Workforce Board approves consent agenda and outlines executive director search

At a special meeting on Feb. 20, the Workforce Board approved its consent agenda, including the board minutes from Jan. 23 and proposed 2027 state determined performance levels (SDPLs) required under the Carl Perkins Act.

Board staff said the SDPLs were posted for public comment with no comments and were negotiated with SBCTC and OSPI before being submitted to the U.S. Department of Education. "The SDPLs have been through a formal public comment with no comments," staff said during the presentation.

The board also discussed an executive director recruitment process. Morgan described a small selection committee that will include April and Morgan, "one person from labor, one person from the business side of the board, and possibly a few others," and said the committee would work with Franklin and L&I HR to produce a job posting and application materials. Morgan said the committee plans to review paper applications to select a top five, interview in person to reduce the list to three finalists, and then submit those names and notes to the governor's office for selection and approval. "It was asked that the list not be ranked," staff said.

Board members asked about timelines and outreach for the posting. Marie Brown asked whether a specific timeline exists; staff said they intend to move with urgency but expect much of the work to occur after the legislature adjourns. Board members also asked staff to share the posting with the board for wider distribution once it is posted.

The consent agenda motion was moved and seconded and carried; the chair announced the motion carries and confirmed the board had a quorum.

The board set no final public deadline for the recruitment in the meeting; staff said they will provide updates to the board as the process advances and that finalists will be forwarded to the governor's office for appointment.