Highline board approves revised instructional materials policy after debate over community role

The Highline School District Board of Directors on Jan. 8 approved revisions to Board Policy 2020 on instructional materials and confirmed the superintendent's appointments to the district's Instructional Materials Committee (IMC) after an extended debate about community representation and the board's oversight role.

Supporters said the policy update clarifies the district's course‑of‑study review and adoption process; critics on the board said recent changes in state law and the draft procedures narrow the committee's membership and delegate too much selection authority to the superintendent. Director Hagos raised the idea of including community members beyond parents to broaden perspectives. "When we're using an equity lens, what better than letting the voice of the people speak to us?" Hagos said during the meeting. Staff and other directors countered that the revised state statutes (RCWs) now prescribe IMC membership and assignment authority and that the district must follow that statutory framework.

Nut graf: The board's action sets the procedural framework Highline will use when schools or departments propose new core instructional materials. The vote follows questions about constituency, appeals and whether the board or superintendent holds final selection authority under recently revised state rules cited by district legal staff.

Under the adopted policy, core instructional materials will continue to be recommended to the school board for final adoption after a course‑of‑study review and IMC recommendation. Staff described the IMC process as data‑driven: course reviews begin with student and teacher performance data, move through adoption teams and culminate in presentations to the board for approval.

Board debate focused on two issues: whether the IMC membership should explicitly include community members beyond parents and whether the board or superintendent should have authority to appoint IMC members. Legal and policy staff explained that the updated state statutes use language that constrains IMC membership to district professional staff and parents of enrolled students and that the statute delegates selection process authority to the superintendent. Staff said they can seek outside counsel if the board wants a further legal review. "When you see a sentence that says ‘this committee shall consist of,’ that is who it is limited to," a staff member told the board.

Directors who supported the policy said the revisions reduce duplication and provide a single set of grievance and review procedures. Directors who opposed or abstained said the board should preserve stronger governance oversight and ensure more transparent, community‑level budget and curriculum review over time.

The board also approved the superintendent's list of IMC appointees; staff said the IMC will continue to add required parent representatives and update membership annually. Several directors asked staff to clarify how the district will evaluate adopted curricula over time and how the board will be notified of curricular outcomes and appeals.

Ending: The board approved the policy and the appointments by roll call. Staff said they will return with clarifying language or legal guidance if the board requests it and will continue presenting curriculum adoption recommendations to the board as the IMC completes its review work.