Spokane County commissioners unanimously approve consent items and agree to draft support letter for Joya’s ESIT funding request

Spokane County commissioners met on May 10, 2026, for a brief consent‑agenda session and unanimously approved consent agenda items 3, 4 and 5. The board then voted to draft and sign a time‑sensitive letter supporting Joya (formerly the Guild School) in its request for state ESIT funding.

The meeting opened at 2 p.m. with four commissioners present, including Commissioner Kearns joining by Zoom. The chair noted the county received no written testimony in advance and that no members of the public spoke during the open forum.

An unnamed commissioner moved to approve consent items 3, 4 and 5, which was seconded and carried unanimously. “Motion passes unanimously,” the chair announced after the aye votes.

Commissioner Kearns raised a separate request under miscellaneous business: staff had received an email from Joya asking whether the commissioners would sign a letter of support for funding directed to the state’s ESIT program, which Kearns described as support for “early support for infants and toddlers.” Kearns said the email indicated the request was time sensitive relative to proposed state budget action but that no exact deadline was included; Kearns also said Joya offered to provide a draft letter to the county to speed preparation. “They are looking to see if the commissioners are either interested in signing a letter that they are putting together for early support for infants and toddlers,” Kearns said.

After discussion about whether the chair would sign such a letter, an unnamed commissioner moved that the board approve drafting and signing a letter supporting Joya’s funding request during the current legislative cycle, noting signatures would be executed outside of an open public meeting. The chair opened the floor for public comment on the motion, heard none, and called the vote. Commissioners voted verbally in the affirmative and the chair said the motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Waldorf said he supported the letter and emphasized keeping local ESIT providers whole amid proposed state cuts. “I think it’s really important that we keep them as whole as possible,” Waldorf said, noting that Joya referenced a joint sign‑on letter for ESIT providers in Spokane County but had also asked for a county‑specific letter.

Waldorf also raised a separate logistical concern about an upcoming joint city–county meeting, asking that the board work to limit that session to under two hours so the Board of Health can start at 1:00 p.m. for scheduled interviews. The chair said they and Council President Wilkerson would try to keep speakers to a minimum to stay on schedule.

The meeting concluded with no executive or closed sessions announced and was then adjourned.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve consent agenda items 3, 4 and 5: approved (motion passed unanimously). - Motion to draft and sign a letter of support for Joya’s ESIT funding request (to be signed outside an open public meeting): approved (motion passed unanimously).