Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-08-2023 Minutes Regular Meeting Amended 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 Regular Meeting/Amended Executive Session November 8, 2023 Public portion of meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. District Office 3497 N Ammon Rd Idaho Falls, ID 83401 I. Chairman Jenkins welcomed everyone in attendance at 6:01 p.m. II. Roll Call Carissa Coats present Randy Smith excused Mindy Clayton present Richard Hess present Paul Jenkins present III. Amend the Executive Session Agenda (Action Item) Chairman Jenkins stated that a board member moves that pursuant to Idaho Code §74-204(4)(a) Amend the Agenda for this meeting as follows: To Add: Employee L2024 under Item B, Employee Recommendations. This request was received today, November 11, 2023, and is time-sensitive. Motion: Carissa Coats moved to amend the agenda as presented. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried. IV. Approve/Amend the Amended Executive Session Agenda (Action Item) Motion: Randy Smith moved to approve the amended agenda. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. V. Executive Session (Action Item) Chairman Jenkins stated that the Board will enter 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, wherein the respective qualities of individuals are to be evaluated in order to fill a particular vacancy or need. The Executive Session will be closed to the public as permitted by law. He asked for a motion. Motion: Mindy Clayton moved to enter Executive Session. Carissa Coats seconded. Roll Call Vote Carissa Coats yes Randy Smith excused Mindy Clayton yes Richard Hess yes Paul Jenkins yes The Board entered Executive Session at 6:04 p.m. A. Student Recommendations 1. Student 24-E (Action Item) Chairman Jenkins invited Jason Lords, Executive Director of Learning and Instruction to present information on Student 24-E. The recommendation for Student 24-E is no discipline. Chairman Jenkins asked if there were any questions. Hearing none he asked for a motion. Motion: Richard Hess moved to approve no discipline for Student 24-E. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried. 2. Student 24-F (Action Item) 2 Chairman Jenkins invited Mr. Patterson, Principal at Sandcreek Middle School to present his information on Student 24-F. Mr. Patterson recommends suspension only for Student 24-F. Chairman Jenkins asked if the Board had any questions. Hearing none, he asked for a motion. Motion: Mindy Clayton moved to approve suspension only for Student 24-F. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. 3. Student 24-G (Action Item) Chairman Jenkins invited David England, Assistant Principal at Bonneville High School to present his information on Student 24-G. Mr. England’s recommendation is expulsion without a hearing and conditionally readmit Student 24-G. Chairman Jenkins asked if the Board had any questions. Hearing none, he asked for a motion. Motion: Carissa Coats moved to approve expulsion without a hearing and conditionally readmit Student 24-G. Richard Hess seconded. Motion carried. B. Employee Recommendations Chairman Jenkins invited Heath Jackson, Executive Director of Planning and Personnel to present his information on the following employees: Employee E2024 Employee K2024 Employee L2024 After his report, Mr. Jackson explained that these employees are on the consent agenda for approval. No action was taken in Executive Session. C. Case 24-02 Update Chairman Jenkins and the Board were given updates on Case-24-02 D. Case 24-05 Debrief Chairman Jenkins and the Board were given updates on Case-24-05 E. Close Executive Session (Action Item) Chairman Jenkins asked for motion to close Executive Session. Motion: Carissa Coats moved to close Executive Session. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried at 6:45 p.m. VI. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chairman Jenkins VII. The invocation was offered by Michael Coats VIII. Chairman Jenkins called the meeting to order at 7:03 IX. Roll Call Carissa Coats present Randy Smith excused Mindy Clayton present Richard Hess present Paul Jenkins present X. Board Opening Business A. Chairm Jenkins welcomed any delegates and visitors to the meeting and reminded patrons to sign the sheet at the back of the room to participate in public input. He then stated that “due to their sensitive nature, complaints about personnel, individual, or student must be submitted in accordance with Board Policy 4110 Public Complaints and Grievances. The complaint and Grievances form (4110F1) is found on the District’s home website www.d93schools.org under the school board tab – Board Policies”. B. Amend/Approve the Agenda (Action Item) Motion: Richard Hess moved to approve the agenda. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried. 3 C. Approve Consent Agenda (Action Item) Chairman Jenkins asked if any Board members would like to remove any items from the consent agenda. Hearing none, he asked for a motion. Motion: Carissa Coats moved to approve the consent agenda. Richard Hess seconded. Motion carried. 1. Minutes of Previous Meetings Regular Board Meeting - 10-11-2023 - Draft Board Work Meeting - 10-25-2023 - Draft 2. Financial a. Accounts Payable $11, 474,786.88 b. Contracts 1) BYU Independent Study Contract c. Surplus Items Transportation - Bus - Surplus Transportation - Bus - Surplus Transportation - Bus - Surplus Technology - Vehicle - Surplus TRHS - Equipment - Surplus HHS - Piano - Surplus 3. Employees a. Conditional Employment b. Resignations and Terminations c. Retirements d. Stipends e. Transfers f. Leave Requests Employee E2024 Employee K2024 4. Students a. Early Graduation Requests b. Club Requests Letterbox Club c. Trip Requests BHS - Musical Theater to Eccles Theater - Salt Lake City, Ut - 4-27-2024 to 4-27-2024 HHS - Baseball to 5 non-conference baseball games - Mesa, AZ - 03-17-2024 to 03-22-2024 HHS - Ski Club to Sun Valley - Sun Valley, ID - 1-19-2024 to 1-20-2024 BHS - Cheer to Shake it Up Cheer Competition - Nampa, ID - 12-15-2023 to 12-16-2023 RMMS - Robotics to Tournament at Alameda MS - Pocatello, Id - 12-02-2023 5. School Support Organizations Rimrock PTO Mountain Valley PTO XI. Public Input: Chairman Jenkins stated that pursuant to Board Policy #4105 Public Participation in Board Meetings, Public Input shall be held to a maximum of one (1) hour and will provide an opportunity for any Board Member, administrator, staff member, student, or patron to raise issues of interest. The Board will receive such input without comment, except to ask ge rmane questions of those speaking. Comments should be limited to three (3) minutes. The Board will take no action relative to any items during the meeting unless on the agenda, but may direct the Superintendent to consider such items at a subsequent meeting. Mary Wilding: Ms. Wilding addressed concerns about her children's safety while riding the bus, highlighting previous incidents of bullying and assaults. She expressed her disappointment in the lack of action taken despite her involvement in 4 updating the school's policies. Mary brought attention to recent issues, including a police call-out and her intent to file a police report. Owen Hamilton: Mr. Hamilton addressed concerns about football scheduling during a meeting with 19 junior football players at Bonneville High School. They highlighted the issue of an unconfirmed schedule, emphasizing the potential difficulties due to the team playing high-ranking opponents. He expressed a request to possibly avoid playing certain top teams, Bishop Kelly or Rigby, acknowledging the challenges the proposed schedule poses. Additionally, the speaker pointed out the impact on school fundraisers, particularly the timing conflict for the annual Civil War, urging early awareness and planning for affected schools and clubs. They highlighted the broader community implications of the football schedule beyond the immediate team. The speaker thanked the board for their time and support, acknowledging efforts already being made to address the concerns. XII. Items Removed from Consent Agenda – There were no items removed from the consent agenda. XIII. Superintendent Reports and Recommendations A. Emery Reading Senior Project Road and Bridge Report Emery Reading, a senior at Bonville High School, introduced their senior project, driven by a passion for aiding the community through STEM. Their initiative aimed to address the lack of a pedestrian crossing at the Iona Bridge over Sandcreek. Initially, Emery underestimated the complexity, assuming a simple wooden bridge would suffice. However, delving deeper into civil engineering realities, they consulted various professionals, including building developers, civil engineers, and local authorities. The issue stemmed from the absence of a safe crossing, leading students to risk walking into the road. The county already had a preliminary plan for an expansive revamp of Iona Road, including a bridge with pedestrian crossings on both sides. However, the $9.2 million cost posed a significant obstacle, as it wasn't a priority for the County Road and Bridge department. Upon exploring alternative solutions, Emery proposed a Continental Bridge, a pre-built structure, recommended by Eagle Rock Engineers. This option could be implemented independently of the costly road expansion, allowing for swift and cost-effective resolution. Drawing from a similar project in Rexburg, which cost significantly less at $335,000, Emery suggested the Bonneville County School District propose this short-term bridge as a temporary fix while waiting for the long-term plan's progress. During their presentation, Emery clarified the Continental Bridge as a brand that creates pre-built bridges tailored to specific project requirements. These bridges only need concrete foundations and are minimally invasive during installation. Em ery also recommended contacting Keith Davidson, the head engineer involved in a similar project, for further detailed information. The proposal aimed to provide an immediate solution to the pedestrian safety issue, allowing future development without hindrance, while the long-term plan progressed. B. Elementary School Name (Action Item) Superintendent Woolstenhulme expressed gratitude for the board's support in the process of naming a new elementary school. They detailed the steps taken, starting with using the platform ThoughtExchange that was sent out to families, the community, and employees to gather suggestions for the school's name. After presenting the results to the board, the next phase involved a quantitative survey asking for the top three name choices. Willow Creek emerged as the most preferred name, with significantly more first-choice selections and a higher overall vote count compared to other options. As a result, the recommendation to the board was to name the school "Willow Creek Elementary School." Superintendent Woolstenhulme commended the inclusive approach taken in this naming process, contrasting it with past committee-based methods. They appreciated the board's decision to involve the entire community, recognizing the community's support for the school's construction and funding as a key factor in the naming decision. Chairman Jenkins asked if the Board had any questions. Hearing none, he asked for a motion. Motion: Richard Hess moved to accept Willow Creek Elementary School as the name of the new elementary school. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. C. Continuous Improvement Plan (Action Item) Superintendent Woolstenhulme discussed the steps following the approval of The Continuous Improvement plan by the Board. These included posting the plan on the school website and sharing the link with the State Board of Education for review and compliance auditing. Feedback was received from the State Board indicating close compliance but suggesting two adjustments. The first adjustment was clarifying the district's mission statement, as the State Board couldn't interpret it from the submitted plan. To address this, a footnote was added to highlight the district's commitment, emphasizing that employees understood and believed in the mission, which was pivotal in effecting change within the schools. The second adjustment revolved around obtaining input on the improvement 5 plans from the community and employees. The State Board sought more clarity on this aspect. Additional sentences were added to the plan to detail the process of seeking input through weekly updates, providing links for feedback submission. Limited feedback, mostly centered on the effectiveness of literacy coaches for reading scores, was received, with a desire for their extension beyond K through 3. Dr. Woolstenhulme proposed the board's approval of the revised Improvement plan, incorporating these adjustments, to be submitted for review to the State Board. Motion: Carissa Coats moved to approve the updated Continuous Improvement Plan as presented. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried. D. Proposed Policy 4312 School Visitations for Final Adoption (Action Item) Motion: Carissa Coats moved to approve Policy 4312 School Visitations for final adoption. Richard Hess seconded. Motion carried. E. Move Proposed Policy 5260 Reporting Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect to Outside Agencies Policy 5210 for Final Adoption (Action Item) Motion: Richard Hess moved to approve Policy 5260 Reporting Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect to Outside Agencies final adoption. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. F. Proposed Policy 4312 School Visitations for Final Adoption (Action Item) This was a duplicate of the item D. No action needed. XIV. Finance and Operations A. Bond Sale Process Presentation - Michael Keith / Guy Wangsgard Mr. Keith expressed his gratitude to the board for the chance to delve into the district's bond resolution. He detailed the $34.5 million bond's approval process in the current educational climate, emphasizing the need to comprehend the bond's mechanisms. He highlighted the collaboration with Piper Sandler and Chelsea Porter's role and the myriad steps in the bond sale process, from the distribution of the preliminary official statement to securing a bond rating. Market trends, economic factors, and the delicate balance between interest rates and investor participation in a volatile market were discussed. The intricacies of timing, demand dynamics, and global financial indicators were examined to anticipate market fluctuations. Mr. Keith stressed the importance of analyzing these indicators for the district's benefit, aiming to secure the best rates by aligning strategies with market trends. The goal was to secure optimal rates by adjusting strategies based on market dynamics. The discussion also encompassed key factors and strategies for the impending bond sale, emphasizing the importance of understanding market demands and trends to make informed decisions for the district's benefit. B. Adopt Bond Resolution (Parameters/Delegation) (Action Item) Chelsea Porter and Eric Herringer welcomed everyone, expressing their delight to be back after a considerable period. They highlighted the extensive documents provided in the board packet and emphasized that the only actionable item for the evening was the bond resolution. Ms. Porter delved into the specifics of the resolution, discussing various sections and parameters. She emphasized that while the resolution would take effect upon adoption, some elements would only be finalized after the bond sale. She walked through the delegation of Authority to carry out specific actions before and after the bond sale, including ratifying appointment, publication of statements, and ratifying actions taken. Ms. Porter detailed different sections of the resolution related to the authorization of actions before the bond sale and the Authority to approve various factors during the sale. Key sections of the resolution involved delegating Authority for the sale's details, the amount of principal, bond pricing, and form completion. The discussion also addressed the District's authority to levy taxes and submit proper amounts each year. Ms. Porter further explained the attached exhibits, including forms of bonds, the notice of sale, information reporting agreement, delegation certificate, and the bond purchase agreement, highlighting their roles and relevance. The core action item of the discussion was the adoption of the bond resolution, delegating authorities to the superintendent and business manager to finalize the documents and execute the bond purchase agreement on the sale day. The board members were assured that additional documents would be provided prior to closing. Chairman Jenkins invited Eric Herringer to present to the Board. Mr. Herringer expressed his satisfaction with the current situation, noting that the interest rates had decreased since their update in September. He indicated that the district seemed well positioned to meet the levy rate targets communicated to the voters, which was positive news as they approached the upcoming week's activities. 6 He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work on the project and thanked everyone, preparing to conclude his remarks. Following Eric's departure, the discussion shifted to a meeting from the previous week. There, Mr. Herringer discussed the bond's structure and the intention to balance the debt collection evenly across the bond's duration. It was conveyed that this approach might slightly increase interest costs by $10,000 to $30,000, but the board seemed aligned with this decision for the $35 million bond. Chairman Jenkins thanked Mr. Keith, Ms. Porter, and Mr. Herringer for their report and their hard work. Chairman Jenkins then asked for a motion. Motion: Carissa Coats moved to adopt the Bond Resolution parameters and delegations as presented. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried. C. Bid Recommendations for Radios/Repeaters (Action Item) Gordon Howard, Director of Technology and Safe Schools discussed the safety grant received from the state, which allocated funds for radios and digital repeaters, amounting to over $100,000. Due to the cost, the project necessitated a bidding process, adhering to the required parameters. Teton Communications submitted the sole bid for the project, meeting all the outlined criteria and having a history of supporting the district in similar endeavors. With this background, the recommendation was to proceed with Teton Communications for the installation of the repeaters and radios. Chairman Jenkins asked if the Board had any questions. Hearing none, he asked for a motion. Motion: Richard Hess moved to accept Teton Communications bid for radios and repeaters for the district. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. XV. Planning and Personnel A. New Elementary CM/GC Contract (Action Item) John Pymm, Director of Maintenance and Facilities explained that after collaborating with Headwaters and legal counsel Tom Mortell, they arrived at a revised contract language. This contract, differing slightly from the one with Black Canyon, adapted to a phased approach aimed at meeting schedules. Adjustments in the language were made to ensure both the district and Headwaters felt secure throughout the process. Tom Mortell affirmed the favorable status of the contract, and based on this agreement, the recommendation was for the board to accept the contract with Headwaters to facilitate progress. Chairman Jenkins asked for if the board had any questions. Hearing none he asked for a motion. Motion: Mindy Clayton moved to approve the new elementary CM/GC Contract as presented. Richard Hess seconded. Motion carried. XVI. Learning and Instruction A. Fall Reading Outcomes Jason Lords, Executive Director of Learning and Instruction delved into the fall reading outcomes, particularly focusing on the elementary school levels (K-3). He detailed the iStation assessment used by the state, called the Idaho Reading Indicator, taken by students in September and May. Emphasizing the importance of students interacting with the test on Chromebooks, Mr. Lords highlighted the assessment's tier system and the subsequent literacy plans devised by teachers for tier two and tier three students. Comparing scores from the last five school years, Mr. Lords highlighted the increase in tier one (proficient) students in kindergarten, first, and second grades, signifying the positive direction in student performance. He pointed out the progress made by students coming in at higher proficiency levels than previous years. He emphasized the teachers' role in building interventions tailored to individual students' skills to drive growth. He shared comparisons of tier one students from their kindergarten to third- grade years, showing improved proficiency across grade levels. Jason mentioned summer initiatives, including the extended library hours and the WOW trailer, addressing neighborhood access to reading resources. Finally, he discussed the availability of old newspaper stands in schools for book checkouts, offering diverse reading options for students. Chairman Jenkins thanked Mr. Lords for his report. B. Proposed Policy 3518 Treatment of Opioid Overdoses for Final Adoption (Action Item) Motion: Carissa Coats moved to approve Policy 3518 Treatment of Opioid Overdoses for final adoption. Mindy Clatyon seconded. Motion carried. C. Proposed Policy 3006 Proof of Residency for Final Adoption (Action Item) Motion: Richard Hess moved to approve Policy 3006 Proof of Residency for final adoption. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. 7 D. Proposed Policy 3006F Third-Party Affidavit Form for Final Adoption (Action Item) Motion: Richard Hess moved to approve 3006F Third-Party Affadavit for final adoption. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. E. Deletion of Proposed Policy 4313 Distributing Treats and Gifts at School for Final Adoption (Action Item) Motion: Mindy Clayton moved to approve deletion of Policy 4313 Distributing Treats and Gifts at School for final adoption. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. F. Proposed Policy 3281 Gender Equity and Sexual Orientation for Final Adoption (Action Item) The policy at hand, number 3281, was up for review, and although it had been available for public feedback, no significant comments were received. Upon discussions with the principals, the superintendent felt it necessary to seek legal counsel for a more thorough examination. This deeper analysis revealed a conflict between two state laws concerning student birth certificate changes, leading to legal uncertainties. Considering this legal ambiguity and the current stay of this matter in the courts, the decision was made not to adopt the policy at that moment. While they initially thought there was a legal obligation to adopt it, the prevailing legal circumstances suggested otherwise. As a result, the adoption of the policy was postponed until further conversations and legal guidance clarified the matter. No Action taken at this time. G. Proposed Policy 3375 Student Interviews by District Staff for Final Adoption (Action Item) Motion: Carissa Coats moved to approve Policy 3375 Student Interviews by District Staff for final adoption. Richard Hess seconded. Motion carried. H. Proposed Policy 3377 Interviews and Questioning of Students by Law Enforcement (Action Item) Motion: Richard Hess moved to approve Policy 3377 Interviews and Questioning of Students by Law Enforcement for final adoption. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried. I. Proposed Policy 2740 Self-Directed Learner for Final Adoption (Action Item) Motion: Richard Hess moved to approve Policy 2740 Self-Directed Learner for final adoption. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. J. Proposed Policy 3500 Distributing Treats and Gifts at School for Final Adoption (Action Item) Motion: Carissa Coats moved to approve Policy 3500 Distributing Treats and Gifts at School for final adoption. Richard Hess seconded. Motion carried. XVII. Board Closing Business A. ISBA Annual Meeting 1. Early Bird Workshops Superintendent Woolstenhulme asked the Board if any members were interested in the Early Bird workshops at the Annual Convention. Two members voiced interest. The Board Clerk made note, and will register them accordingly. 2. Resolutions Superintendent Woolstenhulme and the Board reviewed and discussed the proposed ISBA Resolutions in preparation for the Idaho State Board Association’s Annual Convention. B. Call for Agenda Items for Upcoming Meetings A Board member asked for a report on the conditional readmittance and programs for students who qualify for the conditional readmittance program at a future work meeting. The Board Clerk noted this and will add it to a future agenda. 8 C. Adjournment (Action Item) Chairman Jenkins asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting Motion: Carissa Coats moved to adjourn the meeting. Richard Hess seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. APPROVED: ______________________________________ Chairman ATTESTED: _______________________________________ Clerk DATE: _________________________