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Board hears State of the Schools review plan and receives PDC guidance; directs staff to prepare levy-resolution
Summary
District staff outlined the State of the Schools review process and Sarah Thornton reviewed Public Disclosure Commission rules on elections; the board directed staff to draft a resolution in support of the district levy to return for action in January.
District staff presented two connected reports at the Dec. 9 Pasco School Board meeting: an overview of the State of the Schools review process and a legal briefing on election-related conduct from the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) guidance.
Mira Goble (district improvement lead) explained the State of the Schools review: it is a midyear progress-monitoring process aligned to the district’s strategic "outrageous outcomes." Goble described two presentation models for the 2025–26 reviews — small-group study session rotations for board members (about 20 minutes per table) and individual school site presentations (about 30 minutes, including Q&A and optional tours). Staff will provide data one‑pagers that summarize progress, goals and support needs. Goble said the schedule includes four study sessions beginning in February and that individual school visits will be scheduled with school leaders and Miss Richardson.
Sarah Thornton reviewed legal constraints under RCW 42.17 and PDC guidance governing school districts during elections. Thornton said state law prohibits using agency facilities, staff time or publications to advocate for or against ballot measures but allows a board to take collective action — for example, adopting a resolution in a publicly noticed meeting with an opportunity for opposing views. She emphasized that informational materials are permissible if they are non‑advocacy and described training staff provide to avoid improper use of district resources.
After discussion, a majority of board members asked staff to prepare a formal resolution in support of the district’s upcoming levy; Thornton said staff would bring a draft for full discussion and possible action at the board’s first meeting in January. Board members also raised questions about student participation rules and the appropriate lines between student free speech and board‑sponsored activities; Thornton advised caution and described permissible individual student activities outside of official roles.
In public comment, Asaka Erdman, a district Japanese teacher, asked the board to restore in‑person higher‑level Japanese courses at Sage View and to consider offering University of Washington (UW) Japanese at Chiawana High School (transcript lists high schools with variant spellings). Erdman said moving advanced Japanese classes online had harmed students at Sage View and urged the board to prioritize the program to preserve equitable access.
