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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-07-2013 Minutes_Work_Session-� 24 JK J A A J497 North Ammun Road, Idaho Falls, Idaho, g34O1 (208) 525-4400 Fax (208) 529-0104 wvvm.d83.k12jdus m,/o^'h�,J ,gu'u-n.m"i "1im`id*u rd / /j�"xmumnva/.o-w/t Ys"vrmu*vt,,/ Work Session of the Board of Trustees Superintendent Soackett'sn0ce August 7, 2013 11:30 AM Roll Call Chairperson Annette Winchester called the meeting to order at 11: 36 a.m. K Call mOrder Those Board members in attendance were Chairperson Annette Winchester, Vice-chairperson Kin Nelson, Trea Jeff Bird, and. Trustee Brian McBride, umemmauenu000mwemxuponotenuon/coockxoarkex Deputy Superintendent marjemn McConnell, ChiefFinancial/Operations OfficerApril Burton, Technology and School Improvement Director Scott Woolstenhulme, Human Resources Director Shalene French, Financial Advisor Eric Heringer, Ty Salsbery, Todd Hicks, Michaelena Hix, Roger Hill, and Board Clerk Valerie Messick. Mr, Bird left the meeting at 12:30 p.m. 111. Items for Discussion 8uildinn8ption Chuck 3hackett. April Burton, Eric Heringe Chairperson Winchester asked Mrs. Burton and M information relevant mnpossible bond election h finance the building of additional classroom space for the secondary schools. They spoke about the history of the bonds in the District. The levy rate has stayed level because of growth and management by the District. Market values have been flat for the last several years, They explained that the debt capacity is what we can legally do as far as bonding is concerned. The current debt capacity is $95 million. That number is legal but not necessarily practical. We need toVu what *o need todo with the least impact to the voters. We Currently have five bond issues outstanding. Wo have money io reserve topay the 2U1S payment. |n2O10 there will boa drop and then the District can layer in and extend. The state will help pay back levies that are passed at the rate of 15% this year and will offset the indebtedness, 0h have bonds, a plant facilities levy, and a supplemental | The | t facility levy is pay as you go. The supplemental levy is used for operating costs and is pay as You go. Bonds are used for buildings. The existing debt profile has allowed us to do more without increasing the tax rate in the past. Now we will need to increase the levy rate. We can extend repayment terms and that will impact the tax rate. Wn have made conservative assumptions. Ne have built ina Cushion iointerest rates. Those have gone up but are still within the Cushion. We will refine when the Board decides what it wants to do. We are looking at flat market value across the District. Based on Versa Trans, bubble of kids are not at the high school level yet. We looked at church roles when we did the elementary boundary changes to see how many preschoolers we omm. Wn have seen o3% increase every year for the last three years. In 2008, we tied more kids and an increase in the tax base. Now we have more kids but not an increase in the market value. There is generally a lag in market value increases, Mr. Nelson asked where the first bubble is now. It is probably at the 51, grade. The middle schools are flat right now. Our high schools are increasing slowly. There are 143O students currently enrolled ntHi|mnxt|! was built for 1200. The elementaries and high schools feel the increase more than the middle schools. There is no guarantee for an increase in funding from the state. We would like to see an increase in the Supplemental Levy and we will need to plan on a new elementary as well. Our classified salaries need to increase because wo are losing them to districts with higher wages. We've got m build and «m need W take care n/ our people. We need to watch the minirnum wage issue as well. We have to be able to allow Our teachers the means to raise a family, Wv are not losing quality candidates for teaching but we are losing classified employees. We've tried not to put much salary into the Supplemental because if it does not pass, we are in trouble, Our supplernental is smaller than other districts our size and that reflects on what we pay our teachers. Because we have more growth, it can tie our hands with regard to salaries. Summit Hills will be almost full this year. Discovery io below their capacity because n| the growth io housing in that area. We've tried to keep Our e|amootahnoa(5D0'000students, Chairperson Winchester asked Superintendent Shackett to talk about building options. Wo want to Put out e Survey to see what people Will Support. We want to vote on a bond in November, The bottom line comes down to what the Board wants to do. We need to look at the global picture and then make a decision on what is best for the whole District, We need a committee to get private dollars and we will need to advertise our needs. We can't use tax dollars to advocate and advertise an increase in taxes. We had one levy that didn't pass because we ran it the same time as District 91. It was the Plant Facility Levy and we were able to double it without a levy increase, We will need to let the Community know what we have done without an increase in levy rate. We need a Couple of names frorn each of your zones that we can invited to be a part of this committee. Please give us a list as soon as possible. There is a calendar on steps we will need to take. We will need a resolution from the Board by September 181, if we want to run a November bond election, There is a timeline for a March election date as well. Mr. Hill talked about the tirneline for building once a bond has been passed. It takes about 10 - 12 months for design and then a year to go out to bid. Then two years to build a high school and 16 - 18 months to build a middle school. There was discussion regarding the possibility of aftering an existing plan. Sandcreek is the best and most Successful physical facility. Wo need to get on architect onboard before the election, The problem right now in our high schools. They are over 2S0 kids overcapacity. The electrical taps in the back of the schools are gone, so trailers need to be put in the front, We don't want to put 8~ graders back in the middle school. The big question wi||how|mNorthoya(mno*anthiovmau*the*izoofthohighn^hou|onrwhnUmrWeynantNrenuma||o,bighsohon|o. We need N inform them o| the costs and give them the pluses and minuses. We have paid down debt rapidly in the past, Now tire dynamics have changed and we need to do something different and extend the debt Out further. Chairperson Winchester Thanked Eric for coming and participating in the Work Session, 0e need the lollowirq l Committee m Educate the Commonih. Need h get nomcv for committee. We will need to get a Survey Out. The Board will need to educate Ourselves before the September Board meeting, We will need hedomte our patrons about Our needs, 2. Public 8umov Chairperson Winchester asked for discussion regarding the draft public survey. There will be more discussion at the regular Board meeting oil August 14, 2013. Mr. Bird had to leave a/i2:30pm� IV, Board Tralninq District Mission, Vision, Values Marjean MrCnmmV Chairperson Winchester asked Mrs, McConnell h present th District's Mission, Vision, and Values Mrs. McConnell stated that we really looked seri ly atredoing the mission, vision and values. The principals took it seriously and trained them around PLCs and tile focus On Student learning and studying the data. The Mission Statement is: Learning Together — Achieving Excellence. The values are what is important. We asked the Board to set general goals so we could break thern down and work to achieve the Board's goals. We gave information to tile schools and they made specific goals that line up with District and Board Goals, As a result, last year we were united in heading in tile sarne direction for the first time in her memory, She stated that as You set goals please consider setting overarching goals that we can work toward, We'll set goals as a District aligned to the Board's goals. There are documents in Your binders showing the goals set by each school. Each school submitted a report so you call see what their goals were and how they were structured. The administration set tile goals and then communicated thern to the kids. We implemented a lot more programs to help with being respectful, Positive behavior supports were also implemented to help increase respect. Mr. McBride asked if we could involve students in the goal setting process so they have ownership over them, Schools do involve parents when setting theirgoals. Mr. Wuolote`hu|meah$d that advanced kids were showing low growth sm they made goals m Support the school goals, Weekly collaboration time has really helped with these goals. Next year we want individual reports to see how the schools are doing. We'll have o midyear evaluation nn well. W* need consistency over time. We will look at the vision mission, and goals but it will probably remain consistent, A. Board GoalGmtino- Annvtte Winchester Chairperson Winchester asked the Board to finalize the Board's Goals for the 2O13-2014 school year. Look e| Our goals and tell mo what you think. 1. Improve Student Achievement a. Train Students toThinkChticollyandCmotivoly — board'000ncern z. Improve Mutual Respect and Safety in Our School CvmmunKy a. Provide Students witheNholeomn and Healthy LemminBEnvimomont — bomrd'sromama u. Learn and Follow Policy Kip talk m Chuck and give specific policies — board's concerns 3. Improve Community Awareness Regarding the District's Achievements and Needs a Common Core — Boards concerns maybe inu meeting a| each school h. Gmwth — Board'amncomu maybe ina meeting a| each school The following are the three goals that the Board decided o^ for the 201J'14 school year, 1� Improve Student Achievement 2. Improve Mutual Respect and Safety in Our School Cnmmunity 1 Improve Awareness Regarding the District's Achievements and Needs The Board also has some specific concerns Linder these goals that they would like the administration to use as guidelines when formulating their direction for the coming year. Board Concerns with regard to goals: ` Train students to think critically and creatively — help students becorne ready for common core instruction and assessments ' Provide students with a wholesome and healthy learning environment ' Help administrators and teachers know and follow Board policy so we are all on the same page (Kip will talk to Chuck about specific concerns) ' Help the community to understand the Common Core — maybe through meetings at individual schools ' Help the Community to understand the growth in enrollment and the impact it has had oil the schools in the District — maybe at tile same meeting where Common Core isdiscussed, Wendy Norman will help oo With social networking B. Potential Contract with Hannonv Education — Chuck Shackmu Chairperson Winchester asked Dr. GhaokeKto discuss the possible contract wi/hHa/mony Education. Me want iobe first in the state todu some ofthese things. Harmony Education is a providerlbroker of online education curricula. It is a place for families that don't trust the government. It is a new market that helps us find a pool of individuals that Harmony has built a trusting relationship with, The LEAS become the umbrella for them to work Linder. We Would generate about $2OO.0OO that Would Vn back into the M&O fund. They believe they have about 1O0 Students right now who would enroll, They approached ux because u( our reputation, We have been negotiating tile process so there will 0ono chance of financial loss to the District. Wn need o safety net. There are some details regarding special education that we need to work out, Ty Salsbery is looking at the day-to-day logistics, discipline, and Interventions, Harmony's Vice-president will be here Monday to work through the logistics. We are on a time line and they believe that there are 100 Students as soon as we say go. They are the online provider for charter schools as well. It is adding another component to our established online program. It will allow additional students into BOS and we work with them a little differently. It will be another branch to family choice in edUCatiOu. Harmony is a broker and broadens the options. Many of these kids will be Out Of Our region and Would have gone to IDVA or BOS. Harmony isn't the government, they are a broker of information. We are planning on K — 8 at this time. The people at Harmony will bring in families. They are the traditional home school families. If we get 100 more kids, we get five more teachers. We may have to hire more staff for BOS. There was diSCUSSiOu regarding the cost vs. benefit. We have to pay Harmony per student. It not as big of an advantage financially but more on the FTE side. We don't want to risk losing money we are just expanding what they offer. We Would host throughout the whole state because we are already set up. Harmony will present at board meeting on Wednesday. They want to start right away. We have to have students enrolled by October 31 to get funding from the state. We are trying to figure Out the special education process. Now we can offer special education locally to students we have enrolled. We will work through it before bringing it to the Board. We won't bring something that we will risk losing money. It will broaden Bonneville's reach throughout the state. These are families that are in the nitch niarket. They want flexibility. They know about Lis. This is a market that no one is reaching. Harmony will provide a trust factor and bring it into the public school market. We get the ADA and provide a good Curriculum to the homeschool families. They will be Bonneville School District Students. They will be part of BOS. We may create a separate online school for them. We can start our own school as a District but we can't create our own charter school, Dr. Shackett reported that we lost two good principals in the last couple weeks. We had 36 applicants and identified seven good candidates. We had a teacher from each school, a parent representative from each, and an elementary principal on the interview committee. We are recommending John Murdoch Jr. for Ammon Elementary. He is the former Dora Erickson Elementary principal and we are hoping he will be released from his current contract. We are recommending Nikki Pack for Fairview Elementary principal. She is a former teacher at Ucon Elementary. They need a principal that will stay. We will share this information pending Board approval. Chairperson Winchester asked for agenda items for upcoming meetings. V. Call for Agenda Items for Uncomina Meetinas A. Regular Meeting Wednesday, August 14, 2013 - 7:00 pmi, B. Administrative Opening Meeting Friday, August 16, 2013 — Summit Hills Elementary Media Center - -11:30 a,m, C. Opening Meeting - Tuesday, August 27, 2013 - Performing Arts Center at Hillcrest - 8:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m. D. Work Session - Wednesday, August, 28, 2013 -District Board Room - 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. E Open HOUse/Dedication - Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - Summit Hills Elementary - 6:00 p.m. F. Regular Meeting - Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - 7:00 p.m, VI. Adiournment Chairperson Winchester asked for motion to adjourn at 2:17 p.m, MOTION: Brian McBride made the motion to adjourn. Kip Nelson seconded. The Vote was 4 in favor with 0 opposed and 0 abstentions, Motion passed. A APPROVED: ti Ctiirjper5Qn ATTESTED: � li, , :,k , d/ C)ek Date: