School Board Meeting Summary

The Wenatchee School Board provides a "Board Meeting Summary Briefing" after each Board meeting. The summary includes a short description of the main topics and action items. These summaries are not meant to replace minutes. The minutes for each meeting are approved and posted after the next regularly scheduled meeting.

📁 Board packets including presentations and reports are available on our website.

📹 Meetings live-streamed and archived on our YouTube Channel.

Consent Agenda
The consent agenda was approved as presented.

Bright Spots

Summer School
📄 Summer School Presentation

An overview of the K-8 migrant summer school program was presented by Anyassa Limus-Pulido, Principal for Migrant Summer School. This year, the four-week program shifted from half-day sessions to a full-day schedule operating three days a week, from Tuesday through Thursday. Centered on the theme "Wonders of the World," the curriculum combines classroom instruction with regional field trips. The program enrollment is approximately 200 students who met eligibility requirements through migrant status and priority for service.

Citizens' Comments
Five community members, including representatives from the Yes! For Wenatchee Schools PAC, offered public testimony urging the board to approve the resolution for the November 3, 2026, bond measure. Additionally, Student Energy Managers expressed appreciation for the district's partnership in reducing energy usage and expenses, noting that these collaborative efforts successfully averted significant penalties from the Department of Commerce.

Special Presentations

End-of-Year Student Data

📄 25-26 End of Year SB Data Presentation
Executive Director of Learning, Teaching, and Schools Eric Anderson, Director of Learning & Teaching Amber Birks, and Newbery Vice Principal Brittany Hacho presented an overview of year-end student learning results, grounded in the district's "Promise" and "Big 6" initiatives.

• Reading & ELA: Reading growth was emphasized across all levels. ELA SBA data for grade 10 reflects positive momentum, which may be attributed to the new phone-free environment; the district has set a goal to increase growth rates to 60% or higher in all sections.

• Mathematics: While acknowledging room for growth, results show significant progress for EL, ML, and Special Education students with few performance gaps. The district is analyzing current data to determine additional interventions, building on successful 10th-grade strategies.

• ELD Progress: WIDA data indicates high exit rates for students in grades 4, 5, and 8.

• Future Strategy: The district plans to enhance student performance by continuing to leverage core instruction and the PLC process, supported by a revamped structure to increase leadership layers at the building level.

The foundation of the work starts with the Promise, and 3 main Big 6 initiatives. Amber shared Reading data. Reading growth was emphasized, showing growth in all levels. Eric shared ELA SBA data. The phone-free environment seems to be represented in the grade 10 data, which showed that growth is occurring and moving in the right direction.

Preliminary Budget - General Fund

📄 2026-27 Preliminary Budget General Fund

A comprehensive analysis of the 2026-27 General Fund preliminary budget was delivered by Sean Fitzgerald, Executive Director of Business and Finance. The presentation began with an examination of enrollment trends, indicating a projected continued decline, though there remains optimism for enrollment growth at Valley Academy. Furthermore, the report included year-end General Fund projections, preliminary budget forecasts both with and without capacity considerations, and an explanation of the underlying budgetary assumptions and methodology.

Action

Bond Resolution No. 03-26

📄 Resolution No. 03-26

District directors expressed individual perspectives advocating for the resolution's passage to include the bond on the November 3 ballot. Following these remarks, the board voted unanimously in favor of the measure.

Transfer of Funds Resolution No. 04-26

📄 Resolution 04-26_ Transfer of Funds from General Fund to Capital Projects Fund For Lincoln Elementary Playground

The board approved the resolution as presented.

Names for Pro and Con Committees

📄 Board Report_ Pro and Con Committee Appointments

The board designated several individuals to serve on the Bond measure’s Pro Committee. As of the June 1 deadline, the district had not received any formal submissions for the corresponding Con Committee.

The appointed Pro Committee members include:
Kate Pauly
Chuck Largent
Debbie Walter

Superintendent Report
Superintendent Kalahar shared comments on the following topics

• Superintendent Kalahar provided a summary of graduation figures, highlighting students who earned diplomas or GEDs through Wenatchee High School, WestSide, and SkillSource. Additionally, the report detailed the volume of students achieving industry-recognized certifications across WHS, WestSide, and Wenatchee Valley Technical Skills Center.

• The Department of Commerce has officially recognized the district for achieving complete alignment with the Clean Energy Act. This accomplishment, driven by the joint efforts of Student Energy Managers and district personnel, successfully mitigated a projected $433,000 fine concerning large-scale facilities. Furthermore, a $500,000 grant was awarded by the Department of Commerce to install a specialized HVAC controller at Foothills Middle School, facilitating Tier 2 compliance with the state's clean building mandates.

• The district hosted a tour of Wenatchee High School and a bond information session for the Chelan-Douglas School Retirees’ Association on June 16.
  
  

Board Communication

• Director Belton was in attendance for the Pioneer Middle School eighth-grade promotion ceremony.
• Director Iñiguez attended the promotion festivities at Orchard Middle School, expressing gratitude to the building staff for hosting a memorable event. She also extended her appreciation to the Yes! committee members for their dedicated efforts.

Adjournment

Board meeting calendar