The Mercer Island School District Board of Directors voted to record multiple not-in-compliance findings for board conduct and governance policies after extended discussion and public attention to interplay among directors.

The board reviewed several sections of Board Policy 1009 (Board Member Code of Conduct) and related governance policies. For multiple subsections the board voted that the district was not in compliance and directed staff to return with options for remediation and possible language changes.

Why it matters: The governance-monitoring process is the board's way of checking its own conduct against adopted policies. Multiple not-in-compliance findings are rare and typically trigger follow-up actions, including targeted remediation, new language, training or re-monitoring.

What the board said

Director Deborah argued that not-in-compliance findings should be supported by explicit allegations if used to criticize district staff or management: "If you're making a public vote that our district is not in compliance with financial expectations, that you actually say what your concern is," she said, urging clarity.

A number of directors said they would vote the board not in compliance on specific elements because of repeated behaviors over the last year. Director Maggie said she would vote not in compliance for the year because of specific instances of individual directors giving direction to staff.

Key votes and decisions

- The board voted to find itself not in compliance with Board Policy 1009.3 (language that members maintain respectful interactions and focus on issues rather than personalities); the motion passed with the board recording the finding and instructing staff to propose corrective steps.
- The board voted not in compliance with Board Policy 1009.4 (confidentiality for executive-session matters). Several directors cited concerns about confidentiality breaches; that item passed on a vote of 4 ayes, 1 nay.
- After voting each subsection individually, the board then voted to find itself not in compliance overall with Policy 1009 and asked the superintendent and staff to return within about 90 days with recommended language changes and a plan for re-monitoring.

What will happen next

Staff will prepare recommendations, including possible policy language revisions and a timeline for re-monitoring. The board directed staff to return with a recommendation for a remonitoring date within roughly 90 days and to advise whether language change or training would be the preferred corrective approach.

Ending note

Directors repeatedly emphasized the need to model respectful public behavior because "the community's watching and students are watching"; the board agreed to follow up with specific remedial steps rather than leave the findings as symbolic statements.