HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009_04_14 Board MinutesBOARD OF TRUSTEES
BOARD MEETING
DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM
April 14, 2009
Present from the Board of Trustees
Mary Ann Smith, Board Chair
David Lent, Vice Chair
Ernest Jensen, Treasurer
Jerry Wixom
Deidre Warden
Present from the Administration:
Board Chair Mary Ann Smith called the meeting to order.
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Peter Schlausser.
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
George Boland, Superintendent
Karla LaOrange, Director Elementary
Guy Wangsgard, Director of Business
Caroline Meagher, Recording Clerk
a. Mike Marshall, Principal of Edgemont Elementary School, introduced Sandi Jaussi as the Emissary of
Excellence for the month of April. Sandi is the librarian at Edgemont, and she does a great job encouraging
kids to read. She creates Accelerated Reader themes and gets the kids very excited to meet their AR goals.
The Board of Trustees presented Mrs. Jaussi with a certificate.
b. Jeanne Johnson, Principal at Bush Elementary School, introduced Brenda Stiens as the Volunteer of the
Month for April. Brenda has volunteered at Bush Elementary for many years. Brenda's children no longer
attend Bush Elementary School, yet she continues to volunteer and help out in any way that she can. The
Board of Trustees presented Mrs. Stiens with a certificate.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Jerry Wixom motioned to adopt the agenda as written. Ernest Jensen seconded the motion. Motion passed.
REPORTS
a. STUDENT REPORTS:
i. Eric Hillam from Idaho Falls High School:
• Eric brought Wade Leonard, who was introduced in the March meeting as Eric's predecessor.
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• Wade reported that Idaho Falls High School is engaging in a new competition called "Survivor
IF," in which the students compete against the staff.
• They are currently participating in "Paw Pride Days," in which the students pick up trash,
paint benches, and other activities to make the campus look nice.
• The IFHS rummage sale is scheduled for May 1 and 2. The Rummage Romp dance will be on
May 1.
• During registration, one instructor had a Blackhawk helicopter land on campus to help
promote the Aeronautical Mathematics class.
• Seniors are getting pretty excited about graduation.
ii. Jace Herrmann from Skyline High School:
• Ethan Hays will replace Jace next year as the School Board Representative. Ethan has just
returned from the Royal Blue trip to Carnegie Hall in New York.
• The Senior Class President next year will be Nicole Rowe; Vice President is Melanie Klingler.
• The rummage sale went well; the rummage romp all -area dance was well attended.
• The students will participate in a "Pay -it -Forward" theme for Diversity Week.
• The performances in the District play "Grease" are done and they were all well attended.
• Spring sports are well into the season; State competitions begin next month.
• Advanced Placement testing will occur the first two weeks in May.
• The Skyline Boosters are selling tickets for an Auction and Dinner Fundraiser on May 1 at 6:30
PM. You can buy your tickets at the school.
^ a. Patron Input:
1. Terry Layland -addressed the Board of Trustees about problems at Skyline High School with
the football program. It is his belief that the students are being belittled and singled out. He
would like the administration to review these behaviors because the reason for these
programs is for the kids. !tis all about the kids and we need to remember that.
2. Shane Layland — addressed the Board of Trustees with concerns about the treatment of the
kids who are involved in sports. He has heard parents speak of moving out of the district
boundaries to attend another school. There is also concern about what happens in the
classroom. He is requesting that we separate the coaching and the teaching contracts so we
can do something about the complaints. The overall atmosphere is in a shambles. Kids &
parents don't want to be involved in fundraisers anymore. What is your policy? How do you
deal with situations like this with teachers and coaches?
3. Diane Jensen — addressed the Board of Trustees with a statement of being frustrated to have
to be at this meeting tonight to bring these concerns to your attention. She has issues with a
teacher who will offer a student whatever grade they want. She has been working with school
administration for the past six months and doesn't feel like anything is getting done about this
teacher. She indicated that in the past grades have been used to stop extra -curricular
activities. She wants to see a stop to this manipulation.
4. John Jensen — addressed the Board of Trustees asking them to raise their level of expectations
from our staff. He perceives a lack of accountability from some teachers and coaches. He
wants to see the Board of Trustees continue to offer the best education that we can. He
would like to see the district change their policy and separate contracts for per diem
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employees. The district needs clear and concise policy and teachers need to be held to a
higher standard.
5. Eric Vde — addressed the Board of Trustees that his fifth child is currently enrolled at Skyline
and he feels that the district needs to change their policy in which they deal with complaints
from patrons; there is no steadfast straightforward procedure to handle complaints from the
parent's perspective.
6. Andrea Chambers — addressed the Board of Trustees with comments for the board regarding
the new Visitor ID Policy. She spends countless hours at schools volunteering her time and
finds it offensive to be called a "visitor." She feels that the requirement for volunteers to sign
in and seek a "Visitor badge," will discourage volunteers. She agrees with the intent to
maintain safety in the building, however, the teachers and the school staff know who their
volunteers are, and they know when they are in the building.
7. Dr. Gandhi — addressed the Board of Trustees with comments to the new Board Policy 1005.8
Student Right and Acts of Social Violence. Dr. Gandhi has concerns about the bullying that
occurs off of school grounds while kids ride their bikes, or walk, to school. He wants to know
why the district does not feel that they have authority over students during that time and
would like to see reference to what state law states that. He is also concerned about the
choice to not list tobacco and other cancer causing products as a means of Hazing. Though
the policy has a general reference to "harmful substances," he would like to see tobacco and
cancer causing substances specifically referenced. Dr. Gandhi handed his comment to the
Board of Trustees.
8. Barry Haves — addressed the Board of Trustees with a concern that students participating in
i—. athletics at Skyline are not moving on. They are not getting recruited to colleges and they are
dominated by other A5 schools at games and competitions. He feels that Skyline needs a
change.
9. Dene Pancheri — addressed the Board of Trustees with a complaint about a coach that her
child has. She is very unsatisfied with how this coach treats her child and does not want this
coach any more. Would like to inquire about a waiver—or whatever it will take to take her
child out of this situation. She asked if teaching and coaching contracts are the same. Would
like to know why contracts are renewed when so many patrons are clearly unhappy.
b. IFEA Report: There was no IFEA report.
c. Education Foundation Report: Daryl Snyder, President of the Education Foundation reported:
• Daryl thanked Jerry Wixom for helping the Foundation by finding a professor from BYU-1 to help with
grant writing.
• The Mayor's Reception is scheduled for May 2"d; this is a good opportunity to network with local
business partners.
• Mayor's Scholarship dinner and scholarship award ceremony is scheduled for April 22 at 6:OOPM.
• The Foundation is concerned about the recent elimination of the Staff Development Coordinator.
They would like direction from the administration on how to proceed with the Regional Educational
Conference in October if there is no Staff Development Coordinator to organize the staff
development classes for the event.
• On May 19 in the District Office Board Room the Foundation will have ten presentations from the
mini grants awarded earlier this year.
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d. Superintendent's Report:
• Jim Francis and Mark Hatch presented a report to the Board of Trustees to show the final product of
the writing class that the district supported in collaboration with the Museum of Idaho and ISU.
This class occurred over the summer of 2008 and included several students and teachers. The
students and teachers worked together in an intense writing workshop. The Museum of Idaho
printed some of the essays written in the Snake River Review magazine. Students who wrote some
of the essays were present and they expressed gratitude for the class. They said the class was a lot
of fun, and that the teachers were able to pull the very best out of every student. The instructors of
this writing workshop expressed their gratitude to the Board and requested the approval to offer
this writing course again next summer, as was such a great success.
e. First Reading — Proposed Policy change 308.2 Payroll Schedules: This policy change has been made to bring
policy into alignment with current practice. The current payday for district employees is the 20th of the
month and the policy was changed to reflect this change.
• Language will be added to indicate the procedure if the 20th occurs over the weekend or on a
holiday.
f. First Reading — Proposed new Board Policy 403.3 Access Control: Formulate policy to align with current
practice. This policy also covers loss and lending of keys and the costs and consequences associated.
Questions from the Board includes:
• Do our keys currently say "do not duplicate?" -- No they do not, because they are a special key blank
that is only available through the district.
• What about the loaning of keys to PTO or volunteers? — The principal can temporarily issue a key to
personnel.
• Lost, Stolen, Missing - currently we have no fee and no policy; can we ease into this with perhaps
not charging for the first offense? -- the costs that are shown are our costs, especially if a master key
is lost and the locks need to be re -keyed and new master keys need to be issued.
g. First Reading — Proposed new Board Policy 1008.1 Emergency Response Drills: This policy was written to
cover more than just the fire drills. We currently do perform the lockdown drills in the schools.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Ernest Jensen motioned to adopt the consent agenda as written.
David Lent seconded the motion. Motion Passed. Items approved include:
a. Meeting Minutes March 10, 2009
March 17, 2009
b. Payment of March 2009 Claims $ 2,198,805.57
c. Staff Actions:
Leave of Absence: Elizabeth Topliff
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7th Grade Reading
Taylorview Junior High School
Resignations:
Adriana Browning
from LOA
Sunnyside 6th Grade
Jody Rupp
from LOA
Dora Erickson Elementary
Tyler Foor
Math
C E Gale Junior High School
Robert Fetters
Counselor
Eagle Rock Junior High School
Retirements:
Cheryl Barnes
English
Skyline High School
Bruce Baylor
361DC
Gerry Becker
4th Grade
Longfellow Elementary
Jo Ann Bodell
Science
C E Gale Junior High
Wendy Cavan
Principal
Emerson Alternative High School
Henry de Angelis
Science
Idaho Falls High School
Marlaine Devine
Kindergarten % time
Dora Erickson Elementary
Ron Hampton
Science
Britton Taylor
Theresa Bunker Elementary
2 n Grade
Natalie Arritt
from LOA
Taylorview Math
Jacilyn Schiffern
AM Kindergarten
Linden Park Elementary
K.C. Jones
Biology
Skyline High School
Margaret Kennelly
English
C E Gale Junior High School
Kermit Lange
preschool
Fox Hollow Elementary
Jo Ann Lewis
Special Education
Taylorview Junior High
Margaret Mollberg
Special Education
C E Gale Junior High
Susan Kay Rhoads
homebound
Skyline High School
Alfonso Romero
Art
Eagle Rock Junior High
Vicki Wallace
5th Grade
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Idaho Falls High School
Longfellow Elementary
d. Matching Funds
• Westside Elementary School
29 HP Compaq computers for computer lab $ 7,500.00
• Eagle Rock Junior High School
Serger sewing machine for Family & Consumer Science $ 300.00
• Edgemont Elementary School
29 computers for computer lab $ 7,500.00
• Taylorview Junior High School
Laptop computers, speakers, carts & one projector $ 2,000.00
• Longfellow Elementary School
30 computers for computer lab 7,500.00
Total Matching Funds requested $ 24,800.00
c. Student Travel
Skyline High School
Business Professionals of America
Dallas Texas
May 6 — May 9, 2009
PROPOSALS
a. Second Reading — change to Board Policy 406.8 Technology Use Agreement
This policy has been available for patron review and input on the district webpage. No patron input has been
received. Employees will still have to sign the Use Agreement. The changes to this policy are for students
only. This will alleviate some of the filing and paper copies that are handled during registration. This policy
will be available for review and input and will become an action item during the May 12, 2009 Board
Meeting.
b. Second Reading — Proposed Board Policy 1005.8 Student Conduct
This policy has been available for patron review and input on the district webpage. Patron input has been
received, and are included in your packets. Patron Input will be reviewed and considered. This policy will be
available for review and input and will become an action item during the May 12, 2009 Board Meeting.
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c. Second Reading — Proposed Board Policy 613.3 Visitor Identification
This policy has been available for patron review and input on the district webpage. No Patron input has been
received, until this evening during our Patron Input forum. Patron Input will be reviewed and considered.
This policy will be available for review and input and will become an action item during the May 12, 2009
Board Meeting.
ACTION ITEMS
a. Elementary Science Curriculum Adoption:
The District has received no patron input in regards to this science curriculum adoption. Ernest Jenson
motioned to adopt the Foss K-6 Elementary Science Curriculum adoption as recommended by administration.
Deidre Warden seconded the motion. Five aye votes — motion carried.
b. Raysten repair and water proofing bid award:
The administration recommends that the Board of Trustees table awarding this bid until further evaluation of
the bid submittals have been performed. Two bids have been received and the Director of Operations would
like to verify recommendations. Administration proposes a telephone pole on Thursday, April 16th to award
the bid and to ratify the bid award in the April 28th Board Work Session. David Lent motioned to accept the
recommendation to table the bid award. Jerry Wixom seconded the motion. Five aye votes — motion carried.
c. Canvass Supplemental Levy Election Votes:
Jerry Wixom opened the ballot boxes and called out the election results. There are 2,804 votes in support of
the Supplemental Levy Election and 457 votes against. The Supplemental Levy Election has passed with 86%
support. The election results will be ratified during the April 28 Board work session.
Jerry Wixom motioned to enter Executive Session. Ernest Jensen seconded the motion. Motion passed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
PERSONNEL, SECTION 567-2345 (B)(F), IDAHO CODE
NEGOTIATIONS, SECTION S67-2345 (C), IDAHO CODE
Deidre Warden motioned to enter Open Session. Ernest Jensen seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Ernest Jensen motioned to recognize 91h grade status for student 2008-2009 G effective August of 2006. Jerry
Wixom seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Jerry Wixom motioned to adjourn, David Lent seconded the motion. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned.
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