[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",6243511,"mediaKeyId","3238493-1ac5fd39f221cccaf2b525123a135852","parentId",3238493,"title","Board receives student-voice compliance report; approves two policy ratings","audioSeconds",238,"startMs",4219000,"endMs",4457000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3238493-1ac5fd39f221cccaf2b525123a135852&start=4219&end=4457","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3238493-1ac5fd39f221cccaf2b525123a135852/thumbnail_4219000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6243511/Washington/Board-receives-student-voice-compliance-report-approves-two-policy-ratings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243511-c5d6da1147feb6bf08762c9b65cfdc41/orig.mp4?Expires=1770999977&Signature=dsOjqPT5~fy8dqrYOWzh8BJy3tiN08nVVCp-0m33zWBcYAkGzPrX6wq4NO5G0XOQvy3X4BOFEEVTfBQjVPb0Mn6~SZRxqTZr3d5s4lkaQHBJIX8DbV7934drPta9rm~3ZiMMtAnqP1a3xe-X8sh6XAdbnuxtSQ3VhSI2oYWa1DlsBJfeJGpMypnekUiNjdI7LgkKlrFoUaE40k5tG9xZNc1ucTexwFz9hUymdIDzP6ZWLRPCim-n2NX0VrHyPWjDT83QxIyekdS016wXvuhexVtDOMjCG9kV6tcx4Z-0jpfAkHClnZmYqr4Oz6mktYV3TOW4ldgIGqA-LNorZ1QYFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Yakima School District, WA","date","2025-05-08T00:30:26Z","article","Kirsten Fitterer, executive director of communications and engagement, presented the Yakima School District’s annual student-voice report to the board on May 5 and reported that the superintendent is in compliance with the five sections of Student Voice Policy 0580.

Why it matters: The student-voice policy guides district processes for student participation and oversight. The board also considered and approved superintendent compliance ratings for two working-environment policies.

Fitterer said she had reviewed the five sections of Policy 0580 and “find that the superintendent is in compliance for each of the 5 sections.” The presentation included evidence uploaded to board docs and noted an emphasis on middle school-level development for the coming months.

Board member Graciela asked whether students might evaluate the policy directly; Fitterer said students are being engaged to develop measures but that the full measurement work is a longer-term project and likely not feasible within the next three months because of student schedules.

The board then approved the superintendent’s ratings for Policy 1000.2 0.2 (working environment of staff) and Policy 1000.2 0.4 by motion, second and voice vote. For both items a motion and second were entered, all present board members responded “aye,” and the chair declared the motions carried. Individual roll-call votes were not recorded in the public portion of the transcript.

Next steps: The board will receive a survey by May 13 in advance of the May 20 meeting for follow-up items referenced in the presentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Yakima School District Board Meeting May 5th, 2025 at YVTech","oneSentenceSummary","The board heard a student-voice compliance report from Kirsten Fitterer and approved superintendent ratings for two working-environment policies after brief discussion; the ratings showed the superintendent in compliance for the named policies.","taxTitle","Yakima School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",14816,"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},6243515,"Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center tells board it serves nearly 1,000 students with career programs and industry credentials",636,1357000,1993000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3238493-1ac5fd39f221cccaf2b525123a135852&start=1357&end=1993","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3238493-1ac5fd39f221cccaf2b525123a135852/thumbnail_1357000.jpg","/articles/6243515/Washington/Yakima-Valley-Technical-Skills-Center-tells-board-it-serves-nearly-1000-students-with-career-programs-and-industry-credentials","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243515-bf5867ef2644b241f25deaccc1e9bac6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770999977&Signature=KmEUIZpwVxIrz1pk5enK6i7p-T3f5vjPXaj7G1IZzEFUpRbxHH~r0Afv0d2L8z2nI8iQPu5oynifOXevsak8-sGiVEbAsxNmJFlYZ8wo15UKtzCwlheKuTnGb6DpaHxh0r1PaA8R3aLBYJr6mbvJbfOggwmLpf8AkvvyoMY2IWOkZmSPvNBendwMZ7lBNdwgXcR9kkGgHCR3nsdUzysj2GSgkFGMWMvsCvNhmwt8bK9YyR0U6PRdSX0ID8-Jtbxl-4xD~IjewVuSY1IasWbzn7hhIjOrEOpdy0LxxYHEfoNu3yRL2fWedQwgEkHZgYfjS9d31vtUXRnTdWk88AhgUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bonnie Smith, principal of the Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center (YVTech), briefed the Yakima School District Board of Directors on May 5 about the center’s programs, enrollment and credentials.

Why it matters: YVTech provides career and technical education for juniors and seniors across the region and pays for industry-recognized credentials that can reduce barriers for students pursuing postsecondary credentials or apprenticeships.

Smith said YVTech is hosted by the Yakima School District and offers 18 advanced preparatory college and career technical programs. She reported the center has about 21 teachers and serves 974 students from 15 school districts; 38% of those students come from the Yakima School District. Programs meet for 2.5 hours a day; Smith described program-year totals as 540 hours for a single-year participant and as much as 1,080 hours for returning second-year students.

Smith said the center has increased dual/college-credit opportunities by 33% since the 2022–23 school year and that about 80% of YVTech students have earned at least one OSPI-approved industry-recognized credential. She gave examples of credential costs that the program covers so families do not shoulder them: a nursing assistant state license at $372 and electrical pre-apprenticeship certification costs “over $2,400 per student.”

Board members toured the technical classrooms and thanked staff for internship and placement efforts. A board member called YVTech’s medical assistant apprenticeship “a really great example of how responsive YVTech is to the needs of the community,” noting high local demand for allied-health workers.

YVTech leaders also said they are coordinating with Yakima Valley College to align programs so students can compete for dental hygiene and other postsecondary slots. The presentation closed with a short tour of facilities for board members.","YVTech principal Bonnie Smith described the center’s 18 career-technical programs, enrollment and credentialing outcomes. Board members toured facilities and praised internship and apprenticeship links to local employers and Yakima Valley College.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6243520,"Yakima School District meeting sees public outcry over layoffs, librarians cut amid budget shortfall",2083,458000,2541000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3238493-1ac5fd39f221cccaf2b525123a135852&start=458&end=2541","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3238493-1ac5fd39f221cccaf2b525123a135852/thumbnail_458000.jpg","/articles/6243520/Washington/Yakima-School-District-meeting-sees-public-outcry-over-layoffs-librarians-cut-amid-budget-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243520-bdd2e6fa7996a77c410674612919cbc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770999977&Signature=nKSMAb9ldTgGZ2~2OgxrlQ-Zg4ZPuNSqFwqMS6cWsEfFQrneZh38oSeZGZStLre7ytU1UqrDa1djKF7yeCPPcv9yvZwma8f2IznWOao2shUcx2awvjOWGFjpbtrZmCZjH11HnG-TbtAmUDiN8BKqsw2vTM0aYwrLU3ioUD2Y~IB3N0WbufiPrDcLYR53QiKv0hlljqlle1ATWFoC9x7EXzMiCAvQKB0TISr79b6YTCkUjKftvTci4sMMEklcQs7afqNKSK4-xQjtM09yDqDLAOyFe3h6CrRpuoL~nELT4clf7P08VL4mp-zMusYQ9SOzyY7o63x0VdxtlVJLB1Gjwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public commenters, teachers and union leaders pressed the Yakima School District Board of Directors on May 5 over recent reductions in force that have eliminated dozens of certificated, student-facing positions, including all secondary librarians.

Why it matters: Speakers said the cuts hit the district’s core instructional services and undermine efforts to raise student achievement. Superintendent Michael Green said the district faces state funding shortfalls and reported partial recalls but acknowledged remaining vacancies.

Union representative Francis Guerrero of the Yakima Education Association urged the board to “push back against the reduction in force, particularly the move that cut all the secondary librarians,” and warned district outreach to staff via personal email or social media could feel “intimidating and harassing.” Guerrero said the district had used RIFs “as a way to cut over a hundred certificated positions over the last 2 years” and criticized what she described as increased administrative hires while student-facing roles were cut.

Teachers and librarians who spoke at the public comment period described direct classroom impacts. Luca B. Carey, a third-year teacher, said the RIFs send a message that “those of us most directly working with students are disposable.” Eisenhower librarian Heather Kessler outlined duties librarians perform that support research and college-credit coursework and cited district operational procedures 2311 and 2315 in asking, “What is the plan to support next year's projected 7,407 secondary students?”

Superintendent Michael Green described broader funding pressures and urged community advocacy for changes at the state level, saying the current Washington funding model “does not fulfill the constitutional…promise of an ample funding for all students.” On staffing numbers, Green said, “We had a reduction of 49 or 46 positions,” and later reported that of those positions the district had “all but 18 currently accounted for” — employees placed back into district roles though not necessarily in their prior assignments.

Board members did not take a formal vote on staffing during the meeting. No executive session was held.

Context and remaining issues: Public commenters requested clearer explanations for administrative salary levels and for the district’s prioritization when balancing the budget. Several speakers urged the board to restore librarians and other student-facing positions; others warned repeated RIF cycles make the district less likely to retain or recruit early-career educators.

The board adjourned at the end of its agenda without a formal board action on the RIFs during this meeting.","Teachers, librarians and union representatives criticized the Yakima School District’s recent reductions in force during public comment, while Superintendent Dr. Michael Green described the district’s funding challenges and said most laid-off staff had been placed back into positions but “all but 18” remained without placements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board receives student-voice compliance report; approves two policy ratings

Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center tells board it serves nearly 1,000 students with career programs and industry credentials

Yakima School District meeting sees public outcry over layoffs, librarians cut amid budget shortfall