HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-24-2024 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
April 24, 2024
5:00 PM
District Office
3497 N Ammon Rd.
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
I. Carissa Coats called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
II. Trustee Coats welcomed any visitors and delegations to the meeting.
III. Roll Call
Paul Jenkins excused
Randy Smith present
Mindy Clayton present
Richard Hess present
Carissa Coats present
IV. Opening Board Business
A. Approve/Amend Agenda (Action Item)
Motion: Mindy Clayton moved to approve the agenda. Richard Hess seconded. Motion carried.
V. Executive Session (Action Item)
Trustee Coats stated that the Board will enter into 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, or public school student. The Executive Session will be closed to the public as permitted by
law.
Motion: Randy Smith moved to enter Executive Session. Richard Hess seconded. The roll call vote was:
Roll Call Vote:
Paul Jenkins excused
Randy Smith yes
Mindy Clayton yes
Richard Hess yes
Carissa Coats yes
The board entered Executive Session at 5:02 p.m.
A. Student Recommendations
1. Student 24-L (Action Item)
There was no action needed for Student 24-L
B. Complaints and Litigations Updates
Superintendent Woolstenhulme updated the Board on any current complaints and litigations.
C. Planning and Personnel Recommendations
Heath Jackson, Executive Director of Planning and Personnel reported his information on the following items. These
items were only discussed. They are action items on the regular agenda portion of the meeting.
1. Category 2 Non-Reemployment Contract
Employee BE2024
2. Hillcrest High School Boys Basketball Head Coach
3. Hillcrest High School Wrestling Head Coach
4. Thunder Ridge High School Boys Basketball Head Coach
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VI. Close Executive Session (Action Item)
Motion: Richard Hess moved to close Executive Session. Randy Smith seconded. Motion carried at 5:30 p.m.
VII. Superintendent Reports and Recommendations
A. Engagement Survey Deep Dive
Superintendent Woolstenhulme explained to the Board that the overall Staff Engagement survey results were
presented to the Board in a meeting, and during the presentation, the need for more time to analyze the findings was
discussed. Further analysis of the data revealed an interesting discovery, although a technical issue with Qualtrics
hindered the process of sharing insights. The survey focused on staff engagement, with initial questions designed as
graphic sliders for rating feedback at the district level. Unfortunately, many respondents left these questions empty,
leading to confusion regarding the interface. To address this, a text message was sent out to prompt staff to revisit
and complete these questions, resulting in a more accurate representation of their opinions. Upon reviewing the
follow-up survey, it became evident that ratings for Superintendent performance, communication, and trust had
significantly improved. However, concerns about trust remained notable, with only a small number of responde nts
providing feedback on the underlying issues. The attendance policy emerged as a contentious issue among teachers,
particularly regarding its frequent changes throughout the year. This inconsistency in policy implementation generated
frustration among staff members, highlighting the challenges of balancing accountability with flexibility in educational
practices. The conversation extended to exploring the idea of implementing a workforce readiness report card in
addition to traditional academic transcripts. This report card would assess students' preparedness for the workplace
based on criteria identified by local businesses. Overall, there was acknowledgment of the need to reassess grading
policies and educational approaches to better align with both academic standards and workforce demands. However,
finding the right balance between academic rigor and real-world readiness posed a complex challenge requiring
careful consideration and collaboration.
B. Law Conference Debrief
Superintendent Woolstenhulme gave a brief rundown of the Law Conference that took place in Boise. He explained
that Chad Ranstrom, the insurance representative, stressed the importance of school resource officers and prioritizing
yellow buses for student transportation due to safety and cost-effectiveness. The meeting also addressed challenges
in policy implementation, such as attendance and grading, as well as potential legislative changes affecting school
practices like dress codes and book censorship. Overall, there was affirmation that the district's approach aligns with
best practices and legal standards, providing reassurance about the decision-making processes and support from
attorneys and the district’s administration and human resources.
C. Proposed Policy 1510 Board Meeting Agenda Items for Final Adoption (Action Item)
Superintendent Woolstenhulme explained that Policy 1510 Board Meeting Agenda Items is being adjusted to comply
with new legislation requiring public input on agenda items. Public input will now be limited to agenda items only, and
it will precede the consent agenda to allow input on action items. Since this is a minor change and it needs to be
implemented to align with state law. Superintendent Woolstenhulme is recommending this policy for final adoption.
Motion: Richard Hess moved to approve Proposed Policy 1510 Board Meeting Agenda Items for final adoption.
Randy Smith seconded. Motion carried.
D. Proposed Policy 4105 Public Participation in Board Meetings for Public Review (Action Item)
Superintendent Woolstenhulme explained that the proposed change in policy (4105) outlines the procedure for adding
items to the agenda based on public requests, to be reviewed by the superintendent and the chair of the board.
Motion: Richard Hess moved to approve Proposed Polisy 4105 Public Participation in Board Meetings for public
review. Randy Smith seconded. Motion carried.
E. Update Proposed Policy U-4110 Complaints and Grievances for Public Review (Action Item)
Superintendent Woolstenhulme explained the reason for updating Proposed Policy U-4110 Complaints and
Grievances. The update includes time frames.
Motion: Randy Smith moved to approve the Updated Policy U-4110 Complaints and Grievances for public review.
Mindy Clayton seconed. Motion carried.
VIII. Planning and Personnel Reports and Recommendations
Heath Jackson, Executive Director of Planning and Personnel explained that Hillcrest has completed the screening and
interviewing process for their head boys basketball position and wrestling coach position. They are recommending Mathew
Barber for the role of the Basketball Coach, and Ian Moore as the Wrestling Coach. Mr. Jackson also asked for the Board
to accept the recommendation of Timothy Trane as the Thunder Ridge High School Boys Head Basketball Coach.
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A. Hillcrest High Boys Basketball Head Coach (Action Item)
Motion: Richard Hess moved to approve Mathew Barber as the Hillcrest High School Boys Basketball Head Coach.
Randy Smith seconded. Motion carried.
B. Hillcrest High School Wrestling Head Coach (Action Item)
Motion: Mindy Clayton moved to accept Ian Moore as the Hillcrest High School Wrestling Coach. Richard Hess
seconded. Motion carried.
C. Thunder Ridge High School Boys Head Basketball Coach (Action Item)
Motion: Randy Smith moved to approve Timothy Trane as the Thunder Ridge High School Boys Head Basketball
Coach. Richard Hess seconded. Motion carried.
D. Category 2 Non-Reemployment Contract
Employee BE2024 (Action Item)
Motion: Richard Hess moved to approve not to re-employe Employee BE2024 a Category 2 teacher contract. Mindy
Clayton seconded. Motion carried.
IX. Learning and Instruction Reports and Recommendations
A. ELA Adoption Update
Jason Lords, Executive Director of Learning and Instruction gave an update on the Amplify CKLA curriculum adoption
process for English Language Arts (ELA) in grades K-3. The committee encountered challenges in achieving
consensus on adopting the curriculum and has decided to continue discussions with K-3 teachers to gather feedback
and explore alternatives. Concerns raised include the need for more teacher training on the Science of Reading and
ensuring consistency in the pilot implementation across schools. The district plans to provide more training on the
Science of Reading during the upcoming August in-service session and aims to bring all teachers to a similar level of
understanding. The importance of obtaining feedback from teachers and piloting the curriculum in a consistent
manner across schools is emphasized to ensure effective implementation.
B. Student Well-Being Adoption Update
Ken Marlowe, Director of Student Well-Being explained that the district has been researching a well-being curriculum,
considering various programs like InFocus and Leader in Me to address social-emotional needs. They aim to align
with Casel Collaborative's standards and support students from kindergarten to twelfth grade, prioritizing academic
performance and family involvement. Additionally, they're exploring implementing advisory classes at high schools to
improve student outcomes, emphasizing teacher involvement and accountability. Budget considerations and school
needs will influence the final decision, with Title funds possibly supporting these initiatives.
X. Closing Board Business
A. Revisiting PLCs Book Discussion Chapters 4-6
Superintendent encouraged everyone to attend a district wide cross collaboration session at Thunder Ridge on
Monday, April 29th to witness the collaborative process of determining essential standards across the district. He
discussed the importance of teamwork and collaboration among teachers, highlighting the challenges and benefits.
The goal was to ensure every teacher understood what was essential and committed to teaching it effectively. The
Board also reflected on how these principles applied beyond education, resonating with their experiences in other
areas of life.
B. Call for Agenda Items for Upcoming Meetings
The Board Clerk reviewed upcoming events with the Board.
C. Adjournment (Action Item)
Motion: Randy Smith moved to adjourn the meeting. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
APPROVED: __________________________ ATTESTED: ______________________________ Date: ________________________
Chairman Clerk