Northshore School District board approves multimillion‑dollar special‑education contracts and two labor agreements
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Summary
At a study session the Northshore School District Board of Directors approved more than $1 million in purchase orders for special‑education services, an interlocal agreement with Edmonds SD No. 15, and tentative collective bargaining agreements covering maintenance and grounds staff through 2028.
The Northshore School District Board of Directors approved a series of contracts and labor agreements at its study session, including two purchase orders of more than $1,000,000 for special‑education services and tentative collective bargaining agreements for maintenance and grounds staff.
Superintendent Justin Irish introduced the first purchase order as "for over 1,000,000 to Emerges to provide 1 to 1 and some 2 to 1 behavior technicians and board certified behavior analysts, for special education services for multiple students at various locations," and the board voted to approve the contract (SEG 383–389). The document presented ties services to students’ individualized education programs.
The board also approved a contract to Edmonds School District to provide services through Edmonds’ deaf and hard‑of‑hearing program. Vice President Elizabeth Sotak explained that Edmonds “houses that program” and serves regional students, providing access to American Sign Language instruction (SEG 406–409; SEG 417–424). Superintendent Irish said the purchase exceeds $1,000,000 (SEG 406–407).
To formalize the Edmonds arrangement, the board approved an interlocal cooperation agreement with Edmonds School District No. 15 that adds services for visually impaired students and documents that services will be provided according to students’ individualized education plans (SEG 443–451).
The board also ratified two tentative collective bargaining agreements. Irish said the district and the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters reached a tentative agreement on June 27, 2025, for a contract effective 09/01/2025 through 08/31/2028; the executive summary and redline were provided for board review (SEG 476–483). Separately, Irish said a tentative agreement with Laborers Union Local 242 was reached on 08/28/2025, with the same effective dates of 09/01/2025–08/31/2028; board members expressed appreciation for grounds and maintenance employees before approving the agreement (SEG 511–518; SEG 526–536).
None of the motions in these items recorded a roll‑call vote in the public transcript; each motion was moved and seconded and the board chair called the question and announced that the item passed (e.g., SEG 391–401; SEG 434–436; SEG 464–469; SEG 501–503; SEG 542–544).
What’s next: approved contracts and agreements will be implemented per the documents attached to the board packet; the superintendent indicated staff follow‑up where needed (for example, on personnel and program details), and the board proceeded to reports and communications after completing the action items (SEG 546–554).
