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Home My WebLink About04-21-2025 Minutes Special Meeting for Public InputDr. 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 Special Meeting for Public Input Monday, April 21, 2025, 7:00 PM Mountain Ammon Elementary 2900 Central Ammon, ID 83406 I. Call to Order Chairman Jenkins called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. Roll Call Mindy Clayton: Present Carissa Coats: Present Richard Hess: Present Paul Jenkins: Present Randy Smith: Present III. Opening Board Business III.A. Welcome Chairman Jenkins welcomed everyone in attendance. III.B. Approve/Amend Agenda (Action Item) Motion: To approve the agenda. This motion, made by Mindy Clayton and seconded by Carissa Coats, Passed. IV. District Presentation Superintendent Woolstenhulme emphasized that no decision had been made, and that community input is vital to the process. He also reflected on the district's history, citing a 1993 facilities study to highlight the importance of strategic long-term planning and resource management. Key Reasons for the Proposal: I. Support Expansion of Praxium into High School: A. Praxium currently serves grades 7-8 in a facility adjacent to Rocky Mountain Middle School, which is at full capacity. B. There is strong student interest in continuing the program through high school (grades 9 -12). C. Ammon Elementary would provide the space needed for this expansion (up to 450 –500 students) and would be close enough to a high school to offer shared electives. II. Elementary Enrollment Trends and Building Utilization: A. The district's elementary enrollment has remained flat for the past decade, contrary to previous growth projections. B. With the new Willow Creek Elementary opening in 2026, the district will have around 900 excess elementary seats if all 15 elementary schools remain open. C. Relocating Praxium to Ammon would reduce this surplus to about 550 seats, better aligning capacity with enrollment. III. Cost Savings: A. Operating Willow Creek as the 15th elementary school would add $500,000 -$700,000 in recurring costs, mostly in staffing. B. Keeping the total number of elementary schools at 14 by converting Ammon Elementary into Praxium would save an estimated $225,000-$250,000 annually. Community Feedback: • Parents: 56% supported the move, 10% opposed, and 34% had no opinion. • Staff: 70% supported, 10% opposed, and 20% neutral. Concerns Raised: • The impact on Ammon Elementary’s current students and staff. • Skepticism about long-term enrollment trends and whether future growth might necessitate keeping all elementary schools. • Accessibility and equity—concerns that Praxium may not serve all students equitably and that Ammon’s physical structure may not be fully accessible. V. Public Input: Pursuant to Board Policy #4105 Public Participation in Board Meetings, The Board will accept public input on any item listed on tonight's agenda. State law prohibits comments on matters not on the agenda. Public input will be heard at the start of each agenda section and before any action is taken. Please limit comments to three minutes to allow everyone who desires the opportunity to participate. The Board will listen but will not engage in discussion, though members may ask clarifying questions. V.A. Ammon Faculty Presentation (Open the Floor for Public Input) During the public input session on the potential relocation of Praxium Mastery Academy to the Ammon Elementary building, numerous individuals—primarily Ammon Elementary staff—voiced strong emotional and professional concerns regarding the proposal. Key items from the public input included: 1. Preserving a Strong, Unified Team: Staff repeatedly described themselves as a "nucleus team"—a cohesive, collaborative group with deep trust, shared values, and proven success in serving students. They asked the Board to consider relocating the entire staff together to any new location, rather than dismantling the team through an interview- based reassignment process. 2. Concerns About Forced Displacement: Teachers and classified staff expressed frustration and distress over the uncertainty of their future roles. Many shared personal stories of previous involuntary transfers that involved demoralizing interview processes, lack of communication, and a feeling of being devalued despite their proven contributions. They emphasized that no one on staff had voluntarily chosen to leave and stressed that the process felt neither fair nor respectful. 3. Advocacy for Leadership Continuity: Numerous speakers praised Principal Yvonne Thurber for her integrity, leadership, and ability to foster a culture of growth, accountability, and emotional safety. Staff credited her with driving academic gains, supporting teachers, and creating a trusting, productive work environment. Several pleaded with the Board to allow her to continue leading the team. 4. Emotional Impact and Community Identity: Teachers and staff described the proposal as traumatic, likening it to losing a home or family. Many referred to Ammon Elementary as a place where lasting professional and personal bonds had been formed bonds that directly benefitted students. Several spoke of personal hardships they had endured with the support of their colleagues, reinforcing the idea that the staff is more than just coworkers, they are a family. 5. Student Impact and Parent Perspective: Parents echoed concern for the emotional well-being of their children and the potential harm caused by disrupting trusted student-teacher relationships. Several also expressed confusion and dissatisfaction with the lack of a clear plan for student placemen t if the transition were approved. 6. Suggestions for a Better Process: Staff and parents suggested that the district could preserve morale and minimize disruption by relocating the current Ammon staff as a group, similar to practices in other districts. They proposed allowing displaced teachers to rank preferred positions or grade levels and advocated for equitable and transparent treatment of both certified and classified staff. 7. Financial and Operational Considerations: While acknowledging the fiscal motivations behind the proposal, speakers argued that retaining the current team intact would actually reduce costs associated with hiring and training new staff, increase retention, and provide a stable foundation for welcoming any additional displaced educators into a healthy and functioning team. 8. A Call for Human-Centered Leadership: Throughout the testimony, staff and parents called on district leaders to practice the values they espouse—trust, collaboration, and student-centered decision-making. They urged the Board not to treat this as a routine staffing adjustment, but to recognize the uniqueness of this situation and the people it affects. The overwhelming sentiment from the Ammon community was not opposition to the relocation of Praxium itself, but a heartfelt plea to keep their school community intact preserving the relationships, leadership, and culture that have made Ammon Elementary a place of success and belonging. VI. Closing Board Business VI.A. Call for Items for Upcoming Meetings A board member requested to review state law and the district's policy on public input during Board meetings, and the district policy regarding closing operating schools. VII. Adjournment (Action Item) Motion: To adjourn the meeting. This motion, made by Carissa Coats and seconded by Mindy Clayton, Passed. The meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m. APPROVED: ______________________________________ Chairman ATTESTED: _______________________________________ Clerk DATE: ___________________________________