[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6280333,"mediaKeyId","2615687-59def8d4f30496de69e219b6103fc0af","parentId",2615687,"title","Public commenters press district on curriculum and highlight skilled-trades milestones","audioSeconds",222,"startMs",2388000,"endMs",2610000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615687-59def8d4f30496de69e219b6103fc0af&start=2388&end=2610","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615687-59def8d4f30496de69e219b6103fc0af/thumbnail_2388000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6280333/Washington/Public-commenters-press-district-on-curriculum-and-highlight-skilled-trades-milestones","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280333-a17f4482325c294b5716f722ba945d26/orig.mp4?Expires=1771690206&Signature=IyzP2WcoePdb11YGk8hszSeXoOyjyO23Wqe9S5yDVlOqGDMyGNelsc7uLccyiTLM3o8EQk88k-kqee6tk0Orp2fkXEG7x94IN2DTx36sn0VabiG1fch~6cg2oMSAfb7kaYsezOwUm5tbnJACcKjNhc2hV6WI7RY~FnZ6bylP5SqmTuBS4g23N3BOMjopR54aphnBmH~fCFDOfL4MxLHoR7bgsbnPWRbBmgC~f~JgDy2UA9kQmiMdu74QhaiydolGn0cUxf~GLjz3HdHaUQYV68j9PAELC9urM79Uvxm-JD0hVCXq4xzRUxpW9Zkn~zF7PIS8lkLwzSTtCOafw0H30w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","VPS Board of Directors","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","Several community speakers used the board’s public-comment period Monday to raise curriculum concerns and to highlight local career-technical education progress and events.

John Taylor, who identified himself as a parent, urged the board to “reconsider[ ] the DEI protocol here of unconditional affirmation,” and said he had concerns about clinical evidence supporting gender-affirming medical care for adolescents. “The science backing gender affirming care is just not there,” Taylor said, advocating for what he called “watchful waiting” rather than “unconditional affirmation.” The board’s public-comment rules were read at the start of the session and board members did not respond during the comment period; the board’s stated practice is to ask the superintendent and staff to follow up when necessary.

Separately, John Gerard, owner of Quail Palms, updated the board on skilled-trades programming tied to Hudson’s Bay High School. Gerard said the Hudson’s Bay building will be finished in about 45 days and invited board members to two events: a May 2 employer “grade 13” event where construction students will interview with employers, and a May 20 grand opening for the Hudson’s Bay Endeavor Technical Skilled Trade Center. Gerard provided results from last year’s event — “last year, 30 students had 75 job interviews, 26 took jobs” — and said this year’s cohort will double to 60 students. He framed the effort as helping students leave school job-ready.

Also during public comment, Eric Jensen, who identified himself as an artist, described an idea to commemorate a historical Vancouver figure; his remarks were largely descriptive of an art project rather than a request for immediate board action.

No board action was taken on the public comments during the meeting; the board’s public-comment protocol instructs speakers to submit written complaints to staff for matters requiring fact-finding or personnel review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","VPS Regular Board Meeting 03/11/25","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment at the Vancouver School District meeting, speakers raised concerns about diversity/equity/inclusion curriculum and gender-affirming care, and a local employer and program leader described upcoming skilled-trades events and student outcomes.","taxTitle","Vancouver School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",65133,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6280337,"Board adopts updated purchasing authorization policy setting $150,000 approval threshold",82,2909000,2991000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615687-59def8d4f30496de69e219b6103fc0af&start=2909&end=2991","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615687-59def8d4f30496de69e219b6103fc0af/thumbnail_2909000.jpg","/articles/6280337/Washington/Board-adopts-updated-purchasing-authorization-policy-setting-150000-approval-threshold","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280337-8d7383d27efea8b101987cf7561d6f66/orig.mp4?Expires=1771690206&Signature=eNaw2rgO1OLZqlc08RagwIWeA2WOepFBKxNCDzZPouvy03bqNSdpDBCYB9MXvi9t7YTyQfCK8osgX77-dLJZ4VCq~d04w7S27HUbssNrv2vE0~jvbLPvnJUwasSHgDRie55magkYtYTSfkGyCxyKO1LO2ibYGqrSBsIEvbuWaJNW4a6xVfHiMApMtIAi9L3daB2Uk9CYwdyVgWRVkzFiWOmOlpesB9Z3x2d7AdQU4TtbSoqbzdJAGFL3ENP9vdlZ6zCHBJRo-uhnVX0y-jK9YPHMsbzTqvpY-TilDYTB9uvuXtn9Y-IPREidadW32eMf3BN2ZbErdeluQn7-VZ0lEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vancouver School District Board of Directors voted unanimously Monday to adopt revisions to Policy 62-10, updating financial oversight thresholds and review criteria for contracts.

Chief business officer Mr. Richmond presented the revisions, telling the board the updates “set the threshold for board approval of expenditures and new contracts at a hundred and $50,000, and [set] the threshold for continuing expenditures and contracts to be reviewed if that annual cost to the district increases by 10% or more.” After a motion and second, Directors Barrows, Smith, Sproul and Zavala each recorded “Approve,” and the chair registered their approval; the motion passed.

Votes at a glance: the board also approved the minutes and the consent agenda. The consent agenda included a purchase-and-sale agreement for district property that board members said had extensive community work behind it and will involve Friends of the Children; Allison Paleto of Friends of the Children was present and acknowledged by the board. All three items — minutes approval, the consent agenda (including the purchase-and-sale agreement), and adoption of Policy 62-10 — passed on recorded roll calls with unanimous approval from the five directors present.

What changed: the adopted language raises the district’s explicit monetary threshold for board review and creates a 10% review trigger for annual increases to continuing contracts. The district’s staff will implement the updated thresholds and return to the board as needed under the new review rule.","The Vancouver School District Board approved revisions to Policy 62-10 to raise the threshold for board approval of expenditures and set review triggers for continuing contracts; the board also approved minutes and a purchase-and-sale agreement on the consent agenda.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6280342,"Vancouver School District superintendent outlines budget pressures, plans for August decision",0,3427000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615687-59def8d4f30496de69e219b6103fc0af&start=3427&end=3427","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615687-59def8d4f30496de69e219b6103fc0af/thumbnail_3427000.jpg","/articles/6280342/Washington/Vancouver-School-District-superintendent-outlines-budget-pressures-plans-for-August-decision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280342-b75b3ff8744558551004a2ce304cbb4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771690206&Signature=LSCHrRhqPIhCRYvhpxOCMwH5T-jIquvYIIadlAm5QNCstnlaas4ekY~x6TfYe5nP4EfixvK7ro64t56bR9GFFuBOYHaA4FbcqELAGOVjmiKhUUK2ZauLI521GwMMXlVYIZHesuinC84CbCk5SgF7PgghTz8UhRGdMn2AKOmYw0XqWDJpiPKshheWcntrhbdVQKl0c4J8tGQ2kukcJJ7yGKDA9g5lz1THq-aZv3M9oClyCIkL0T075B~v4s8BR142ViVG06Ih9PlsxskimjnemCgDC~U5bFYBUQqDutgMdHXt9Ysn~kTLSLuDX-tOLO3wFlNguilAXR7cJ3n0sb3yjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dr. Snell told the Vancouver School District Board of Directors on Monday that the district remains under fiscal strain from declining enrollment, recent contract settlements and prior reductions in force, and that the board should expect a formal budget decision in August.

Dr. Snell said the district is seeing “less challenging” budget development this year because of prior work, but warned that underlying pressures remain, especially staffing costs and lower kindergarten class sizes that reduce enrollment-driven funding. He told the board the district has open contracts with three labor groups this spring — “two of those are classified, and one of those is an administrative group” — and that negotiated increases typically raise costs. “We did the board over the last several years intentionally drew down the fund balance,” Dr. Snell said, adding that the district must weigh how much reserve to keep for potential federal or legislative changes.

Why it matters: the superintendent presented figures the district will use to frame publicly noticed decisions this summer and at the August public hearing. Dr. Snell said the district used “almost $44,000,000 of local levy funds to provide the legally required services for students” over the last six years and that non-staff spending pressures produced roughly $7,100,000 in deficit in the same period; combined, he said the total tracked over those years is more than $51,000,000 borne by local resources. He also said last year’s reductions eliminated “nearly 250 positions,” which affects current staffing models.

Board members and staff noted the timing of the state legislative session and federal announcements as variables that could change the district’s forecast. Dr. Snell said the board will receive updates through spring budget committee meetings and that tentative recommendations will come in May, with final board review in July and a public hearing in August. He also referenced the district’s strategic plan as a guiding document for prioritizing scarce resources, and reminded the board that budget materials are posted online.

No formal action was taken at the meeting on any budget item; Dr. Snell framed the presentation as an update and a call for continued staff work ahead of the board’s August decision.","Superintendent Dr. Snell told the Vancouver School District board that declining enrollment, recent contract settlements and prior staff reductions have tightened the district’s finances; the board will consider budget decisions in August after legislative outcomes are clearer.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters press district on curriculum and highlight skilled-trades milestones

Board adopts updated purchasing authorization policy setting $150,000 approval threshold

Vancouver School District superintendent outlines budget pressures, plans for August decision