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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010_02_23 Board Minutes IDAHO FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT 91 BOARD OF TRUSTEES WORK SESSION CLAIR E GALE JR HIGH AUDITORIUM - 7:00 PM February 23, 2010 Present from the Board of Trustees: Present from the Administration: Dave Lent, Board Chair George Boland, Superintendent Jerry Wixom, Vice Chair Gail Rochelle, Director of Secondary Education Ernest Jensen, Treasurer Karla LaOrange, Director of Elementary Education Deidre Warden, Clerk Guy Wangsgard, Director of Business Lisa Burtenshaw, Member Camille Wood, Director of Technology Dana Wood, Director of Operations Margaret Wimborne, Communications Specialist Debbie Wilkie, Recording Clerk Board Chair, Dave Lent called the meeting to order. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA: Ernest Jensen made a motion to amend the agenda by tabling item a. The Key Work of School Boards until the next board meeting and in its place start with a presentation from the Facilities Committee. Jerry Wixom seconded the motion to amend the agenda as proposed. Five aye votes. Motion carried. WORK SESSION a.Facilities Committee Presentation Lisa Burtenshaw shared information gathered from the voter survey recently conducted. After reviewing the information the Facilities Committee, Ernest Jensen - Chair, Deidre Warden – Vice Chair and Lisa Burtenshaw would like to recommend a proposal for a phased bond approach. The committee hopes that using a phased approach for completing the scope of work will get voter approval. The Committee’s presentation outlined the two phases as follows: Page 1 of 4 SUP 09-10 BRD MIN 02/23/10 Phase 1 includes: Rebuild our neediest elementary schools: Ethel Boyes, Edgemont, Longfellow and Dora Erickson  Make improvements to Theresa Bunker  Upgrade science wing, add energy efficiencies like new windows, doors at Skyline High School  Add 4 new science labs, replace school lockers, add energy efficiencies to Idaho Falls High School  Upgrade science rooms, HVAC system at Clair E. Gale  Add new classrooms to reduce use of trailers at Eagle Rock plus new fire suppression system, HVAC  upgrades Upgrade battery backup and cooling system for district’s data center  Lighting upgrades at Taylorview, Bush, Fox Hollow, Westside, Linden Park, Sunnyside and Temple  View Equipment and technology  Phase 2 includes: Gymnasiums/lunchrooms for 4 elementary schools  Classroom additions at Sunnyside and Westside  Upgrade/remodel Emerson High School  Upgrades to athletic facilities at Ravsten Stadium  New elementary school south of town to accommodate future growth  Board Chair, Dave Lent thanked the committee for their hard work and the extensive research they have done to be able to move forward. A discussion was held regarding the proposed plan, growth and enrollment, creating 3-by schools vs. 4-by (3 or 4 classes per grade level), the neighborhood school model, and the proposed two-story building plans. The committee members stated that they feel good about moving forward with the bond election. They have done everything possible to get the most accurate estimates available at this time and bond rates are staying relatively flat at around four percent. Mr. Lent asked if there were any questions at this time regarding the information presented. Q. When you said 25% of patrons are not registered voter, could you clarify? A. Of the 15,000 random voters that were selected for the survey roughly 25% were in the age range to have elementary age children. Q. Do the estimates include both demolition and construction cost. A. Yes and also landscaping. Q. The district will be asking for another supplemental levy in another year or two. How are you going to educate the patrons when you have a bond (for Phase 2) and a supplemental levy? A. We are now under the Election Consolidation Act which only allows four election dates per year. Supplemental levy would have to trump bond at least at for that period of time until we could hold another election. Q. What is the proposed plan to educate the public about the difference between a bond election and the supplemental levy election? Most people do not know the difference and will think the district is just asking for more money. A. It is very confusing. The need to educate patrons is constant and ongoing with regards to the difference between the supplemental levy and a bond. We continually do everything possible to clarify the difference; there is also a plant facility levy to throw in the mix. Page 2 of 4 SUP 09-10 BRD MIN 02/23/10 Q. Is there somewhere that the details of the new building are listed, specifically what technology? A. The new schools, when they open, will have technology equivalent to what they currently have in place. Q. Formulas are only good if they are working. When it comes to dispersing technology, are the district’s formulas working? A. In the mid 90’s the Technology Allocation Committee was formed to help disperse technology funds. We soon found out that there was not enough funding to keep up with the changing technology. Superintendent Boland asked this patron to come by the district office and he would share the information regarding the district’s formula with her. Q. When will the Supplemental levy be set again? A. Because the Election Consolidation Act will go into effect on January 1, 2011 the next date would be March or May of 2011. Q. How did you determine the neediest schools? How did you determine the two phases and when will Phase 2 happen? Why do you think it was a good way to break it down? A. Right now there are so many kids being bussed around the district and students in mobile classrooms the committee does not think putting 5 to 6 millions into Theresa bunker and then in three years repurposing it does not seem to be a very good use of taxpayer money. There are problems with Ravsten, the one area doesn’t even have toilets. We are going to be careful; we do not want to endanger Phase 2. The committee is hopeful that growth will be a big factor in getting it done. We would love to go for the total amount but cannot risk the bond election not passing again and miss out on another building season, low bond rates and favorable construction rates. We need to get the work started with Phase 1 and then hopefully Phase 2 will come with the growth. Also, science labs are in desperate need in order to accommodate the new state requirements they are a key component of the designation of the projects in the two phases. b.Bond Scope – Patron Input and Board Discussion Patron input: Spencer Blanding, patron – stated that the district is considering this fairly large bond and reminded the Board that buildings don’t teach students teachers do. Benefits for employees were reduced last year and it’s not likely to be any better this year. In this troubled economy Mr. Blanding stated he would like to see this Board commit to the supplemental levy and programs before committing to this bond. Ethan Hansen, Skyline student –he knows from experience that science labs and upgrades are truly there. Also, as a former Eagle Rock student he sees the need to replace trailers with permanent classrooms. Ethan commented that he definitely sees the need for the Bond and said he was going to do what he can to help get it passed. Melinda Cebull, patron – Would like to see more technology included into the bond. She expressed her concern that she doesn’t like the fact that the PTO’s are helping to fund technology. She expressed concern that the current equation for dispersing technology throughout the district is really working. Wade Lenon, IFHS student – Shared that he is currently taking science classes at Idaho Falls High School and with the humongous class sizes more than half of the students are out in the halls working because Page 3 of 4 SUP 09-10 BRD MIN 02/23/10 the labs are not functional. Wade stated that he doesn’t see how they can accommodate everyone’s science requirements without the additional rooms. A Dora Erickson teacher invited parents and patrons to come spend a day at their school and experience what they deal with on a daily basis. She also thanked the Board and the Superintendent for what they are doing to try and fix things. After the discussion, Ernest Jensen stated it is the recommendation of the facilities committee that we move forward with approving a bond resolution. ACTION ITEMS a.Ratification of telephone poll for network equipment bid award. Jerry Wixom moved to approve the network equipment bid award as recommended. Deidre Warden seconded the motion. Motion carried. b.Bond Resolution Lisa Burtenshaw moved to accept a resolution calling a special election to be held for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of School District No. 91, Bonneville County, Idaho, the proposition of the issuance of up to $57,500,000 negotiable bonds of School District No. 91, and in providing for the issuance of such bonds, the levy of a tax to pay such bonds. Deidre Warden seconded the motion. Dave Lent, Board Chair, called for a discussion. Jerry Wixom stated that this Board cannot speak for future boards, Phase 2 waits for another board to make a decision, but tonight he is in support this amount of 57.5 million. Deidre Warden stated again that the Board would rather run the entire amount but cannot take the risk of it not passing again. She plans to run for her board seat again and hopes to be there to see Phase 2 happen. Lisa Burtenshaw also stated that she would have liked to see the entire amount, but doesn’t feel we can take that risk. The age of technology is here, buildings don’t teach kids but buildings supports education, that’s why we should move forward with the bond. Ernest Jensen stated that he would like to go for the entire bond amount again but after working with the others he feels the phased approach is what needs to happen to get some projects started. The committee is ready to go to work. Dave Lent stated he has considered what it means to be a board member and said sometimes the word trustee is referred to when speaking of a board member. He expressed that the Board has been entrusted with the future of the students of this district the decisions that they make will affect not only the current students but the future of many students to come and added his support for the proposed resolution. Five aye votes. Motion carried Jerry Wixom moved to adjourn. Ernest Jensen seconded. Meeting adjourned. Page 4 of 4 SUP 09-10 BRD MIN 02/23/10