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Dr. Charles J. Shackett, Superintendent Dr. Bruce Roberts, Deputy Superintendent <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />3497 North Ammon Road, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 83401  (208) 525-4400  Fax (208) 529-0104  www.d93.k12.id.us <br /> <br /> <br />Board of Trustees  Craig Lords  Annette Winchester  Wendy Horman  Kip Nelson  DeVere Hunt <br /> <br />Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 is an Equal Opportunity Employer <br />Marjean McConnell, Assistant Superintendent <br /> <br />Work Session – Superintendent’s Office <br />December 7, 2011 <br />10:00 a.m. <br /> <br />I. Call to Order <br />Chairman Lords called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Board Members present: Chairman Craig Lords, Vice Chairman Annette Winchester, Treasurer Wendy <br />Horman, Trustee Kip Nelson and Trustee DeVere Hunt. Others in attendance were Superintendent Chuck Shackett, Deputy Superintendent Bruce Roberts, <br />Assistant Superintendent Marjean McConnell, Chief Financial/Operations Officer April Burton, Director of Plant Facilities/Operations Roger Hill, Lary Larson of the <br />Facilities Planning Committee, and Board Clerk Valerie Messick. <br /> <br />Chairman Lords asked for a motion to enter into Executive Session at 10:05 a.m. <br /> <br />MOTION: DeVere Hunt made the motion to enter into Executive Session per Idaho Code Section 67-2345 (1)(c) To consider deliberations to acquire an interest in <br />real property which is not owned by a public agency. Annette Winchester seconded. The vote was: <br /> <br />Wendy Horman – Yes <br />DeVere Hunt – Yes <br />Kip Nelson – Yes <br />Anette Winchester – Yes <br />Craig Lords – Yes <br /> <br />Roger Hill spoke to the Board regarding the purchase of the Armstrong property. The Board directed Mr. Hill to continue to negotiate but they would be inclined to <br />accept the last offer from Armstrong’s. The Board’s limit is $17,500. Mr. Hill should let Armstrong’s know that the Board is discussing other options. He <br />recommended that the Board purchase the property but, he will continue to negotiate as directed. The Board also discussed the possibility of buying property for an <br />elementary school. <br /> <br />Chairman Lords asked for a motion to move back into open session at 10:13 a.m. <br /> <br />MOTION: DeVere Hunt made the motion to move back into open session. Kip Nelson seconded. The vote was 5 in favor with 0 opposed and 0 abstentions. Motion <br />passed. <br /> <br />II. Items for Discussion <br /> <br />Bonding Issues <br />Chairman Lords began the discussion by stating that now is not the appropriate time to build a new high school. He is concerned about the future of the INL and <br />AREVA. We should give the economy another year and possibly cut the elementary school plans back to 500 students. We should try to redo the Sandcreek Middle <br />School roof, put defibrillators at the middle and high schools, put Wi-Fi in all schools, purchase a warehouse, and remodel Bonneville and Hillcrest high schools. We <br />need to leave the plant facility budget alone, extend and refinance the 2007 bond, and refinance the 2005 bond. Chairman Lord s asked if anyone on the Board was <br />interested in raising taxes or not going for a bond. The consensus was that we should not raise taxes at this point in time but we need to bond for a new elementary <br />school as well as finance some of the required projects listed. We have approximately $13 million available for bonding without raising the tax levy rate. <br /> <br />Dr. Shackett told the Board about the old Cal Store Building on Hitt Road. The asking price is $1.4 million and it would take about $250,000 to remod el it. If the <br />District could purchase and remodel that building, we could move Maintenance and Food Services into that building. It could also be used for District storage. This <br />would free up about 12,000 – 15,000 square feet of space in the Bonneville High School basement. The current Maintenance building and storage shed and the <br />Food Services building could then be used for a professional technical high school. Computer labs could be placed in the basement of the Annex Building and <br />remove Rocky Mountain Middle School students completely out of the Vocational building and give the total Annex to Rocky Moun tain and use the Vocational <br />Building for a professional technical high school. Wendy Horman was concerned about the lack of natural lighting in the basem ent of the Annex. We would need <br />about $500,000 to remodel the two high schools. Bonneville High School’s basement could then be used for wrestling, weights, P.E., baseball or softball batting <br />practice, or Drama Storage. The current weight room could be used for Special Education or a classroom for P.E. We would not cover Hillcrest High School <br />cafeteria but would go to a double lunch schedule to alleviate overcrowding. Wendy Horman wondered how we would address the loss at Hillcrest with the creation <br />of the professional technical high school. She wants to create the high school at EITC. DeVere Hunt stated that we need to ch ange the mentality of the north vs. <br />south in the District. It should be what is best financially for the District. We need to sell the idea of the best financial decisions for the District. These decisions may <br />not be fair. Kip Nelson stated that if we need the votes we will need to address the concerns. Chairman Lords stated that the north – south issue will come in to play <br />when we build a new high school. <br /> <br />Mr. Larson stated that the committee didn’t see a tax increase as a problem. If the public sees a need they will support the District. We need to sell it as serving the <br />needs of the District. DeVere Hunt stated that we nee to sharpen our pencil and see how we can get by for the next few years while bonding for fewer dollars. <br /> <br />Annette Winchester wondered why we need to build an elementary. Dr. Shackett stated that we need the modular classrooms that we are currently using at the <br />elementary schools to house the students at the middle schools and high schools in the future. We currently have 16 classes in modular units at the elementary <br />schools. If we build a 600 student capacity elementary, it will allow for three classes per grade level. Hopefully in the future we can replace aging schools with new <br />buildings. <br />