HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-11-2026 Minutes Board Work MeetingDr. Scott Woolstenhulme, Superintendent
3497 North Ammon Road, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 83401 (208) 525-4400 Fax (208) 557-6800 www.d93schools.org
Board of Trustees Carissa Coats Richard Hess Paul Jenkins Randy Smith Mindy Clayton
Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Work Meeting
Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 5:00 PM
District Office
3497 N Ammon Rd
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
I. Welcome
Board Chair Coats welcomed those in attendance to the meeting.
II. Call to Order
Chairperson, Coats, called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.
III. Roll Call
Mindy Clayton: Present
Carissa Coats: Present
Richard Hess: Present
Paul Jenkins: Present
Randy Smith: Present
IV. Approve/Amend the Agenda (Action Item)
Motion: To approve the agenda. This motion, made by Mindy Clayton and seconded by Paul
Jenkins, Passed.
V. Finance and Operations Reports and Recommendations
V.A. Supplemental Levy
The executive team walked the Board through next year’s budget planning alongside the
upcoming supplemental levy, emphasizing that the district is trying to balance the budget by
making significant reductions internally before asking patrons for additional support.
Administration presented a draft list of planned budget adjustments totaling a little over $4.2
million, framed as "doable" cuts that can largely be achieved through natural attrition rather
than layoffs. A key component was reducing approximately 20 teaching positions, mostly at
the elementary level—to better align staffing with declining enrollment, with assurances that
this would be accomplished by not replacing resignations/retirements rather than through a
reduction in force. Additional reductions discussed included discontinuing the district-paid
long-term disability insurance benefit (moving it to an employee-paid voluntary option
through negotiations), scaling back the elementary one-to-one Chromebook model and a
computer-based reading intervention funded through literacy dollars, increasing pay-to-play
fees to better offset extracurricular transportation costs, and reducing classified staffing costs
through a combination of attrition, position eliminations, and shifting some roles below
benefit-eligible hours. The team also identified negotiated items such as adjusting personal
leave payout practices and reducing or eliminating leadership premiums.
The Board and administration discussed furlough days as a contingency if state funding
conditions worsen (such as an additional holdback), noting the tradeoff between a furlough
day affecting all employees versus eliminating additional FTEs that would increase class sizes
and impact fewer individuals directly. Administration shared that if furlough days ever
became necessary, they would prefer placing them on cancelled school days to better match
reduced pay with reduced work expectations and to avoid sending the message that staff
should "do the same work for less."
The conversation then shifted to how the current supplemental levy is itemized and
communicated. The group noted the challenge that many levy categories support ongoing
operational costs, especially supplemental pay used to stay competitive beyond state
allocations—making it harder for patrons to see a direct one-to-one impact if the levy were
reduced or failed. Board members emphasized the importance of clearer public messaging so
the community can understand what programs or services would actually be reduced if
additional levy support is not approved.
To create that clearer connection, the executive team presented proposed additions to the
supplemental levy that are more explicitly tied to programs or positions that could be
eliminated if an increase does not pass. Items discussed included all-day kindergarten
(including curriculum alignment and community visibility/support), the GATE program (with
possible restructuring options rather than a full cut), consolidation of orchestra staffing due to
low enrollment spread across multiple schools, maintaining mental health professional
supports, and sustaining clerical staffing levels in schools as needs and demands on front
offices grow. The group also discussed other visible or community-sensitive items (such as
grounds/maintenance improvements) and reviewed the position of public
information/communications, including community perception of the cost and possible ways
to offset it by incorporating CTE teaching responsibilities in the future.
Administration provided fund balance context, noting recent and projected drawdowns, and
stated the intent to show patrons that the district is making substantial cuts before requesting
an increase. They also discussed how attendance-based funding has contributed to the current
gap and how improving attendance would reduce the revenue shortfall. The meeting ended
with agreement that administration would refine figures, verify current costs on the itemized
levy list, and return in two weeks with updated numbers and a clearer proposal and
communication strategy.
Key points to highlight:
• Administration presented ~$4.2M+ in proposed cuts, largely achievable through attrition
rather than layoffs.
• Proposed reductions include ~20 teaching positions (mostly elementary), literacy-funded
technology changes, pay-to-play fee increases, classified staffing cost reductions, and
other negotiated benefit/compensation adjustments.
• Furlough days are not currently proposed but were discussed as a possible contingency if
state funding worsens.
• The Board emphasized the need for clearer "if this levy fails, here is what changes"
communication to patrons.
• Administration will verify and update levy item costs and return with a refined plan in
two weeks.
VI. Board Closing Business
VI.A. Adjournment (Action Item)
Motion: To adjourn the meeting. This motion, made by Mindy Clayton and seconded by Paul
Jenkins, Passed.
The meeting adjourned at 6:14 p.m.
APPROVED: ______________________________________
Chairman
ATTESTED: _______________________________________
Clerk
DATE: ___________________________________