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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-29-2023 Minutes Work Meeting Executive SessionDr. Scott Woolstenhulme, Superintendent 3497 North Ammon Road, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 83401  (208) 525-4400  Fax (208) 557-6800  www.d93schools.org Board of Trustees  Paul Jenkins  Carissa Coats  Randy Smith  Mindy Clayton  Richard Hess Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 is an Equal Opportunity Employer Work Meeting/Executive Session November 29, 2023 11:00 AM PLC Building 3442 E Iona Rd Idaho Falls, ID 83401 I. Chairman Jenkins called the meeting to order at 11:02 a.m. II. Roll Call Carissa Coats present Randy Smith present Mindy Clayton present Richard Hess present Paul Jenkins present III. Approve/Amend Executive Session Agenda (Action Item) Motion: Randy Smith moved to approve the Executive Session Agenda. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. IV. Executive Session (Action Item) The Board will enter Executive Session pursuant to Idaho Code 74-206(1)(b) to consider the evaluation, dismissal, or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member, or individual agent, wherein the respective qualities of individuals are to be evaluated in order to fill a particular vacancy or need. The Executive Session will be closed to the public as permitted by law. Motion: Carissa Coats moved to enter Executive Session. Mindy Clayton Seconded. The Roll Call Vote was: Carissa Coats yes Randy Smith yes Mindy Clayton yes Richard Hess yes Paul Jenkins yes The Board entered Executive Session at 11:05 a.m. A. Employee Recommendations 1. Employee M2024 (Action Item) Chairman Jenkins invited Heath Jackson, Executive Director of Planning and Personnel to present information on Employee M2024. After his presentation he recommeded probation for Employee M2024. Motion: Carissa Coats moved to approve probation for no less than 8 weeks for Employee M2024. Richard Hess seconded. Motion carried. B. Litigations and Complaints 1. Case # 24-06 Discussion Chairman Jenkins invited Superintendent Woolstenhulme to update the Board on Case # 24-06. C. Superintendent Evaluation Chairman Jenkins and the Board reviewed the Superintendent evaluation tool and discussed having the formal evaluation in the December Executive Session following the Regular meeting on December 13, 2023. 2 D. Close Executive Session (Action Item) Motion: Richard Hess moved to close Executive Session. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried at 11:41 a.m. V. Opening Board Business A. Chairman Jenkins welcomed visitors and Delegations to the meeting. B. Approve/Amend Agenda (Action Item) Motion: Randy Smith moved to approve the agenda. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried. VI. Superintendent Reports and Recommendations A. ISBA Conference Review The Board and the Executive Team discussed what takeaways and suggestions that they learned from the Idaho School Boards Conference in Boise. A Board member talked about having Board goals for the district. Another suggestion was to be more focused on the agenda and the meeting. Heath Jackson, Executive Director discussed what he learned in the PERSI meeting. Everyone agreed that it was also a great bonding experience. Overall it was a very nice conference. VII. Finance and Operations Reports and Recommendations A. Bond Sale Debrief: Chairman Jenkins invited Guy Wangsgard, Executive Director of Finance and Operations to debrief the Board on the recent bond sale. Mr Wansgard addressed the details of the bond, referring to a document that was provided with the agenda. Mr. Wangsgard mentioned reviewing specific part that highlighted information about true interest costs and arbitrage yield. The true interest cost was noted as 3.86, and the arbitrage yield was 3.54, with plans to work with Michael Keith on fund investment. Mr. Wangsgard explained that the funds would be wired to LG IP, the State investment fund, with a current interest rate of about 5 1/2%. There was a consideration of exploring other investment avenues with Michael Keith to potentially increase returns without incurring additional taxes. The speaker emphasized the need to manage investments carefully to avoid tax implications. Mr. Wangsgard touched on the bond spend-down timeline, with confidence expressed that the funds would be spent within 24 months, aligning with the 18-month build- out for the school. The subsequent page of the document detailed the costs associated with the bond, including fees for Bond Council Moody's rating. He clarified that these fees were covered by the bond sales and not paid out of pocket. Further details were provided on the maturity schedule of the bonds, extending through 2040, with a mention of upcoming significant payments around 2034. The closing of the bond sale was scheduled for the next day, and the speaker mentioned plans to reimburse expenses related to site work using bond funds. The total bond payments for the next decade were estimated to be around $12 million per year. Mr. Wangsgarad expressed gratitude for the fortuitous timing of the bond sale, noting that market conditions changed significantly within 24 hours. The successful sale of the bonds was attributed to well-pricing and efficient execution, with acknowledgment given to Michael Keith as a municipal advisor for providing independent verification. Mr. Wangsgard and the Board also praised the job done by Eric Herringer at Piper Sandler, and the team, highlighting their trustworthiness and the positive outcome of the bond sale in a free-market setting. VIII. Planning and Personnel Reports and Recommendations There was no report or discussion at this time. IX. Instruction and Learning Reports and Recommendations A. Student Discipline and Corrective Actions Report Chairman Jenkins invited Jason Lords, Executive Director of Learning and Instruction to present to the Board. Mr. Lords stated that the district has undergone a transformation in its disciplinary approach, emphasizing understanding, intervention, and support for students. The shift towards a more comprehensive and supportive culture was highlighted, particularly since Scott assumed the role of Superintendent and the implementation of District Disciplinary Review Committee (DDRC) processes. The district has incorporated supportive measures into the Student Code of Conduct, influenced by Title IX training, showcasing a commitment to assisting both the individual causing behavioral issues and the affected party. The speaker discussed an upcoming professional development session called "Behavior Solutions," focusing on behavior intervention and the importance of supportive measures, acknowledging 3 the need for clearer definitions in the future. Financial considerations for implementing supportive practices, including the potential need for additional social workers and counselors, were discussed. The speaker emphasized the importance of creatively reallocating resources within the existing budget, leveraging the skills of the counseling staff, and exploring solutions like a successful personal management class. The district's role in supporting schools through the District Discipline Review Team (DDRC) was highlighted, showcasing a shift from expulsion-focused discussions to finding constructive solutions for students with behavioral challenges. Mr. Lords provided examples of successful interventions, emphasizing the district's commitment to individualized support and creative problem -solving. X. Closing Board Business A. 2024 Board Calendar Discussion 1. 2024 Meeting Calendar a. Special Education Program Tour - Extended Work Meeting b. 2024 Board Retreat At the beginning of each calendar year, the Board sets and approves the Board Calendar. There are key events that needed to be added to the calendar prior to the calendar approval at the January annual meeting. The Board added Special education tours as part of a work meeting and decided to have a separate day for the Board Retreat. The calendar will be updated with these key changes and will be up for approval at the January 2024 Regular meeting. 2. 2024 School Board Conferences a. National School Boards Association - New Orleans, LA April 6-8, 2024 b. Consortium of State School Board Association (COSSBA)/Dallas, TX February 22-25, 2024 c. Day on the Hill - February 19-20, 2024 Board members will let the Board Clerk know what conferences they would like to attend. Board members expressed an interest in attending the District Behavior Solution conference in June. B. Call for Agenda Items for Upcoming Meetings Chairman Jenkins called for any upcoming meeting agenda items. Board members would like to have the following items on future Board work meeting agendas: 1. Extended Learning Mondays 2. Technical/alternative Occupations 3. Board strategic plan/goals 4. Financial literacy/Graduation requirements 5. Evaluation of the Board 6. Teacher retention C. Adjournment (Action Item) Chairman Jenkins asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting Motion: Carissa Coats moved to adjourn the meeting. Randy Smith seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 1:29 p.m. APPROVED: ______________________________________ Chairman ATTESTED: _______________________________________ Clerk DATE: _________________________