HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-24-2020 Minutes Emergency 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 Amy Landers Chad Dance Greg Calder Paul Jenkins Scott Lynch
Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Emergency Meeting
March 24, 2020
5:00 PM
https://www.facebook.com/bjsd93/ (D93 FaceBook Live)
I. Call to Order
Chairman Amy Landers called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Chad Dance present
Greg Calder present
Paul Jenkins present
Scott Lynch present
Amy Landers present
III. Welcome Visitors and Delegations
A. Chairman Landers stated that the District is continuing to take measures to protect the health and safety of its
students, parents, patrons, employees and members of the board of trustees. Such measures include providing for members of
the Board of Trustees to participate remotely in this meeting. In addition, the Board of Trustees has adopted an abbreviated
meeting agenda to include only statutorily required and other matters deemed essential. Per guidelines recommended by the
Center for Disease Control, all open meetings will be held via telecommunication platforms until further notice.
Others in attendance were Superintendent Dr. Scott Woolstenhulme, Chief Financial/Operations Officer Guy Wangsgard,
Executive Director of Instruction & Learning Jason Lords, Executive Director of Planning & Personnel Heath Jackson, Director of
Maintenance & Operations John Pymm, Community Relations and Communications Phil Campbell, D93News Samantha
Williams, and Board Clerk Mary Hansen.
IV. Action Items
A. Approve/Amend the Agenda
MOTION: Greg Calder moved to approve the Agenda. Paul Jenkins seconded. Motion carried.
V. Action Items
A. Emergency Closures
1. March 30-April 20, 2020
Dr. Scott Woolstenhulme reviewed with the Board the Idaho State Board of Education Covid-19 School Operations Guidance of
3/23/2020 emphasizing paragraph 3: “…the State Board of Education directs that all school districts and charter schools
implement a soft closure through Monday, April 20. During this soft closure period, local districts shall follow national CDC
guidelines pertaining to large gatherings and social distancing. While students are not permitted in schools, the State Board
expects efforts to continue facilitating essential services and student learning. The Board will reassess this timeline as
circumstances dictate.” This guidance includes implementing and developing remote learning strategies for all students,
including students in Special Education programs and with IEPs and 504 plans. Discussion focused on the child nutrition-feeding
program, along with the help of the transportation department, to include transporting hardcopy instructional materials to families
without internet service. If students are not permitted on school campuses, childcare for healthcare workers would not be
provided by the district. Teachers and staff are required to report to work, to their supervisor via email/text, on Monday, March
30, 2020. Students as mandated will return on April 20, 2020. All teachers will prepare online instruction for students no later
than April 6, 2020. The State BOE has relaxed state testing, senior project requirements and college entrance exams for
seniors. SAT testing for juniors rescheduled for April 28, 2020. The district will submit written waivers for attendance and
instructional hours required by state statute. During this crisis, the district is looking four weeks out and cancelling events as they
fall within that four-week period. IHSAA will decide the outcome of spring sports. Donations and Title 1 monies help provide
internet to families in need. All employees will be paid through the crisis as long as employees accept change in responsibilities,
if necessary.
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MOTION: Greg Calder moved to ratify a soft closure where students are not in school buildings per Idaho State Board of
Education Covid-19 School Operations Guidance of 3/23/2020. Scott Lynch seconded. Motion carried.
2. March 17-20, 2020
MOTION: Greg Calder moved to approve emergency closure March 17-20, 2020. Scott Lynch seconded. Motion carried.
3. Revised 2019-2020 District School Calendar
Professional days, March 18 and 19, 2020, added to provide training for teachers to create, collaborate, and prepare for online
instruction.
MOTION: Greg Calder moved to approve revisions to 2019-2020 District School Calendar by adding professional days, March
18 and 19, 2020. Paul Jenkins seconded. Motion carried.
4. Last Day of School
As already noted on the calendar, Dr. Woolstenhulme recommended for the last day of school to remain as May 29, 2020.
MOTION: Greg Calder moved to approve Last Day of School 5/29/20 as noted on the current district calendar. Scott Lynch
seconded. Motion carried.
B. Declarations of Emergency
1. Suspension of Policy/Procedures
Dr. Woolstenhulme stated due to the emergency closures and COVID-19 pandemic, basic board policy and/or procedures may
need to be temporarily revised or suspended; he asked for the flexibility to revise and/or suspend policy as necessary. The
board clerk will tract the policy revisions/suspensions to present to the board at the next regular meeting for ratification. The
board will meet weekly throughout the crisis period.
MOTION: Paul Jenkins moved to authorize the District’s Superintendent to temporarily suspend existing board policy in order to
adequately and safely operate the District during times that an Emergency Declaration has been issued by the State of Idaho or
the County of Bonneville is in place. Any such act by the Superintendent to suspend current policy shall remain in place until the
Board of Trustees acts on such matters at its next scheduled meeting. Greg Calder seconded. Motion carried.
2. Denial of Attendance
Dr. Woolstenhulme stated that the Board has the authority to deny attendance; he asked for the authorization for the
superintendent and principals to deny attendance for students/staff who have traveled from out of state or areas affected by
COVID-19 or have reported fevers. Thermometers provided at all schools under the direction of the district nurse. The district
encourages families not to travel and to self-quarantine, if warranted.
MOTION: Greg Calder moved to authorize the District’s Superintendent, or his designee, to deny or restrict attendance or
access to school property any student whose presence is deemed detrimental to the health or safety of other pupils. Scott Lynch
seconded. Motion carried.
C. Public Participation in School Board Meetings
Dr. Woolstenhulme received guidance on public participation at open meetings. Due to the CDC guidelines, all upcoming board
meetings will be streamed on Facebook or Zoom meeting platforms. The board clerk via email hansenm@d93.k12.id.us will
receive public input prior to all regular and special meetings scheduled during the crisis period. The board clerk will read emails
received; time limits are twenty (20) minutes at special meetings and one (1) hour at regular meetings.
MOTION: Paul Jenkins moved to approve process for Public Participation in School Board Meetings: Public meeting attendance
through online platforms, written public input limited to twenty (20) minutes at special meetings and one (1) hour at regular
meetings emailed to Board Clerk, until governor lifts restriction. Chad Dance seconded. Motion carried.
The board stated that the Q&As held by the Superintendent are well received by the community. Dr. Woolstenhulme stated
outcomes would improve as the district learns from this adversity. Concerns from the board were that parents need support and
counseling for students during the crisis and time away from school.
VI. Call for Agenda Items for Upcoming Meetings (via telecommunications until further notice)
Special meetings scheduled for April 1 and 15, 2020 via telecommunication platforms.
A. Work Session - Wednesday, April 8, 2020 - District Office - 5:00 p.m.
B. Regular Meeting - Wednesday, April 8, 2020 - District Board Room - 7:00 p.m.
C. Work Session (BHS Student Council) - Wednesday, April 22, 2020 - BHS - 11:30 a.m.
D. Work Session (TRHS Student Council) - Wednesday, April 29, 2020 - TRHS - 11:30 a.m.
E. Retirement Open House - Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - District Board Room - 3:30 p.m.
F. Regular Meeting - Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - District Board Room - 7:00 p.m.
VII. Adjournment
Chairman Landers adjourned the meeting at 6:11p.m.
MOTION: Scott Lynch moved to adjourn. Greg Calder seconded. Motion carried.
APPROVED: ______________________________________Chairman
ATTESTED: _______________________________________Clerk DATE: _______________________