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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-13-2024 Minutes Amended Executive Session Regular 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  Paul Jenkins  Carissa Coats  Randy Smith  Mindy Clayton  Richard Hess Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 is an Equal Opportunity Employer Amended Executive Session / Regular Meeting March 13, 2024 The Public business will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Rocky Mountain Middle School Auditorium Rocky Mountain Middle School 3443 N Ammon Road Idaho Falls, ID 83401 I. Chairman Jenkins welcomed everyone to the meeting at 5:00 p.m. II. Roll Call Carissa Coats present Randy Smith not present (arrived at 5:06 p.m.) Mindy Clayton present Richard Hess present (via Zoom) Paul Jenkins present III. Amend the Agenda (Action Item) Chairman Jenkins stated that a Board Member moves that the Board pursuant to Idaho Code §74-204(4)(a) amend this agenda for this meeting as follows: To add: Appoint Abigail French of Nelson, Hall, Parry, Tucker as the hearing officer for the expulsion hearing to the agenda as an action item. To add: Suspend Section 5b of Policy 3050 Attendance until the end of the 2023-2024 school year. These items were received today and are time-sensitive. Motion: Carissa Coats moved to amend the agenda as presented. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried. IV. Approve the Amended Agenda (Action Item) Motion: Mindy Clayton moved to approve the amended agenda. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. V. Appoint Abigail French of Nelson, Hall, Parry, Tucker as the Hearing Officer for the Expulsion Hearing (Action Item) Motion: Carissa Coats moved to appoint Abigail French of Nelson, Hall, Parry, Tucker as the hearing officer for the expulsion hearing. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried. VI. Executive Session (Action Item) Chairman Jenkins stated that 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. He asked for a motion. Motion: Mindy Clayton moved to enter Executive Session. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. Roll Call Vote: Cariss Coats yes Randy Smith not present (arrived at 5:06 p.m.) Mindy Clayton yes Richard Hess yes Paul Jenkins yes The Board entered Executive Session at 5:02 A. Expulsion Hearing 2 1. Student 24-I (Action Item) This action took place in executive session. However, due to being an expulsion hearing. The proceedings and minutes are confidential. B. Employee Recommendations Heath Jackson asked the Board if they had any questions on the the following employees. Hearing none he explained that these individuals are on the consent calendar for approval. No action took place in Executive Session. Leave Without Pay Employee AT2024 Employee AU2024 Employee AV2024 Employee AW2024 Employee AX2024 Employee F2024 (3) Category 2 Non-Reemployment Heath Jackson discussed Employee AS2024 to the Board. This is an action item in the regular meeting. No action took place in Executive Session. Employee AS2024 Complaints and Litigations Dr. Woolstenhulme updated the Board on Case 24-08. No action took place in Executive Session. Case 24-08 VII. Close Executive Session (Action Item) Motion: Randy Smith moved to close Executive Session. Mindy Clayton seconded. The Board returned to open session at 6:11 p.m. VIII. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chairman Jenkins IX. The invocation was led by Kyle Larsen X. Chairman Jenkins called the meeting to order at 7:03 XI. Roll Call Carissa Coats present Randy Smith present Mindy Clayton present Richard Hess present (via Zoom) Paul Jenkins present XII. Board Opening Business A. Chairman Jenkins welcomed any delegates and visitors to the meeting. B. Amend/Approve the Agenda (Action Item) Chairman Jenkins mentioned that the agenda was amended before the Board entered into Executive Session. Motion: Carissa Coats moved to approve the agenda. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried. C. Approve Consent Agenda (Action Item) Motion: Randy Smith moved to approve the consent agenda. Richard Hess seconded. Motion carried. 1. Minutes of Previous Meetings Regular Board Meeting/Executive Session - 02-14-2024 Work Meeting - 02-18-2024 Work Meeting/Executive Session - 02-28-2024 3 2. Financial a. Accounts Payable $13,878,635.41 b. Surplus Items Mountain Valley Elementary - Books - Surplus 3. Employees a. Category 1 Rehires b. Conditional Employment c. Leave Requests AT2024 AU2024 AV2024 AW2024 AX2024 F2024 (3) d. Resignations and Terminations e. Retirements f. Stipends g. Transfers 4. Students a. Early Graduation Requests b. Club Requests SMS Drama Club TRHS Change Vivace Club to Choir Club TRHS Pickleball Club Mountain Valley Elementary RC Club c. Trip Requests HHS - Debate to State Speech Competition - Twin Falls, Idaho - 04-11-2024 to 04-13-2024 HHS - Tennis to Capital Invite at Capital HS - Boise, Idaho - 04-25-2024 to 04-27-2024 TRHS - FCCLA to State Competition - Boise, Idaho - 04-10-2024 to 04-13-2024 BHS - Advanced Choirs to Pocatello and Boise - Idaho - 03-31-2024 to 04-03-2024 BHS - Speech to National Speech & Debate Tournament - Des Moines, IA - 06-15-2024 to 06-22-2024 HHS - Scholastic Team to National History Bowl - Arlington, VA - 04-25-2024 to 04-29-2024 TRHS - Student Council to Utah State Leadership Conference - Logan, UT - 06-10-2024 to 06-12-2024 BHS - FCCLA to Leadership Conference and State STAR events Competition - Boise, Idaho - 04-10-2024 to 04-12-2024 TRHS - Student Council to IASC State Conference - Twin Falls, Idaho - 11-03-2024 to 11-05-2024 TCHS - FFA to FFA Convention and Competitions - Twin Falls, Idaho - 04-02-2024 to 04-06-2024 d. Equipment Permission Request BHS TRHS HHS D. Items Moved From Consent Agenda – There were no items moved from the consent agenda. E. Staff/Student Recognition TRHS - IHSAA State Champions - Girls Wrestling 4 Chairman Jenkins invited Doug McLaren, Principal at Thunder Ridge High School to present the girls wrestling state champions to the Board. Mr. McLaren invited Jody Webb, the wrestling coach to join him. Coach Webb praised the achievements of the Girls Wrestling team. He emphasized the hard work and dedication of the athletes and coaches, celebrating their state championship and individual accomplishments. He also acknowledged the support and unity within the team, expressing pride in the students' achievements and recognizing their commitment to excellence. TRHS - IHSAA Girls State Champion 185 lb - Shauna Anderson Coach Webb continued by inviting Shauna Anderson to come forward. He explained that Thunder Ridge had four girls in the finals, resulting in three runner-ups and one state champion, Shauna Anderson. She had been a runner-up last year, but this year she became a state champion. Shawna, in particular, stood out as she had shown remarkable progress since her first year of wrestling. Last year, as a freshman, she had made it to the finals and this year, as a sophomore, she not only won several tournaments but also clinched the state championship in a match lasting around 20 seconds. Coach Webb stated that Shauna was a joy to coach and to watch her evolve, and there are high hopes for her future in the sport. TRHS - IHSAA 5A Boys Wrestling State Champion 126 lb - Talon Eck Coach Webb presented Talon Eck to the Board. He acknowledged that Talon joined the wrestling team as a freshman weighing around 98 lbs. He competed at either 106 or 98 lbs. He won the state championship as a freshman and repeated the feat as a sophomore. However, in the previous year's finals, he narrowly lost to a opponent he had previously beaten by 10 points. Despite leading with 10 seconds left, he lost to a four-time state champion. Nonetheless, he bounced back this year, winning his third state title and securing one runner-up position. Talon is praised for his leadership, humor, and academic excellence. TRHS - IHSAA 5A Girls Dance State Champions - Military Before Mr. McLaren invited Kami Sondrup to introduce her dance team, he praised the performance of the Thunder Ridge Dance Team, Odyssey, believing they outshone even bigger teams. The team worked diligently, practicing every morning and sacrificing for their routines. They achieved success in competitions, becoming district champions and winning first place in the military category at the state level. Coach Sondrup then commended the dedication and unity of the team, highlighting the leadership of their officers. She recognized the team's achievements and celebrated their victory in the military division, emphasizing the importance of their hard work and teamwork. The captain of the team also spoke about their successful year and acknowledged the support of their coaches and teammates. BHS - IHSAA 4A State Cheer Champions Chairman Jenkins invited Levi Owen, Principal at Bonneville High School to introduce the Bonneville High School Cheerleading Team. Mr. Owen stated that the cheer team had been an incredible journey this year. To watch this team go out struggle through diversity fall short of their goals at times and rather than letting that beat them down, they just went back to work. And ultimately end up performing well at the state. He invited Coach Kinsey to speak to the Board. Coach Kinsey expressed gratitude and reflected on a challenging year for their team. Despite facing difficulties and unexpected results, they pushed hard and persevered. She was proud of the team's dedication and effort, especially in preparing for the state competition. Ultimately, their hard work paid off, and they achieved success by winning the banner at the state level. She expressed immense pride in the team and their resilience, highlighting their positive attitudes and hard work throughout the season. XIII. Student Council Presentations Technical Careers High School Chairman Jenkins invited the Technical Careers High School Student Counsel to present to the Board. The student council reflected on various achievements and activities at their school, including competitions, projects, and classes offered. They mentioned the success of the Tech Wars competition, where students could advance to state and national levels. The EMT and medical assistant class was highlighted for its practical training, while the construction class boasted achievements in building homes and participating in national competitions. Other classes such as auto body repair, welding, and engineering were praised for their hands-on learning experiences and real-world applications. Additionally, agricultural classes and Future Farmers of America (FFA) activities were emphasized for their role in developing leadership and career skills. Overall, the speaker expressed pride in their school's commitment to student growth and community service. Bonneville High School 5 Chairman Jenkins invited the Bonneville High School Student Council to present. The student council members from different classes reflected on the events and activities they organized throughout the year. They discussed their involvement in homecoming festivities, community service projects, fundraisers, and school spirit events like powder puff and pep rallies. Each class president highlighted specific initiatives, such as teacher appreciation week, the Catch Program, and senior-themed events like senior sunrise and senior sunset. They also mentioned their participation in parades, regional competitions, and fundraisers for charitable causes. Overall, they expressed pride in their contributions to the school community and their efforts to promote unity and school spirit. XIV. 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 germane 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 report such items at a subsequent meeting. He invited those individuals who signed up to speak to come forward. Randy Smith – Iona, Idaho – Trustee Smith expressed his gratitude for being able to attend the ISBA Day on the Hill event in February. He enjoyed meeting with the state legislators and talking about the needs and priorities of education in the State of Idaho as well as the school district. Mr. Smith stated that after meeting with the legislators, he recognized the quality of representatives we have and appreciated their time and dedication they put into their jobs as legislators. He also wanted to extend his support to them. XV. Finance and Operations A. Emergency Closure Certificate for March 6, 2024 (Action Item) Mr. Wangsgard, Executive Director of Finance and Operations explained that due to the school closure on March 6, 2024 for dangerous weather and road conditions the Board needs to approve the Emergency Closure Certificate that the district submits to the state. Motion: Mindy Clayton moved to approve the Emergency Closure Certificate for March 6, 2024. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. B. Transportation Bus Barn Bid Recommendation (Action Item) Guy Wangsgard, Executive Director of Finance and Operations discussed the construction of a bus barn, which had been a topic of conversation for several years. Funding for the project came from land sales authorized by the board and leftover funds from Black Canyon Middle School. The lowest bid for the construction came from Alpine Construction Management, totaling $3,160,000. It was noted that the existing facility could be repurposed for expansion at TCHS. Concerns were raised about potential issues with the chosen bidder, but it was clarified that a warranty would be in place for one year after construction. Chairman Jenkins asked for a motion. Motion: Randy Smith moved to approve the bus barn bid recommending Alpine Construction Management for the transportation bus barn project as the lowest bid that met the expectations. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. C. Transportation Facility Contract with Alpine Construction Management (Action Item) Motion: Carissa Coats moved to approve the contract with Alpine Construction Management for the transportation bus barn project. Randy Smith seconded. Motion carried. D. Ammon Elementary Roof Bid Recommendation (Action Item) Mr. Wangsgards stated that the Ammon roof bids were opened on March 8th, revealing two bidders. Robinson Roofing emerged as the lowest bidder meeting specifications, offering a bid of $508,000. Additional materials, costing $198,000, would be purchased separately from Garland. This brought the total project cost to $706,000. It was decided to allocate $650,000 from the bond money for the project, with the remaining $56,000 to be sourced from the roofing budget and plant facilities. It was noted that although a cheaper solution was offered by the company, it was deemed inferior and not pursued. Chairman Jenkins asked for a motion. Motion: Mindy Clayton moved to approve the Robinson Roofing bid for the Ammon Elementary roof project. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. 6 E. Enrollment and Budget Projections Report Mr. Wangsgard started his report by explaining that Kindergarten enrollment saw a significant drop compared to the previous year, down by about 125 students. As planning for the next year's budget progressed, it became evident that projecting a flat enrollment was not feasible due to the continued decline in kindergarten enrollment. The district budgeted for a flat enrollment, but with another projected drop in kindergarten enrollment, adjustments needed to be made. The district would need to reduce approximately 20 positions to align with the projected enrollment decrease. Factors contributing to the enrollment decline included the impact of charter schools and the opening of new schools like Elevate Academy. While the exact cause of the kindergarten enrollment drop was uncertain, it was noted that similar declines were observed nationally. The implications of this enrollment trend for long -term planning were unclear, but the district would need to closely monitor future enrollment patterns and adapt accordingly. The Board thanked Mr. Wangsgard for his report. XVI. Planning and Personnel A. Declaration of Reduction In Force (Action Item) Heath Jackson, Executive Director of Planning and Personnel addressed the board, acknowledging the irony of seeking approval for a reduction in force while simultaneously having 60 job postings within the school district for the next year. He explained that the challenge lies in identifying and making necessary adjustments in the right locations. Reductions were necessary in kindergarten and first grade due to an overstaffing issue resulting from inaccurate forecasting based on previous year's numbers. Despite efforts to solve the problem through attrition, challenges remained, particularly in middle schools that were initially overstaffed in anticipation of growth that did not materialize. Mr. Jackson outlined various factors considered in the reduction process, including district positions, class sizes, enrollment numbers, and the feasibility of offering certain classes. Principals were involved in the process and were urged to work towards meeting reduction targets. Ultimately, Mr. Jackson requested the board to approve a declaration of a reduction in force for the upcoming fiscal year. Motion: Richard Hess moved to approve a declaration of reduction in force for the 2024-2025 school year and authorize the administration to identify the programs and positions that will be reduced. Carissa Coats seconded. Motion carried. B. Recommendation to not Reemploy Employee AS2024 (Category 2 Contract) (Action Item) Motion: Randy Smith mobed to approve the recommendation to not re-employ Employee AS2024 Category 2 contract. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried. C. Proposed Policy 3385 Extra Curricular Athletic Participation for Initial Consideration Mr. Jackson discussed proposed changes to district policy 3385 Extra Curricular Athletic Participation for initial consideration. He highlighted two key adjustments. Firstly, they addressed the inclusion of sixth-grade wrestlers in middle school wrestling, aligning with the practices of the Upper Snake River Valley Conference. Secondly, he outlined modifications to eligibility criteria, which aimed to provide additional support to students with GPAs below 2.0 while allowing them to continue participating in athletics. These changes were informed by the Idaho High School Activities Association guidelines and were developed collaboratively by athletic directors across the district. Additionally, adjustments were made to the language concerning physical examinations to align more closely with state regulations. Feedback from principals and athletic directors was considered, with anticipated minor revisions before the policy is brought to the Board in April’s meeting for 30-day review. XVII. Learning and Instruction A. Update on K-3 ELA Curriculum Adoption Jason Lords, Executive Director of Learning and Instruction provided an update on the curriculum committee's progress. He mentioned forming a committee consisting of 14 parents and 14 staff members, including teachers. A survey was sent out to all parents, with additional outreach to elementary parents, allowing them to sign up for the committee. The first meeting took place on a recent Monday from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, featuring a presentation by curriculum provider Amplify CKLA. Despite minor technical issues, the presentation went well, with attendees given the opportunity to review the materials for about an hour. Another committee meeting is scheduled for April 1, 2024 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. The committee's task is to evaluate the curriculum and make recommendations to ensure it aligns with the district's needs. Budget considerations were also discussed, with existing funds earmarked for 7 curriculum purchases. There's optimism about securing additional funding if needed, though it may pose challenges for other budget items. B. Proposed Policy 2557 Non-Approved Student Activities or Trips for Final Adoption (Action Item) Motion: Carissa Coats moved to approve Proposed Policy 2557 Non-Approved Student Activities or Trips for Final Adoption. Seconded by Randy Smith. Motion carried. XVIII. Superintendent Reports and Recommendations A. Go On Rates Discussion Superintendent Woolstenhulme provided an update on the board's evaluation and expectations, mentioning the need to revise reports on college go-on rates. He explained that access to the clearing house for generating these reports, previously funded by the state, is no longer available. Consequently, they are considering whether to invest in their own contract with Clearing House at a cost of $1800 per year for both reports. Superintendent Woolstenhulm expressed his uncertainty about the value of the data provided by these reports, noting that while interesting, they may not be actionable. He also highlighted the main factor influencing college go-on rates in the county, which is the percentage of the population belonging to the LDS community. B. Proposed Policy 1600 Code of Conduct for School Board Members for Final Adoption (Action Item) Motion: Carissa Coats moved to approve Proposed Policy 1600 Code of Conduct for School Members for final adoption. Randy Smith seconded. Motion carried. C. Negotiation Team Appointment for the Board (Action Item) Superintendent Woolstenhulme announced that they were preparing to commence labor negotiations with the Bonneville Education Association. He reminded the board that they had the option to negotiate directly with the association or delegate the responsibility to the administrative team. Motion: Randy Smith moved to appoint Superintendent Woolstenhulme and the other members of the Executive Team to enter into labor negotiations on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Mindy Clayton seconded. Motion carried. D. Proposed Policy 4110 Public Complaint and Grievance for Initial Consideration Superintendent Woolstenhulme presented a proposal to the board regarding Policy which deals with the handling of public complaints. He explained that they were consolidating the procedure and policy into a single document for clarity and ease of reference. Additionally, he mentioned a minor correction regarding the deletion of a procedure. They also reminded the board about the naming convention for universally applicable policies. This is not an action item. E. Deletion of Proposed Policy 4110 Public Complaint and Grievance for Initial Consideration As explained in item XVIII D. This policy recommendation is for deletion. As it will be included in the proposed universal policy Public Complaint and Grievance. This is also for initial consideration. No action was needed. F. Suspend Section 5b of Policy 3050 Attendance until the end of the 2023-2024 School Year (Action Item) Superintendent Woolstenhulme discussed the attendance policy that was implemented at the beginning of the year and revised partway through. He expressed gratitude to administrators and teachers for their efforts in enforcing the policy. However, he highlighted challenges with enforcing certain aspects, particularly regarding consequences for students who refuse to comply. He mentioned discussions about withholding grades as a consequence, which was not included in the policy and had not been approved by the board. Consequently, he recommended suspending this provision for the third trimester to assess its impact. Motion: Mindy Clayton moved to suspend section 5b of Policy 3050 Attendance until the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Randy Smith seconded. Motion carried. XIX. Board Closing Business A. Special Education Tour March 27, 2024 Superintendent Woolstenhulme and the Board discussed the upcoming Special Education program tour schedule and assignments in detail. B. Call for Agenda Items for Upcoming Meetings 8 A board member asked to add uniformity of dress code and how charter schools are funded compared to traditional schools to future board agendas. The Board was also reminded to read chapters 1-3 in the Revisiting PLC’s book and be prepared to discuss at the March 27th Work Meeting. C. Adjournment (Action Item) Motion: Carissa Coats moved to adjourn the meeting. Randy Smith seconded. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. APPROVED: ______________________________________ Chairman ATTESTED: _______________________________________ Clerk DATE: ___________________________________