Franklin Pierce board approves affirmative action plan, Head Start subaward and routine administrative policies

At its Dec. 10 meeting, the Franklin Pierce School Board approved several administrative items that the district described as routine but consequential to operations and federal compliance.

The board adopted the 2025–2029 affirmative action plan, a five‑year document prepared to meet federal requirements under several civil‑rights statutes and state RCW/WAC guidance. District staff noted increases in minority representation in several job categories since the prior plan and candidly described limits of the federal template (which relies on older census data). The presenter said the district will use its own internal goals and annual reporting to make the plan actionable.

The board also approved the Head Start 2024–25 subaward agreement with the Puget Sound Educational Service District. The presenter said the contract provides for 114 Head Start slots, of which 102 are currently filled (about a 90% fill rate) in nine half‑day sessions.

Directors adopted a small set of routine policies and procedures, including policy 6217 (electronic fund transfers) intended to codify practices to reduce fraud, updates to procurement and small works rosters to reflect recent RCW changes, and strengthened language on staff‑student boundary policies and expense claim certification procedures. An overnight fifth‑grade camp to Camp Seymour funded by an OSPI outdoor education grant was also approved.

All votes on these items were taken by voice and recorded as unanimous in the meeting minutes.