The Clover Park School District (CPSD) Board of Directors held a planning meeting on March 7 to engage in training and discussion on roles and responsibilities of boards and superintendents and review board standard operating procedures.

Board members also agreed to make a number of standard operating procedures a focal point for the remainder of the school year.

Prior to its March 14 board meeting, the Clover Park School District (CPSD) Board of Directors held a public hearing on a proposal to transfer certain territory on Joint Base Lewis-McChord from the Bethel School District (BSD) to CPSD. During its regular meeting, the school board received background information and an overview regarding the proposed territory from Deputy Superintendent Brian Laubach.

CPSD has been serving approximately 39 students living on JBLM who reside within BSD boundaries. CPSD is proposing a transfer of the territory on JBLM from BSD to CPSD.

The public hearing was held to give citizens an opportunity to provide public comment on the matter. There was no public comment.

In his report, Laubach discussed optional mask wearing and parent-teacher conferences.

The school board held a regular meeting/workshop on March 28. The board viewed a presentation on required school board trainings. It also heard updates on the district’s COVID-19 mitigation strategies, budget, summer capital projects and Department of Health guidelines on lead levels in water.

Masks are always required in a school's health or isolation rooms and for most early learning program staff. Masks may be required during an outbreak or when the disease is occurring at a high level in a school or building, during higher risk activities or as part of an individual staff or student accommodation.

Laubach also provided updates on social distancing, isolation and potential exposures.

Director of Financial Services Greg Hart presented on the 2020-21 end of year financial report and the 2021-22 budget. The district ended the 2020-21 school year with a higher-than-expected fund balance due to cost-saving measures, higher-than-expected enrollment and additional funding sources.

Hart shared about the current state of the 2021-22 budget, including an overview of the beginning fund balance. He concluded his presentation with a tentative budget development timeline for the 2022-23 school year.

Director of Capital Projects John Boatman provided an update on the district's upcoming summer capital projects. He reviewed the facility condition assessments the district conducted in 2015 and 2020.

This summer, the district plans to focus on the following projects while schools are closed: Lochburn Middle School student restrooms and science room flooring; playground equipment replacement at Dower, Oakbrook, Tyee Park and Tillicum elementary schools; Tillicum Elementary School window replacement, exterior paint and security fencing; Clover Park High School irrigation and pool lighting replacement; Oakbrook Elementary School carpet replacement; Auxiliary Services Center dishwasher replacement; and bleacher repair at Harry E. Lang Stadium.

Boatman also provided updates on future summer and major capital projects the district plans to address.

Director of Maintenance and Operations John Danielson presented on lead levels in drinking water outlets at district schools. The state of Washington passed a new law in 2021 that addressed levels of lead in drinking water outlets in schools.

The new law requires testing of all schools built, or with plumbing replaced, before 2016 to be tested for lead levels by June 30, 2026. The district has created an action plan that will include reviewing previous lead test results, working with the Department of Health on remediation steps and communicating with students, families and staff about lead contamination and the district's plan to reduce lead contamination.