School Board Accountability
To promote engagement and accountability, a TSD4All member attends School Board meetings, and by posting written summaries afterwards, TSD4All informs interested community members about when upcoming meetings will occur, agenda items of note, and key decisions.
Next meeting: The next regular meeting is on 10/23/25 at the District office
Agenda: TBD
Public comment: To provide public comment for up to 3 minutes, notify the District here by 9am on the day of a regular meeting
NEW: 10/9/25 Work Session Highlights
Location: This meeting was held in-person at the District office. School Board Directors in attendance: Darby Kaikonnen (presiding), Ty Kuehl, Casey Taylor, Jill Adams, Melissa Beard.
Agenda: Available here, along with presentation materials; meeting available to view on Youtube here.
Ben Rarick, assistant superintendent, presented on the Capital Levy, which the District is considering proposing. This would be a 6-year capital levy, which is somewhat unusual but is strategically planned to coincide with the renewal of the existing Operations Levy. The levy is not a replacement for a bond, which requires 60% voter approval whereas a levy required 50%. Public support for bonds has decreased post-pandemic, although Tumwater voters have stayed relatively supportive. If the Board acts and the levy is approved, the new Capital Levy would start in 2027 and the current levy expires in 2028, and this would keep the tax rate flat for 2027-2028. The levy could help fund improvements to turf fields, outdated playgrounds, and some elementary schools that have no multi-purpose rooms which creates timing issues with lunch and P.E. There is a suggested 9-10 million range per year for a levy. To build a school, the district may need 40 million up front which would require a bond instead. Since enrollments are down, there is less need for a new building. Director Kaikkonen clarified that fewer levies/bonds have been put to voters post-Covid, but that their success rate is down in other districts. Assistant Superintendent Rarick said the right time for a bond is when the rate goes down.
The next agenda item addressed uniformed police presence at District functions, which Director Taylor had asked to have moved to the work session. Tumwater Police Chief Jay Mason was in person. The School Resource Officer (SRO) contract with the City of Tumwater is up for renewal in December. SROs build positive relationships with students and do not get involved with school discipline, although they can address criminal matters. The regular schedule for an SRO is in line with the school day, but they also go to events such as graduation, games, homecoming to encourage relationships. Chief Mason clarified that TPD takes on the fiscal burden for the overtime hours these events create for the SRO’s, and they are happy to do that. It was clarified that the TPD arriving for a security issue is different from the regular SRO duty.
Director Taylor thanked Chief Mason for the cost details and for being at the meeting. He stated the program is costly, there is flexibility if needed, and the District can end the relationship with notice if needed. He added he may like the SRO’s to go to smaller venues as well as bigger ones to engage with different students. Chief Mason said he was open to suggestions. Director Taylor asked if there was the possibility to add language to the contract that the SRO’s would attend certain events. Superintendent Bogatin stated the answer was no. Director Kuehl noted that officers work year-round and asked if the school pays for the officer salaries during the summer break; Chief Mason indicated that the District does pay for one SRO year round.
Next, in the discussion about the District goal of continuous academic growth, Angie Gourley gave an overview on performance, including notable growth in most grades in the SBA test results, which include: 15% improvement in 3rd grade math; in English Language Arts (ELA), the district outperforms the state; in Grade 5 Math the score is lower than the state; and in Middle School and 10th grade, Tumwater outperformed the state. These results are one data point; as students enter high school, whether they are on track for graduation and obtaining dual credit also inform progress on this goal.
Director Kaikkonen then presented the 2024-2025 Board Goal Wrap Up and noted that this was her last work session as her term is coming to an end. She stated that no data was documented after February 2025 due to district circumstances and the Board did not do a formal self-assessment. Director Adams was also in her last work session, and stated the Board did well at setting student achievement goals. She became tearful and expressed she has sadness and regret that the Board failed to follow protocols and expectations. She feels it’s important to follow collaborative processes and the Board didn’t do that, and that they did not follow their governance goals or behavior goals.
9/25/25 Meeting Highlights
Location: This meeting was held at the District office. School Board Directors in attendance: Darby Kaikonnen (presiding), Ty Kuehl, Casey Taylor, Jill Adams, Melissa Beard.
Agenda: Available here, along with presentation materials.
The District announced its proposal to change Policy 2020 on course design and instructional materials, as recommended by the Washington State School Directors' Association, and to bring the District's policy and procedure in alignment with recent changes in state law. Because this is the first reading, the Board was not asked to approve the changes - that will happen when the second reading occurs. The changes to the procedure state the Board will adopt "inclusive curricula and select diverse, equitable, inclusive, age-appropriate instructional materials that include the histories, contributions, and perspectives of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups including, but not limited to, people from various racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, people with differing learning needs, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people as the term is defined in RCW 43.114.010, and people with various socioeconomic and immigration backgrounds." When asked, Asst. Superintendent Dawson said the modifications would probably be applied when the District next looks for a new curriculum. Dir. Taylor said there were "too many questions" about the changes, and he wanted to discuss them during a separate work session meeting. Dir. Beard asked what questions, and Dir. Taylor said he wanted to know every time the current policy and procedure had been used. Asst. Superintendent Dawson said it was used each time the District looked to adopt a new curriculum. Dir. Beard pointed out this was only when the District has money for new curriculum. Dir. Taylor stated again that his questions were the ones he'd stated, and he'd like to discuss them during the work session.
Next on the agenda was a report to the Board on the School Resources Officer contract, which is with the City of Tumwater. Under the agreement, the Tumwater Police Department provides two SROs: one who primarily serves BHHS and TMS, and another who primarily serves THS and BMS. Under the agreement, which covers three years (2026-28), the City of Tumwater is an independent contractor, the City pays for the cost of the SRO for Tumwater High School, and the District pays for the cost of the SRO for Black Hills High School - $610,430 total over the three-year period. Superintendent Bogatin reported that he had met with Sheriff Sanders about whether the Sheriff's Office would be able to provide a competitive bid, but the Sheriff preferred not to compete with the City, especially when the District's high schools are both within the City limits, and only a couple elementary schools are outside the limit. Dir. Taylor questioned why the District would not pursue a competitive bid, especially in a year when more cuts are likely. He also alleged that they were "talking about this now because it's an election year." He noted that they'd considered the SRO agreement in December last year. Sup. Bogatin said this was on the agenda because the Board had said they wanted to fast-track this discussion this year. Dir. Taylor said he wants to ask TPD why they show up at sporting events and that they had not talked about this. Directors Adams and Beard responded that they had talked about this during a Board work session. Dir. Kaikonnen said they had talked about this in the work session and had follow-up discussions about it as well, including about TPD patrolling events, and that TPD had answered their questions. It was not clear whether Dir. Taylor attended the work session when this was discussed, or knew about the follow-up discussions and their outcome.
The District shared information about September enrollments. Student enrollments are the primary way that schools are funded - the state pays the District on a per-student level. So the budget is based on the estimate of how many students will enroll, and if the enrollments are lower, this results in a deficit such as the one the District experienced last year, which led to cuts and the need to take out a loan from the District's capital fund. This year, the District had budgeted based on a stagnant enrollment estimate, and still, actual enrollments were lower than the budgeted number by 92 students across K-12, with the largest reductions in Kindergarten (-43) and 12th grade (-41). Dir. Taylor asked where the students went, and Sup. Bogatin said they would look into that, but that homeschooling data lags enrollment data. He also said that anecdotal information from nearby districts was they are experiencing the same, and the District will look for data. Asst. Sup. Rarick noted that this seems to indicate a shift in how families use Kindergarten.
Next the District discussed the maintenance and operation levy, which is a voter-approved tax to fund District expenses. Tumwater voters previously approved this levy, but under previous state law, the District can not collect the approved amount; that law was changed this year, and as a result, this tax break will reduce over time as collections can increase toward the voter-approved rate. The Board will be asked in November to approve a higher tax collection amount closer to the amount previously approved by voters. The District receives a per-pupil rate of $3,850 under this levy. Dir. Kuehl asked whether the District receives the per-pupil funds when a student transfers into the District, and it does, usually.
The Board heard public comment from a representative of Tumwater Education Association, the teachers' union, who appreciated the bargaining process with the District and that an agreement was reached.
The Board voted 5-0 to pass the capital facilities plan, a grant for Cascadia HS, and the teachers' collective bargaining agreement. They then took up approval of District policies, and passed several, but on the amendments to Policy 3210 on Nondiscrimination, which was being modified to align with the Washington State School Directors' Association recommendation and to incorporate recent state law and add to the forms of prohibited discrimination that due to "ethnicity, homelessness, citizenship status and neurodivergence," Dir. Taylor stated he abstained. Dir. Beard asked why, and Dir. Taylor said he was "advised to abstain due to a conflict of interest." The changed policy passed with a 4-0 vote.
The Superintendent and Board Directors then each gave a report. Dir. Beard had visited several schools during their first week back in school and noticed how many students staff already know. During his comment, Dir. Taylor stated that he had observed "terrible behavior" in the District, signs destroyed and vandalized, and additional mistreatment, although it was hard to follow what he was speaking about. Dir. Kuehl spoke in favor of Strong Start conferences, and that he enjoyed attending a THS and a BHHS football game.
The next meeting is a work session on 10/9/25 at the District office. At a work session, the Board receives and discusses information, but it does not take action. These meetings are open to the public.
8/28/25 Meeting Highlights
Location: This meeting was held at the District office. It was the first in-person meeting the Board has held since May 21; all intervening meetings were held solely by remote means. Directors in attendance: Darby Kaikonnen (presiding), Ty Kuehl, Jill Adams, Melissa Beard.
Agenda: Public hearing on 2025-26 budget, budget adoption, and Yelm school boundary request. Budget presentation available here.
The meeting started with the second of two public hearings about the proposed 2025-26 budget. Passage of the budget authorizes the District to spend up to the approved amounts for the purposes approved. If enrollment is higher than estimated, the District will add to the fund balance. Due to a change in Washington law, the District can collect up to the full voter-approved levy amount, but that will require the Board to approve this higher collection later in fall. This budget relies on the higher collection amount being approved, so if it is not approved, the District would need to make more cuts.
The budget incorporates reductions that the District had already implemented earlier in 2025 and does not require additional staff or program reductions beyond those already implemented. As noted previously, the District reduced 51 positions, 29 of which were certified staff including teachers - these reductions remain, without increase, in this budget.
There was no additional public comment on the budget.
The Board heard a report about the Transition to Kindergarten program, which was offered for the first time last year in two classrooms to 36 students and is being reduced to one classroom and 16 students this year. The program is operated under state regulation, and the District was only given 16 slots this year.
The Board voted 4-0 to approve the budget.
The Board considered a request from Yelm parents to have their neighborhood considered to be a part of Tumwater School District boundary and voted 4-0 to approve the request. Because the Yelm School District did not approve the request, it is not final and there will be further proceedings.
Dir. Adams reported that she will participate in the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) annual meeting on 9/20 as the Board's representative, at which she will vote on adoption of changes to model policies.
Dir. Kuehl observed that he'd been on the Board for one year and appreciated being back in-person.
Dir. Beard reported that she'd attended a training day with bus drivers the day before, and that right now, all routes are assigned, and there are no routes without a driver.
Dir. Kaikonnen discussed the levy collection decision-making, and encouraged District residents to learn what this means for them, and the Board to hear public comment on it.
The next Board meeting is a work session on 9/11, and the next regular meeting is on 9/25.
Location: held only on Zoom. Directors in attendance: Casey Taylor (presiding in Dir. Kaikonnen’s absence), Ty Kuehl, Jill Adams, Melissa Beard.
Agenda: Public hearing on 2025-26 budget, budget adoption, and Yelm school boundary request. Budget presentation available here.
This was again a fully remote meeting, with no in-person participation possible. The Board has not held an in-person public meeting since May 21. This was the first of two public hearings on the proposed budget for 2025-26. The second will be at the next meeting on 8/28 at 6pm.
Keeping in mind that enrollments are the primary driver for school funding, the district estimates an overall flat enrollment of students, slight decrease in 11th and 12th grades, and slight increase in New Market and Running Start. This budget looks to rely on a more modest estimate of enrollments than was used in 2024-25 (which then led to mid-year cuts).
The budget assumes no additional reductions to positions beyond those already implemented earlier in 2025. The budget assumes that we will retain the reduction of 51 positions overall, of which 29 were certified (teachers, counselors and other certified employees), and 22 were classified (e.g., school staff, transportation drivers, etc.). Many of the people in these positions were ultimately able to be reassigned to other positions based on turnover elsewhere, but the budget does retain the 2025 reductions to teachers and staff positions that have already taken place - without more reductions.
Even with these reductions, the district estimates a 4% increase in expenses overall each year and in the next year will still have a $2.7 million deficit - due to the increasing cost of providing required instruction and services.
The capital budget (which is a separate budget than for staff and services) has already funded several new buses and building improvements.
The district is planning to seek a new capital levy in 2026 when the previously approved one is expiring.
Two members of the public made comments and asked questions. Dir. Beard noted that this was a public hearing so under state law community members can ask questions that should be answered if possible. The first person commented in favor of funding for the Together community schools program and the GRUB Fresh program and asked whether the 25-26 budget includes any additional reductions to staff positions and whether funding for these programs was included in the budget. The district confirmed that the budget includes no new reductions to staff, and stated that funding for the Together Community Schools Program is included in the budget with a 10% fee reduction (or $30,000) but no reduction to services. The district said funding for the GRUB Fresh program was not included in the budget because they'd decided it was unsustainable, although Sup. Bogatin stated aspects of the program were available through on-campus greenhouses. The second person also spoke on behalf of the Tumwater Education Association in favor of funding for the Together community schools program as well, noting how it supports students to increase attendance and be better able to learn.
The next meeting is another public hearing on 8/28, and will be the second and final public hearing on the budget. The Board will decide whether to adopt it at that meeting. School district budgets must be adopted by 8/31.
To promote engagement and accountability, TSD4All attends School Board meetings, informs interested community members about when upcoming meetings will occur and agenda items of note, and posts summaries of Board meetings.
