Committees - Kennewick School District

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BOARD (TRUANCY & ATTENDANCE)

Purpose

Kennewick School District and the Benton-Franklin Counties Juvenile Justice Center have established a Community Engagement Board, which is composed of members of the community to provide intervention support to students who are referred from schools for truancy as a result of exceeding the number of unexcused absences allowed under the law.

Community engagement board members receive training regarding the identification of barriers to school attendance; the use of the Washington Assessment of the Risks and Needs of Students (WARNS) or other assessment tools to identify the specific needs of individual children; cultural responsive interactions; trauma-informed approaches to discipline; evidence-based treatments that have been found effective in supporting at-risk youth and their families; and the specific services and treatment available in the particular school, court, community, and elsewhere.

Students are referred from Kennewick School District schools for truancy, as a result of exceeding the number of unexcused absences allowed under the law. These students, along with their parents, are scheduled to attend a Community Engagement Board hearing. At this hearing, families are given information about the Becca Law (RCW 13.32A) and they meet with a volunteer(s) to discuss their reasons for non-attendance and to help the youth and family develop an education success plan.

RCW 28A.225.020: School's duties upon child's failure to attend school.

RCW 28A.225.025: Community engagement boards —Membership—Duties.

Qualifications

Volunteers must be 21 years or older, apply and be accepted to volunteer in the district (including passing a background check), and have a strong desire to help students overcome attendance issues and be successful in school. Members who are bilingual in Spanish are strongly desired but it is not a requirement.

Meetings & Time Commitment

First and third Tuesday of each month, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (1.5 to 2 hours biweekly)

Meeting Location

Kennewick School District Administration Center, 1000 W. 4th Ave., Kennewick

VOLUNTEER

Fill out the online volunteer form: https://forms.gle/7H3jXUnqzWGHz2736

Contact

BJ Wilson, Director of K-12 Student Services, b j .wilson@ksd.org , (509) 222-6534

District Equity Team

Dual Language Advisory Committee

PURPOSE

The Dual Language Advisory Committee (DLAC) is a collaborative group formed within the Kennewick School District, dedicated to supporting and enhancing the dual language program. Composed of various stakeholders directly involved in the program, the committee includes 1-2 teachers from each dual language school, 2 dual language principals, a dual language specialist, and the program director. A noteworthy aspect of DLAC is that 50% of its members are either individuals with Multilingual (ML) backgrounds or former ML parents. This intentional composition underscores the committee’s commitment to linguistic diversity and inclusivity, crucial for the program's success.

DLAC's primary role is to perform a thorough assessment of the dual language program, working collaboratively to refine and improve its core components. The committee focuses on evaluating and enhancing the program's mission, vision, teaching methods, content and language distribution plans, student placement strategies, and more. By adhering to high educational standards, DLAC aims to provide objective and valuable insights and recommendations. These efforts are geared toward optimizing the program's impact for students, families, educators, and the community at large.

QUALIFICATIONS

DLAC members are selected for their direct involvement and expertise in the dual language program. The inclusion of individuals with ML backgrounds and parents of former ML students ensures a diverse and comprehensive perspective in the committee's deliberations.

MEETINGS & TIME COMMITMENT

DLAC meetings are scheduled as follows:

January 22, 2025, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
February 19, 2025, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
March 18, 2025, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

MEETING LOCATION

The meetings are held within the Kennewick School District premises, with details provided upon confirmation of membership.

CONTACT

For further information or inquiries about the Dual Language Advisory Committee, please contact:

Sarah Del Toro, Director of Learning Programs & Supports, sarah.deltoro@ksd.org, 509-222-6491

Facilities Study Committee

Purpose

The Facilities Study Committee studies the facility and land needs in conjunction with the requirements of the district and the students, families, educators, and community it serves. The committee also recommends options, strategies and opportunities to the Kennewick School District Board of Directors and the Superintendent based on the educational standards of the district and studies undertaken of facility and land needs along with projected student growth and funding capabilities.

Contact

Ryan Jones, Capital Projects Manager, ryan.jones@ksd.org, (509) 222-6810

Instructional Materials Committee (IMC)

Purpose

Kennewick School District is forming an Instructional Materials Committee (IMC) to provide final recommendation regarding instructional materials adoption to the school board. We are seeking participation from parents/guardians, staff, community members, and high school students.

Current Openings

Applications for the 2024-2025 Instructional Materials Committee will be accepted from August 5 until September 13.

2 High School Students
Elementary Librarian
High School Librarian

Qualifications

New members must be able to attend orientation meeting prior to October meeting
Must be able to attend monthly meetings (October-May)
Missing more than two meetings will result in removal from committee
There will be required reading outside of meeting times
3 year commitment (except for high school students)
Ability to effectively listen, collaborate and problem-solve with diverse groups
Interest in curriculum and instruction

Contact

Alyssa St. Hilaire, Director of Teaching and Learning, alyssa.sthilaire@ksd.org, (509) 222-6548.

Committee MeetingS

All meetings will be held at the Kennewick Administration Building, 1000 4^th Ave., Kennewick.

Meeting Time: 4 to 5:30 p.m.

September 26, 2024 – New Committee Member Orientation
October 3, 2024
November 14, 2024
December 12, 2024
January 16, 2025
February 13, 2025
March 13, 2025
April 17, 2025
May 15, 2025

Kennewick FOCUS

Purpose

Kennewick FOCUS is a school district, parent, and community partnership formed for the purpose of promoting an alcohol/drug-free and violence-free environment for our youth. Group members include school district administration, high school leadership students, the Kennewick Police Department, community service organizations, community advocates, elected officials, and others. This group hosts an annual tailgate fundraiser in the fall to raise money for alcohol/drug-free events for students.

Contact

Steve Banda, Assistant Principal, Kamiakin High School, steve.banda@ksd.org

Purpose

SEPAC is an advisory committee that meets throughout the school year with district special education administration to:

Facilitate communication between parents and community members
Identify common goals and needs to increase parent participation and understanding of special education services
Provide feedback on district polices and initiatives

contact

Lexie Buschbach, Director of Special Services, lexie.buschbach@ksd.org, (509) 222-6571.

Those interested in joining the SEPAC committee can fill out an application here.