Highline board weighs WSIF policy and governance overhaul; agrees to pursue board goals

Staff told the board that policy 2004 (the district’s Washington State Improvement Framework policy) is out of date and that some districts have repealed similar policies because goals can be adopted without a separate high-level policy. Speaker 6 framed options: repeal and adopt goals simultaneously, revise the policy to tie to current WACs/RCWs, or pause policy revision while the board studies governance models. He cautioned against drafting a governance policy before the board chooses a governance model: "I would not recommend as your policy person that you craft a policy based on a particular governance model before you've actually decided that that's a governance model you wanna work under," he said.

Directors discussed the practical constraints of timing and data availability, noting the legislature and OSPI timelines could change accountability rules. Staff committed to include WSIF metrics in the district annual report so the public can see both strategic-plan and WSIF measures. Several directors urged forming a small governance research team (two directors plus staff) to study models and bring recommendations back over multiple meetings.

Separately, the board completed a self-assessment of governance practices that showed strengths in fiscal monitoring and facilities planning but weaknesses in shared purpose and collaborative decision-making. Directors proposed near-term board goals through June: (1) research governance models and recommend a governance model pathway; (2) pursue Board of Distinction process and related improvements; (3) craft a concise shared board purpose statement; and (4) improve regular reporting and community communication about student-achievement measures.

Staff noted governance-model work will be multi-month and will determine needed process changes (agenda setting, liaison procedures) before the board changes policies tied to governance. Directors asked for SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) formulations of the goals to review at the January meeting.