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Home My WebLink About02-25-2026 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 25, 2026, 11:30 AM PLC Building 3442 E Iona Rd Idaho Falls, ID 83401 I. Call to Order Board Chair Coats called the meeting to order at 11:47 a.m. II. Roll Call Mindy Clayton: Present Carissa Coats: Present Richard Hess: Present Paul Jenkins: Excused Randy Smith: Present III. Opening Board Business III.A. Approve/Amend Agenda (Action Item) Motion: To approve the agenda. This motion, made by Mindy Clayton and seconded by Randy Smith, Passed. III.B. Board Chair Coats welcomed those in attendance to the meeting. IV. Planning and Personnel Reports and Recommendations IV.A. Teacher Transfer Update Heath Jackson, Executive Director of Planning and Personnel, provided the Board with an update on the district’s teacher transfer process implemented through the resolution approved last summer. The process was carried out in three phases to ensure teachers were placed appropriately as staffing adjustments occurred across the district. In the first phase, priority was given to teachers at Ammon Elementary to ensure they were placed in new schools. During this period, Rimrock teachers were also allowed to request transfers to Willow Creek so they could move with their principal. As a result, 14 teachers transferred from Ammon to Rimrock and 13 from Rimrock to Willow Creek. The second phase expanded transfers districtwide. In total, approximately 45 teachers were transferred, with nearly all receiving their first-choice placement and only two receiving their second choice due to limited openings. The district also offered a $500 incentive for early resignations or retirements, which resulted in about 50 resignations or retirements, helping reduce the number of required transfers. District leaders reported the process went smoothly despite significant staffing shifts. All transfers were voluntary, and teachers submitted formal requests before any changes were made. Administrators credited principals and district communication efforts to help staff understand the process. The district is now finishing interviews for a small group of teachers who requested optional transfers, and external job postings are expected to begin soon to fill approximately 25 remaining openings. With the transfer process complete, the temporary resolution will expire, and the district will return to its standard transfer policy (Policy 5140) for any additional staffing changes. V. Superintendent Reports and Recommendations V.A. Strategic Improvement Planning & Engagement Surveys Superintendent Woolstenhulme briefed the Board on upcoming legislation that will replace the current continuous improvement plan with a new strategic improvement plan. He noted that the transition should be manageable because the district is already meeting many of the new requirements, but the district will need to add some new elements, including specific Board performance goals and clearer focus areas for at-risk and economically disadvantaged students. He explained that the timing is beneficial because the district’s current plan was already nearing its natural end, making this a good opportunity to develop a new five-year plan with broader input. Board members supported gathering feedback from parents, staff, and possibly students so the next plan reflects community priorities and creates stronger ownership. The discussion also focused on how the district measures success, particularly in math achievement and the limitations of current ISAT data, especially at the secondary level where student participation and engagement have been low. Board members and administrators discussed whether other measures, such as the SAT or local assessment data, might provide more meaningful information. Overall, the Board supported starting the survey process now so the district can identify priorities early and use that feedback to guide future planning and resource decisions. VI. Finance and Operations Reports and Recommendations VI.A. FY27 Budget Planning Superintendent Woolstenhulme and the Board discussed FY27 budget planning with a focus on reducing costs in response to declining enrollment. District leaders said current staffing adjustments may reduce certified positions by about 14 to 15, though that number could shrink as new student growth may require adding some teachers back before fall. They emphasized this is more of a right-sizing effort than a true program cut, as the district is mainly adjusting staffing to match lower enrollment. The discussion also centered on classified staff reductions, with administrators exploring a 5% reduction in classified positions and additional reductions in full-time benefit-eligible roles. Leaders noted these cuts will be more difficult because they may directly affect employees, rather than simply leaving vacancies unfilled. Areas being reviewed include clerical support, paraprofessional staffing, and support services, while trying to preserve services students are legally entitled to receive. The Board also discussed the longer-term challenge of continuing enrollment declines, which may require additional reductions in future years. Superintendent Woolstenhulme explained that even with rightsizing, the district is still operating with a significant gap between what the state funds and actual staffing costs, making the supplemental levy critical to maintaining current programs and services. Board members also raised concerns about growing special education costs, open enrollment impacts, and the need for better tracking of students leaving for homeschooling or private options, so the district can better understand future financial pressures. VI.B. Supplemental Levy The Executive Team and Board discussed the upcoming supplemental levy as essential to maintaining current staffing and programs that the state does not fully fund. They explained that the levy helps cover the gap between what the state provides and what the district actually pays for classified staff, experienced teachers, and counselors, and without it the district would have to reduce positions. They reviewed a proposed levy structure that would continue the current $5.8 million levy and add funding for programs that could otherwise be cut, including items such as full-day kindergarten, GATE, PE/music, orchestra, student well-being support, extracurricular support, and some classified positions. District leaders said these added items represent programs the district has built over time but can no longer sustain without local support. A major part of the discussion focused on messaging and contingency planning. Board members stressed the importance of having consistent public messaging about what would happen if the levy failed. The group agreed that if the levy does not pass, the district would need to make real cuts rather than simply try again with no changes. They also discussed the challenge of passing a tax increase, but felt there is value in being transparent about which programs and services are at risk, so patrons understand what is at stake. VI.C. Daktronics Video Scoreboard Display Contract (Action Item) Motion: To approve the revised Daktronics Video Scoreboard/Display contract with Bonneville High School. This motion, made by Randy Smith and seconded by Richard Hess, Passed. VII. Learning and Instruction Reports and Recommendations VII.A. 2025-2026 District Calendar Superintendent Woolstenhulme asked the Board to consider granting staff an additional paid day off during Staff Appreciation Week in May, similar to what was provided the previous year. He noted that because the district has not used any emergency closure days this winter, there is flexibility in the calendar to allow the day off. Board members expressed general support for the idea but suggested the language make clear that the day is possible due to this year’s specific circumstances, so it is not assumed to be a permanent annual practice. VIII. Closing Board Business VIII.A. Request for Agenda Items for Upcoming Meetings (Action Item) The Board requested the following items for future meetings: • District 93 Pay Scales for classified and certified staff • Board involvement with the PTO's • Transportation and extracurricular trips VIII.B. Adjournment (Action Item) Motion: To adjourn the meeting. This motion, made by Richard Hess and seconded by Mindy Clayton, Passed. The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. APPROVED: ______________________________________ Chairman ATTESTED: _______________________________________ Clerk DATE: ___________________________________