HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-07-11_Work_SessionDr. Charles J. Shackett, Superintendent Dr. Bruce Roberts, Deputy Superintendent
3497 North Ammon Road, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 83401 (208) 525-4400 Fax (208) 529-0104 www.d93.k12.id.us
Board of Trustees Craig Lords Annette Winchester Wendy Horman Kip Nelson DeVere Hunt
Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Marjean McConnell, Assistant Superintendent
Work Session – Superintendent’s Office
December 7, 2011
10:00 a.m.
I. Call to Order
Chairman Lords called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Board Members present: Chairman Craig Lords, Vice Chairman Annette Winchester, Treasurer Wendy
Horman, Trustee Kip Nelson and Trustee DeVere Hunt. Others in attendance were Superintendent Chuck Shackett, Deputy Superintendent Bruce Roberts,
Assistant Superintendent Marjean McConnell, Chief Financial/Operations Officer April Burton, Director of Plant Facilities/Operations Roger Hill, Lary Larson of the
Facilities Planning Committee, and Board Clerk Valerie Messick.
Chairman Lords asked for a motion to enter into Executive Session at 10:05 a.m.
MOTION: DeVere Hunt made the motion to enter into Executive Session per Idaho Code Section 67-2345 (1)(c) To consider deliberations to acquire an interest in
real property which is not owned by a public agency. Annette Winchester seconded. The vote was:
Wendy Horman – Yes
DeVere Hunt – Yes
Kip Nelson – Yes
Anette Winchester – Yes
Craig Lords – Yes
Roger Hill spoke to the Board regarding the purchase of the Armstrong property. The Board directed Mr. Hill to continue to negotiate but they would be inclined to
accept the last offer from Armstrong’s. The Board’s limit is $17,500. Mr. Hill should let Armstrong’s know that the Board is discussing other options. He
recommended that the Board purchase the property but, he will continue to negotiate as directed. The Board also discussed the possibility of buying property for an
elementary school.
Chairman Lords asked for a motion to move back into open session at 10:13 a.m.
MOTION: DeVere Hunt made the motion to move back into open session. Kip Nelson seconded. The vote was 5 in favor with 0 opposed and 0 abstentions. Motion
passed.
II. Items for Discussion
Bonding Issues
Chairman Lords began the discussion by stating that now is not the appropriate time to build a new high school. He is concerned about the future of the INL and
AREVA. We should give the economy another year and possibly cut the elementary school plans back to 500 students. We should try to redo the Sandcreek Middle
School roof, put defibrillators at the middle and high schools, put Wi-Fi in all schools, purchase a warehouse, and remodel Bonneville and Hillcrest high schools. We
need to leave the plant facility budget alone, extend and refinance the 2007 bond, and refinance the 2005 bond. Chairman Lord s asked if anyone on the Board was
interested in raising taxes or not going for a bond. The consensus was that we should not raise taxes at this point in time but we need to bond for a new elementary
school as well as finance some of the required projects listed. We have approximately $13 million available for bonding without raising the tax levy rate.
Dr. Shackett told the Board about the old Cal Store Building on Hitt Road. The asking price is $1.4 million and it would take about $250,000 to remod el it. If the
District could purchase and remodel that building, we could move Maintenance and Food Services into that building. It could also be used for District storage. This
would free up about 12,000 – 15,000 square feet of space in the Bonneville High School basement. The current Maintenance building and storage shed and the
Food Services building could then be used for a professional technical high school. Computer labs could be placed in the basement of the Annex Building and
remove Rocky Mountain Middle School students completely out of the Vocational building and give the total Annex to Rocky Moun tain and use the Vocational
Building for a professional technical high school. Wendy Horman was concerned about the lack of natural lighting in the basem ent of the Annex. We would need
about $500,000 to remodel the two high schools. Bonneville High School’s basement could then be used for wrestling, weights, P.E., baseball or softball batting
practice, or Drama Storage. The current weight room could be used for Special Education or a classroom for P.E. We would not cover Hillcrest High School
cafeteria but would go to a double lunch schedule to alleviate overcrowding. Wendy Horman wondered how we would address the loss at Hillcrest with the creation
of the professional technical high school. She wants to create the high school at EITC. DeVere Hunt stated that we need to ch ange the mentality of the north vs.
south in the District. It should be what is best financially for the District. We need to sell the idea of the best financial decisions for the District. These decisions may
not be fair. Kip Nelson stated that if we need the votes we will need to address the concerns. Chairman Lords stated that the north – south issue will come in to play
when we build a new high school.
Mr. Larson stated that the committee didn’t see a tax increase as a problem. If the public sees a need they will support the District. We need to sell it as serving the
needs of the District. DeVere Hunt stated that we nee to sharpen our pencil and see how we can get by for the next few years while bonding for fewer dollars.
Annette Winchester wondered why we need to build an elementary. Dr. Shackett stated that we need the modular classrooms that we are currently using at the
elementary schools to house the students at the middle schools and high schools in the future. We currently have 16 classes in modular units at the elementary
schools. If we build a 600 student capacity elementary, it will allow for three classes per grade level. Hopefully in the future we can replace aging schools with new
buildings.
At 11:15 a.m., Chairman Lords called for a recess of the Work Session in order for the Board to attend the planned Legislative Luncheon in the Board Room of the
District Office.
At 1:21 p.m., Chairman Lords called the Work Session back to order. Board members present were Chairman Craig Lords, Vice Chairman Annette Winchester, and
Trustee DeVere Hunt. Others in attendance were Superintendent Chuck Shackett, Deputy Superintendent Bruce Roberts, Assistant Superintendent Marjean
McConnell, Chief Financial/Operations Officer April Burton, Director of Plant Facilities/Operations Roger Hill, and Board Clerk Valerie Messick.
Mrs. Burton stated that the Board had been presented different scenarios by Eric Heringer and Michael Keith of Seattle Northwest. She asked the Board if they
wanted to use the plant facility moneys to allow an increase in the amount of money that is available for bonding. If the Board does not want to use the plant facility
moneys, they could bond for approximately $13.5 million. That would leave plant facility money available if it is needed by the District. The possibility of asking two
questions during the bond election was discussed. It would be difficult to count the yes votes. There could be advantages to asking two questions. Then we would
know what the patrons are willing to support. We would need to educate people and we would need to know what questions to ask. Mrs. Burton will work with Mr.
Heringer and Mr. Keith to formulate the questions and the best scenario to present to the patrons. Chairman Lords asked the administration to come up with a firm
number of projects required for the levy amount.
Chairman Lords asked to schedule a work session for Friday, January 6, 2012 to be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Board Room at the District Office. Valerie Messick was
directed to find out whether a quorum of Board members can attend at that time. Mr. Lords and Mrs. Winchester are available. Mr. Hunt will check his calendar and
let Mrs. Messick know if he can make it.
III. Call for Agenda Items for Upcoming Meetings
1. Regular Meeting - December 14, 2011 – 7:00 p.m. - District Office Board Room - Mrs. McConnell needs an executive session to discuss a personnel matter.
Mr. Hill will report on the property negotiations. The executive session will be scheduled for 6:30 p.m. prior to the Regular Board Meeting. Dr. Roberts has
some policy to bring before the Board.
2. Regular Meeting - January 11, 2012 – 7:00 p.m. - District Office Board Room – Decision on a Bond Resolution for March, 2012.
3. Work Session – January 25, 2012 – 11:30 a.m. – Sandcreek Middle School – Report on a Financial Management Plan – April Burton, Report on patron autism
classroom concerns – Chuck Shackett
IV. Adjournment
Chairman Lords asked for a motion to adjourn at 1:28 p.m.
MOTION: DeVere Hunt made the motion to adjourn. Annette Winchester seconded. The vote was 3 in favor with 0 opposed and 0 abstentions. Motion passed.
APPROVED: _____________________
Chairperson
ATTESTED: __________________________
Clerk
Date: ___________________