Meeting-Minutes-06.20.24.pdf

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Lynden School District #504
Ensure that all students graduate college, career, and citizenship ready.

Board Meeting
Minutes
06/20/2024
Lynden School District
Board Room
516 Main Street, Lynden, WA 98264
1. Call to Order, Welcome & Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call
Meeting called to order by Tonya Hickman at 6:31pm. Board of Directors in attendance were
Directors Hickman, Brar, and Verburg. Directors Owsley and Martinez were absent and excused
with prior notice. Superintendent David VanderYacht was also in attendance.
2. Approval of Agenda
Director Brar made a motion to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Director Verburg
Motion carried by voice vote.
Board Vote: 3-0
3. Meeting Minutes
Director Brar motioned to approve the meeting minutes from June 6, 2024. Seconded by Director
Verburg.
Director Brar motioned to amend the June 6, 2024 meeting minutes as follows:
- Item 6- Information from the Audience: change wording in the first item from “regarding
biological men” to “in opposition of biological men”
- Item 6- Information from the Audience: to add “concerns” to the fourth item
- Item 7- Information from Board Directors and Student Representatives: strike the word “our”
and replace it with the word “their” in the fourth item
Seconded by Director Verburg. Motion carried by voice vote.
Board Vote: 3-0
Director Verburg made a motion to approve the June 6, 2024 meeting minutes as amended.
Seconded by Director Brar. Motion carried by voice vote.

Board Vote: 3-0
4. Consent Agenda
23/24 General Fund: $364,814.79; warrants 169188-169275 dated June 15, 2024.
23/24 ASB Fund: $25,017.30; warrants 169276-169291 dated June 15, 2024.
23/24 ACH-General Fund: $6,326.10; warrants 232400387-232400410 dated June 15, 2024.
23/24 ACH-ASB Fund: $1,870.94; warrants 232400411-232400420 dated June 15, 2024.
Personnel Recommendations dated June 20, 2024.
Director Brar motioned to approve the consent agenda. Seconded by Director Verburg. Motion
carried by voice vote.
Board Vote: 3-0.
5. Information from the Audience
A community member addressed the board regarding school choice and spending taxpayers
money.
A community member asked the board to consider petitioning the WIAA to change its
transgender athlete participation policy.
A community member addressed the board in opposition of allowing biological males to
participate in female sports.
A community member addressed the board with her concerns about Title IX which is allowing
biological males to compete against girls.
A community member addressed the board in opposition of transgender males being able to
compete in girls sports.
A community member shared his thoughts in opposition of transgender male athletes being able
to compete in female sports. He also shared his thoughts on the cost of the bond and that
because of inflation, this cost is reasonable. He further expressed that the bond will address a
major safety concern at LHS.
A community member addressed the board regarding the tax rate estimates of the proposed
bond. She expressed that some families may be pulling their kids out of public schools because
of the state’s requirements that schools push forward ways to separate parents from children.
She urged the board to work to remove Reykdal from office.

** Director Martinez joined the meeting**

6. Reports
a. Superintendent
Alternative Learning Experience Program- Annual Report
The board reviewed and briefly discussed the annual report submitted by Lynden
Academy’s Principal, Ellie Meenk regarding the district’s Alternative Learning Experience
(ALE) Program.
Annual Policy Reports
The board reviewed and briefly discussed annual policy reports as required by the
following policies:
- Policy 3246- Restraint, Isolation, & Other Uses of Reasonable Force
- Policy 3205- Sexual Harassment of Student Prohibited
- Policy 5011- Sexual Harassment of Staff Prohibited
b. Teaching & Learning
c. Finance and Operations
Transportation Presentation
Director of Transportation, Shane Stanfill, presented information to the board about the
district’s transportation department. His presentation included information about the
district’s fleet, bus routes, staffing, and the challenges they are facing.
Finance Report- May 2024
Director of Finance & Operations, Ben Thomas, presented the board with a May 2024
Financial Report which included an executive summary, enrollment, budget status,
revenue & expenditures, and year-end projection. He also shared an update on the 24/25
budget development.
7. Board Work Session
Safety & Security Task Force Report & Recommendation
The board engaged in a work session with the Safety & Security Task Force. A final draft of the
SSTF Report was presented to the board for review and discussion. The report included a
summary of their work and their recommendations to the board in an effort to improve safety &
security processes and protocols within district facilities.
8. Board Workshop
** Director Owsley joined the meeting.

A discussion involving Gender Inclusive Schools took place during the board workshop. The board
acknowledged the importance of this topic and their desire to be transparent. It was noted that
other districts such as La Center, Kennewick, and Woodland have adopted and/or revised their
Policy 3211 and 3211P – Gender Inclusive Schools and that they are not the same as the WSSDA
model policy and procedure. There is an interest among board members to revise Lynden’s
Gender Inclusive Policy (3211). The board would like to engage with legal counsel(s) during an
executive session and potentially include a first reading at the July meeting.
9. Action Items
Approval of Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) Program
Following review and discussion of the ALE annual report during the Superintendent’s Report
earlier in the meeting, Director Owsley motioned to approve the Alternative Learning Experience
Program for 2024/2025. Seconded by Director Brar. Motion carried by voice vote.
Board Vote: 5-0
Resolution #09-24: WIAA for a Fair, Safe and Nondiscriminatory Practice in Athletic &
Extracurricular Activities
Director Martinez motioned to approve Resolution #09-24- WIAA for a Fair, Safe and
Nondiscriminatory Practice in Athletic & Extracurricular Activities. Seconded by Director Owsley.
Director Hickman motioned to amend the resolution by taking out “including transgender
athletes” in the 3rd paragraph from the bottom of page 50. Seconded by Director Brar. Motion
carried by voice vote.
Board Vote: 5-0
Director Brar motioned to amend the resolution to add the word “equality” after the word
“equity” in the last paragraph of page 50. Seconded by Director Verburg. Motion carried by
voice vote.
Board Vote: 5-0
Director Martinez motioned to approve the resolution as amended. Seconded by Director Brar.
Motion carried by voice vote.
Board Vote: 5-0
Coaching & Extracurricular Salary Schedule
Director Owsley motioned to approve the coaching & extracurricular salary schedule as
submitted. Seconded by Director Brar. Motion carried by voice vote.
Board Vote: 5-0

10. Information from Board Members
Director Hickman asked for consideration of changing the July board meeting date to July 11th
instead of July 18th. All agreed.
Director Owsley shared that he missed the first part of the meeting due to his son’s graduation
tonight from BTC and noted that he is a product of the success of the Lynden School District.
Director Verburg shared that his daughter graduated from LHS a few weeks ago and expressed
his appreciation for the many staff members who were instrumental in her journey through
school.
Director Hickman shared that her daughter graduated as a running start student and expressed
gratefulness for the many pathway options that Lynden SD provides for their students.
Director Martinez shared that he missed the first part of the meeting because his wife officially
became an American citizen this afternoon.
Director Brar asked about the status of Vossbeck crosswalk flashers.
Director Brar shared about the 917 Society, which is an organization that provides pocket-sized
copies of the constitution.
Director Brar suggested a standing agenda item for board committee reports.
11. Adjourn Meeting
Director Hickman motioned to adjourn the meeting at 10:48pm

_______________________________
Tonya Hickman, President

____________________________________
David VanderYacht, Superintendent