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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-13-2025 Minutes Board 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 Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 4:00 PM Mountain District Office 3497 N Ammon Rd Idaho Falls, ID 83401 I. Call to Order Chairman Jenkins called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. II. Roll Call Carissa Coats: Present Randy Smith: Present Mindy Clayton: Present Richard Hess: Absent Paul Jenkins: Present Richard was delayed by 10 minutes. III. Opening Board Business III.A. Approve/Amend Agenda (Action Item) Motion: To approve the agenda. This motion, made by Carissa Coats and seconded by Mindy Clayton, Passed. III.B. Welcome Visitors and Delegations Chairman Jenkins welcomed everyone who was in attendance. IV. Board Training IV.A. Proposed Policy 4105 Public Participation in Board Meetings The Board, legal counsel Doug Nelson and Abigail French, and the Executive Team held a detailed discussion about public comment, open meeting laws, and trustee responses. Nelson and French were recognized for practical guidance and cautioned that broader public input under recent statutory amendments, while increasing transparency, required clear protocols to prevent meetings from being derailed or drifting into confidential areas suited for executive session. They advised adding language to exclude personnel and student matters from public comment, routing constituent emails to the board clerk to avoid inadvertent deliberation, and limiting trustee remarks during public input to brief acknowledgments rather than dialogue or debate. The group aligned policy and agenda language to remove references to trustees asking clarifying questions, placed follow-up assignments with the board chair, and affirmed best practices for referencing executive-session topics without disclosing protected details. They also addressed meeting management—time limits, decorum, and security—as well as patron education through published protocols and newsletters. The meeting concluded with appreciation for Nelson’s and French’s guidance and an agreement to refine and circulate the revised policy. IV.B. Non-Residence Public Records Request Fee Schedule The Executive Team will present a proposal to the Board at the September meeting before it is posted in the newspaper per Idaho Law. V. Finance and Operations Reports and Recommendations V.A. Supplemental Levy Discussion The Board and Executive Team discussed important financial updates related to bonds and tax relief. They noted that the 2016 Thunder Ridge bonds had reached their call date, allowing for refinancing that would reduce annual tax collections for bond payments by about $400,000. They also reviewed the impact of additional funding from House Bill 292, which nearly doubled the level of tax relief for patrons. With the new school opening, the district anticipated collecting about $13 million in taxes, but with state funds covering $10-11 million, local taxpayers would only shoulder around $2 million. While this provided significant relief, it was also described as frustrating since the state’s approach turned voter-approved bond dollars into tax replacement rather than operational funds that could have reduced the need for future levies. The team agreed it would be better to wait until May, rather than November, to propose a supplemental levy, so patrons could first see the tax relief reflected in the December statements. They also acknowledged the challenge of communicating this to taxpayers, as city and county increases might offset visible reductions. The Board discussed the importance of clearly highlighting the tax relief through communications, possibly with the help of Target River Communication, to show projects completed without additional local tax dollars. They concluded that refinancing and delayed levy timing were prudent, with further details to be presented by Eric Heringer in September. V.B. Bond Refinance – This was discussed collectively in the Supplemental Levy Discussion. VI. Executive Session (Action Item) 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: To enter Executive Session. This motion, made by Carissa Coats and seconded by Randy Smith, Passed. Roll Call Vote Carissa Coats: Yes Randy Smith: Yes Mindy Clayton: Yes Richard Hess: Yes Paul Jenkins: Yes The Board entered Executive Session at 5:47 p.m. VI.A. Student Recommendations VI.A.1. Student A-2026 The Board and the executive team discussed Student A-2026. VI.B. Planning and Personnel Recommendations VI.B.1. Employee F-2026 The Board and the Executive Team discussed Employee F-2026. VII. Close Executive Session (Action Item) Motion: To close Executive Session. This motion, made by Carissa Coats and seconded by Richard Hess, Passed. VIII. Closing Board Business VIII.A. Request for Agenda Items for Upcoming Meetings (Action Item) No requests were made. VIII.B. Recess to attend the Transportation Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (Action Item) Motion: To take a recess to attend the Transportation ribbon cutting ceremony. This motion, made by Carissa Coats and seconded by Randy Smith, Passed. The Board recessed to the Transportation Center at 6:02 p.m.