05, 2017 (Quarterly)

Curriculum & Instruction Committee

June 12, 2018

May 15, 2018

April 17, 2018

March 13, 2018

February 6, 2018

January 9, 2018

December 12, 2017

November 7, 2017

October 10, 2017

September 12, 2017

August 22, 2017

Operations Committee

June 7, 2018

May 10, 2018

April 5, 2018

March 8, 2018

February 1, 2018

January 4, 2018

December 7, 2017

November 2, 2017

October 25, 2017 – Committee of the Whole

October 5, 2017

September 7, 2017

August 23, 2017

2016-17 Committee Materials

Executive Committee

June 01, 2017

May 04, 2017

April 06, 2017

March 02, 2017

February 02, 2017

January, 2017

December 01, 2016

November 03, 2016

October 19, 2016

October 06, 2016

September 08, 2016

August 17, 2016

Audit & Finance Committee

June 13, 2017 (Quarterly)

June 08, 2017

May 11, 2017

April 18, 2017

March 14, 2017 (Quarterly)

March 09, 2017

February 09, 2017

January 12, 2017

December 13, 2016 (Quarterly)

December 08, 2016

November 10, 2016

October 13, 2016

September 13, 2016 (Quarterly)

September 08, 2016

August 18, 2016

Curriculum & Instruction Committee

June 12, 2017

May 08, 2017

April 03, 2017

March 16, 2017

March 13, 2017

February 13, 2017

January 09, 2017

December 12, 2016

November 14, 2016

October 10, 2016

September 12, 2016

August 15, 2016

Operations Committee

June 15, 2017

May 18, 2017

April 20, 2017

March 16, 2017

February 16, 2017

January 19, 2017

December 15, 2016

November 17, 2016

October 20, 2016

September 15, 2016

August 16, 2016

Request Meeting Documents