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Dr. Charles J. Shackett, Superintendent <br /> <br /> <br />3497 North Ammon Road, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 83401  (208) 525-4400  Fax (208) 529-0104  www.d93schools.org <br /> <br /> <br />Board of Trustees  Annette Winchester  Kip Nelson  Amy Landers  Brian McBride  Jeff Bird <br /> <br />Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 is an Equal Opportunity Employer <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Marjean McConnell, Deputy Superintendent <br /> <br />Work Session of the Board of Trustees <br />Mountain Valley Elementary <br />February 25, 2015 <br />11:30 AM <br /> <br />I. Call to Order <br />Chairperson Winchester called the meeting to order at 11:44 a.m. <br /> <br />II. Roll Call <br />Those Board members in attendance were Chairperson Annette Winchester, Vice-chairperson Kip Nelson, Treasurer Amy Landers, Trustee Jeff Bird was excused, and <br />Trustee Brian McBride. Others in attendance were, Energy Education Specialist Don Trauntvein, Director of School Improvement and Technology Scott Woolstenhulme, <br />Communications Liaison Phil Campbell, Director of Plant Facility/Purchasing Roger Hill, Curriculum and Instruction Director Michaelena Hix, Chief Financial/Operations <br />Officer April Burton, Principal Gordon Howard, and Board Clerk Valerie Messick <br /> <br />III. Welcome Visitors and Delegations <br />Chairperson Winchester welcomed the following: Amy Hales, Stephanie Gifford, and Karla Harris. <br /> <br />IV. Items for Discussion <br />A. University of Idaho Extension 4-H Benefit Sponsorship Program – Brenda Chamberlain <br />Chairperson Winchester stated that Ms. Chamberlain was unable to attend the meeting today. <br /> <br />B. Student Growth Assessments - Michaelena Hix <br />Chairperson Winchester asked Mrs. Hix to discuss the student growth assessments with regard to personnel evaluations. Mrs. Hix stated that this concerns the law having to <br />do with 33% of teacher’s evaluation needs to be based on student growth percentiles. She wants to make the Board aware of what our principals have decided on as the <br />assessment measurement to comply with this law. It looks a little bit different with Bonneville Online, Telford, and Lincoln. They believe this a fair evaluation for teachers this <br />year. Mrs. McConnell will talk about the administrator evaluation piece and how this will affect them. Mr. McBride wondered what the feeling was with the new law. It is <br />another piece of the puzzle to make sure teachers are teaching standards and the students are getting the knowledge they need. Teachers are a little frustrated with this <br />legislation. Our schools have been exceptional in achieving growth. We have tried to look at it in terms of not being punitive but being something that we can celebrate. We <br />based it on what we did for pay for performance and tried to make it a realistic measure and something our teachers can be comfortable with. The growth standards in <br />elementary are the ISATs. The standards are different at the alternative schools. The 33% of our administrator’s requirement will be based on the averages in the schools. <br />We all have to reflect 33% in our evaluations. We will rework the policy to make sure we cover the state requirements. During an audit, the state will tell auditors what to look <br />for. They look for agreement between policy and practice. It could change next year. There was a question regarding whether all the principals had a part in the decision. <br />There were five or six who initially look at it and then it was presented in principals’ meeting yesterday so all have seen it. It went into law in 2014. We looked ahead to let <br />teachers know what this is based on. It will be encouraging. Teachers always worry but, they work hard and do well. Mr. Nelson wondered if this is something that will help <br />some struggling teachers. There are several things in play, one is the career ladder legislation. They will work through this to do a good job. We can target professional <br />development to help our teachers. It will help us to fine tune what we are doing. It is not a “got you” but an opportunity to help and use master teachers in the process. It gives <br />us information to help us know how we can help teachers to be successful. We want to look at a three year rolling average once we have growth averages. The 33% of an <br />evaluation will not cause an individual to lose their job. JPAS will give us an opportunity do professional development and help we need to give. We can also use end of <br />course assessments, ACT scores, graduation rates, etc. It is hard for non-core teachers to know how they fit in but, we will figure a way to make it work for teachers, kids, and <br />the community <br /> <br />C. Professional Standards Commission Clarification – April Burton <br />Chairperson Winchester asked Mrs. Burton to discuss the information from the Professional Standards Commission with regard to use of school property to run camps. They <br />said there is no problem with the coaches holding summer camps as long as we treat them like would any other community member using our facilities. We change <br />community groups and this would not be a commercial entity. These camps benefit our students. We need to look at our policy and Mrs. Burton will do some more research <br />on the subject. There was a question regarding whether sports clubs are charged to use the schools. That will also need so research. The board has a policy stating the rates <br />to be charged but the approval needs to come through the principal. The State Standards Commission is not always consistent. We need to be consistent regarding the <br />amount we are charging groups. We may need to change our practice. We will ask Mr. Trauntvein to look into this further. We want to protect our teachers and our coaches <br />from any violation of the code of ethics. We also don’t want to stop opportunities for kids. The Professional Standards Commission recommended that the coaches maintain <br />their own liability insurance. We will continue to look at our policy to make sure it is consistent with Professional Standards, research the question further, and get back to the <br />Board in another work session. We need to keep camps separate from the school. We also need to be careful with communication regarding participation in the camp. <br /> <br />D. Growth Projections for Future Schools – Scott Woolstenhulme <br />Chairperson Winchester asked Mr. Woolstenhulme to discuss growth projections with the Board. Mr. Woolstenhulme stated that now on social media is reported that we have <br />several bonds planned in the future that we haven’t planned. He wants to get on record that there has been a discussion about when to bond next. He wants to discuss some <br />key questions with the Board. He has responded to people with this is what we have done in the past and not obligate future Boards with having a discussion first. The model <br />that the Board has done in the past is a good one to look at going forward. There has been a question regarding whether the new high school will be filled in five years. The <br />chances are that it will. The practice of the Board has been that we haven’t built schools and waited for kids to show up to fill them. We have built schools to be 70-100% full. <br />He using enrollment numbers from State Department’s website. These are reported the first Friday in November. This gives us a consistent look back for almost 20 years. <br />Hillcrest opened in 1992 with an enrollment of 1066 that translates to 85% capacity filled. It was filled five years later in 1997. What we did with Hillcrest is not a lot different