Michael Keaton — The ranking member is addressed as 'Ranking Member Keaton,' likely referring to Representative Michael Keaton.
Michael Keaton — Asked how the $750,000 cap was developed.
Michael Keaton — Representative Michael Keaton is introduced as the next speaker, then asks whether Board Boot Camp could be adjusted to cover the core responsibilities of school board directors—such as hiring and firing a superintendent, budget and financial obligations, and policy setting—without going into as much depth.
Victoria Hunt — Senator Victoria Hunt is welcomed as the prime sponsor and then introduces herself as representing the 5th Legislative District before beginning her remarks on the bill.
SB6247 — Second bill taken up; concerns school district financial management.
Davina Duerr — Representative Callan was part of a continuing discussion about ESD oversight, with the speaker clarifying that the oversight process is aimed at second-class school districts and responding to Callan’s question about what triggers that oversight.
HB2593 — Requested as a comparison bill to help understand differences between approaches.
HB2593 — House Bill 2593 is discussed as a school-district-focused measure that the committee heard, perfected, and passed. Speakers compare it with another bill as a possible policy option, note that both bills aim to address fiscal concerns in school districts, and praise 2593 for its focus on supporting districts. The discussion also notes that 2593 did not ultimately progress, though it was improved through the process, and later references it as a prior bill that might fit together with the current bill’s approach to defining financial distress.
Perry Dozier — Senator Perry Dozier introduced himself as the senator from the 16th Legislative District and continued by explaining that his six years on the Senate Education Committee and the financial problems in his district motivated him to bring forward the bill.
Sharon Shewmake — Addressed as chair in the sponsor's opening remarks; likely a mis-transcription of the committee chair's name.
Sharon Shewmake — The chair is addressed twice as 'Chair Santos,' likely reflecting a transcription error, with both mentions simply referring to the committee chair in the same ongoing exchange.
Skyler Rude — Addressed as ranking member in the sponsor's opening remarks.
Skyler Rude — Representative Skyler Rude is repeatedly addressed during a continuous exchange about training requirements. The discussion includes a question about whether training requirements could be scaled back and a follow-up asking who would pay for the training, all within the same policy conversation.
Skyler Rude — Addressed as Ranking Member Rude.
Carolyn Eslick — Representative Carolyn Eslick thanked the senator for the bill, praised it, and asked for a copy of the list of school districts. She then added personal recollections about losing the Vader school district and her familiarity with Prescott, tying her comments to the broader impact of school district changes on local communities.
Amy Grant — Identified as the daughter of a former caucus chair and a member of the House Democrats.
Bill and Nancy — Mentioned as the senator's parents' close friends in Prescott.
Dr. Flip Herndon — Named as the superintendent of ESD 113 and the first public testifier on the bill.
SB6247 — Senate Bill 6247 is discussed as a measure that could help identify fiscal issues in a more structured way while balancing support and oversight. The witness says they will address Sections 3 and 4, which relate to training requirements, and notes that the organization is signed in other on the bill in support of financial training and accountability. The discussion then turns to whether the bill applies to all directors and whether the training requirement should be narrowed.
Logan Noel Endress — Introduces himself as a proud product of public education and begins testimony.
Logan Noel Endress — Logan Noel Endress explained that Board Boot Camp is an optional, multi-hour training offered annually at the organization’s conference for new directors. He noted that many new directors attend and that the training includes only light coverage of funding and finance, which is much less detailed than the requirements in the bill.
Logan Newell-Undris — Testifies on behalf of the Washington State School Directors Association in support of the bill's training provisions.
Marissa Rathbone — Introduces herself as representing WASA and WOSBO and begins testimony on the bill.
Marissa Rathbone — Her earlier point about the training is affirmed as 'really great.'
Logan — Logan is asked about the extent of financial training available to school directors. He says he does not have a specific answer immediately but can gather membership data, and adds that several trainings were sold out over the past year, suggesting strong participation.
Logan — Addressed as the person who would take the training suggestion back to the leadership development team.
Logan — Referenced as having shared similar views about the bills and training.
Lauren Davis — Her earlier question was referenced as the basis for the follow-up.
Lauren Davis — Representative Callan noted that there are slight differences between the Senate and House versions and asked the witness to send preferred language or identify any important differences before the bill is considered for executive action. She also briefly referenced her prior service on her local school board in explaining the context of her concern.
Gerry Pollet — Representative Gerry Pollet is introduced as the next questioner and then asks a follow-up question, building on earlier discussion about the quality of Board Boot Camp and noting concerns he has heard from school board members around the state.
WASDA representative — Said members do not have a position on required governance training and referenced prior discussion about compensation.
Dr. Herndon — The chair directs a question to Dr. Herndon about whether the work can be done within existing funding.
Dr. Herndon — Was asked whether the proposal could be implemented within existing funding and without creating an unfunded mandate.
Dr. Herndon — Said some expansion is possible, but additional resources would be needed for the bill's added requirements.
Dr. Herndon — Explained that more meetings and assistance would require additional time or staff, especially in binding conditions.
Dr. Herndon — Said ESD fiscal staff already work with smaller districts and that expanded work with larger districts would require more time or people.
Dr. Herndon — Said the additional resources being requested would come from the state, not school districts.
Dr. Herndon — Confirmed the state would still bear the cost, even for districts not yet in binding conditions.
Dr. Herndon — Addressed directly as the person asked to compare the two bills.
leadership development team — The witness says the question about modifying Board Boot Camp will be taken back to the leadership development team.
Steve Bergquist — Referenced as having pointed out the importance of financial oversight training.
Marissa — Referenced as having just testified about reasons a district might fall below or exceed thresholds.
Flip — Referenced as having shared similar views about the bills and training.
Lillian Ortiz-Self — Representative Ortiz-Self asked for clarification about whether new school board members are required to take WOSDA training or whether any training would satisfy the requirement. The response clarified that her question was actually about the optional board boot camp/orientation offered at the annual conference, which is provided but not required.
Nikki Torres — A speaker appears to be responding to Representative Ortiz-Self's question about whether board members must take WOSDA training or may take any training.
Misha Terniski — Misha Terniski is brought forward after waiting, then testifies on behalf of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in support of the bill. He says OSPI supports the bill, especially the mandatory training provision, and notes that OSPI could help define what financial distress would look like under the bill because it has broad authority in that area. The exchange concludes with a prompt asking whether there are questions for him.
Clyde Shavers — Vice Chair Shavers is asked to read the record and bring forward the next panel.
Clyde Shavers — Was asked to read into the record the sign-in positions of those not wishing to testify.
Clyde Shavers — Was asked to proceed with the next procedural step.
Clyde Shavers — Reported that there were no testifiers and read the sign-in counts.