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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008_08_12 Board Minutes IDAHO FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT 91 BOARD OF TRUSTEES BOARD MEETING DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM August 12, 2008 7:00 PM Present from the Board of Trustees: Present from the Administration: Mary Ann Smith, Board Chair George Boland, Superintendent David Lent, Vice Chair Guy Wangsgard, Director of Business Ernest Jensen Gail Rochelle, Director of Secondary Jerry Wixom Karla, LaOrange, Director of Elementary Deidre Warden Caroline Meagher, Recording Secretary Board Chair Mary Ann Smith called the meeting to order. Pledge of Allegiance was led by David Lent. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA: Jerry Wixom motioned to adopt the agenda as written. Ernest Jensen seconded the motion. Motion passed. REPORTS/INPUT/INFORMATION a.Patron Input – There was no Patron Input at this time. b.IFEA Report – Michelle Sakota, President Elect for IFEA presented for Nancy Caldwell. The IFEA attended the National Representative Assembly in Washington D.C. Jim DeAngelis, teacher at IFHS, attended with the IFEA. Barbara Morgan, an Idaho Teacher, was honored and received a “Friendship Award.” The IFEA took great pride in the event. Page 1 of 6 SUP 08-09 BRD MIN 08-08-13 The IFEA attended a Drop-Out Crisis Committee to help kids stay in school. This committee was started by John Quinones. c.Education Foundation – Cami Smith, Education Foundation Director, presented to the board of trustees. The Foundation has hired Harris Publication to publish an updated Alumni Directory. Through Harris, a company has sent postcards to past alumni from District 91 schools. It is optional for these recipients to fill-out and return these post cards and have their contact information in the directory. Dick Clute, former Education Foundation Representative for District 91 retired this summer. He will be greatly missed by the foundation. Jim Shank, Director of Federal Programs and Assessment has been assigned to fill Dick’s position as District 91 representative. Kate Telford is working on providing swipe cards for District 91 students with Amazon.com. A percentage of all sales made at Amazon.com will go to the school of the student and a portion will go directly to the student. The Foundation has printed and distributed three-fold flyers for the schools’ for Back-to-School Night. d.Superintendent’s Report – Superintendent George Boland introduced Jim Shank, Director of Federal Programs and Assessment who gave the board of trustees a brief Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report for School District 91. Jim gave a recap on student populations throughout the district. The student populations and the subgroups have a significant impact on the district’s AYP. The Sub groups include “Economically Disadvantaged,” “Students with Disabilities,” and “Limited English Proficient.” The kids in these subgroups can impact more than one group. Theoretically, one student scoring less than proficient can impact up to 12 subgroups. District 91 has six schools that passed AYP from last spring’s scores. Some schools passed AYP because they were able to meet Safe Harbor provisions for sub group populations. Twelve schools did not make AYP. Some of these did not pass AYP by very small margins. The ISAT is not a test to measure growth, it measures proficiency. The mandated proficiency levels will remain the same this year as they were last year. Next year the levels of proficiency will increase; and students will have to meet a higher target. CONSENT AGENDA: Ernest Jensen motioned to adopt the consent agenda as written. David Lent seconded the motion. Motion Passed. Items approved include: Meeting Minutes July 8, 2008 Payment of June 2008 Claims $5,259,424.68 Page 2 of 6 SUP 08-09 BRD MIN 08-08-13 Matching Funds Skyline High School – Hydro-seeding $ 3,500.00 Skyline High School – Media Center carpet $ 2,049.05 Total Matching Funds $5,549.05 Student Travel: Skyline High School Royal Blue April 12, 2009 trip to Carnegie Hall, New York, New York Staff Actions: RESIGNATIONS: Dona Applonie Jena Salazar Taylorview Junior High School New Hire History Marcia Sargis Skyline High School French RETIREMENTS: Jeffery Lang Shirlee Robertson Sunnyside Elementary School Eagle Rock Junior High School Resource Room PACE/History NEW HIRES Allen, Jayme W Jenkins, Lisa M Taylorview JH Idaho Falls High School Health/Speech English Bartausky, Amanda Langhorst, Maria Theresa Bunker Elementary Idaho Falls High School Social Worker/Counselor Math Brinton, Sara L Lindsey, Neva A Idaho Falls High School Ethel Boyes Elementary Family & Consumer Science Spectrum Page 3 of 6 SUP 08-09 BRD MIN 08-08-13 Brown, Garry M Lyon, Jacinda R Skyline High School Temple View Elementary nd AP Chemistry .25 FTE 2 Grade Brown, Vicky Ochi, Gail H Taylorview JH Skyline High School History Chemistry Burch, Adam N Olson, Shauna K Idaho Falls High School Taylorview JH Social Studies - .42 FTE PE/Athletic Trainer Burton, Eva V Ruggiero, Karen S Fox Hollow Elementary Sunnyside Elementary Elementary Special Education Couch, Richard S Sullivan, Amanda M Taylorview JH Sunnyside Elementary Math Teacher Elementary Dunmire, Kristine Jo Vos, Angel C Fox Hollow Elementary Hawthorne Early Childhood Special Education Kindergarten Carrie Garner Kelly Meppen Reading Eagle Rock Junior High Eagle Rock Junior High School History ACTION ITEMS Board Policy – 1002 Attendance This is the third and final review of changes to the Attendance Policy by the board of trustees. Patron input was received through email and telephone calls. Many concerns were addressed. The changes include a definition section.  The largest change is the separation of Board Policy and Procedures.  The Death in Family definition has been simplified to allow parents the discretion to make this decision.  Documentation for a medical absence has to be turned into the attendance office no later than the second day back to school.  Five sequential absences will trigger a review with a guardian to determine if chronic and serious medical status (Exempt Absence) is necessary.  Tardiness rules have been moved to the Attendance Procedure. The tardiness procedure is still in revision; the state Average Daily Attendance (ADA) requirements will be included in the procedure.  The limit of allowed “verified” or “excused” by a parent are five per trimester for high school students and eight per semester for junior high. Students who have more absences than this limit will lose credit in those classes. Students can make-up excused absences up to five per trimester for high school and eight for junior high. Page 4 of 6 SUP 08-09 BRD MIN 08-08-13  Exempt absences from the limit include Medical, Acute Illness, Chronic Illness, and Injury. Exempt absences require documentation to be received directly from medical provider to the school. In order for School District 91 to provide a quality education we need the funds provided through ADA money from the state; it is the obligation of the students and their parents to contribute to the mechanisms provided through their attendance. Attendance has an impact on student achievement not only because of instruction time but also because consistent attendance allows for more funding to purchase engaging curriculum. Board Chair, Mary Ann Smith asked for patron input on this action item out of agenda order since many patrons joined the meeting after patron input. Brian Tucker, a patron asked to clarify the policy for making-up absences. High school students can make-up up to five excused absences. The students need to make up time hour for hour. The Assistant Principal at Skyline High School, Bill Cairns is the contact for those interested in making-up absences. He also asked what means are available to parents if they are not satisfied with decisions by school administration regarding interpretation of this policy. If parents are not satisfied with the decisions received from their school principals, they always have the right to appeal to the Director of Secondary Education, and then to the Superintendent and then to the Board of Trustees, as stated in Board Policy. Mary Ann Smith, Board Chair commented that she received some emails on the changes to the attendance policy. Some were negative because some parents were unhappy about the requirements to receive medically exempt status. There were also emails of encouragement from local businesses and college professors who do not tolerate tardiness or excessive absences. The College Professor commented that there are three things a student needs to do to be successful: 1) Show up for class 2) Pay attention 3) Ask Questions. Jerry Wixom motioned to adopt the proposed changes to the Attendance Policy and Attendance Procedures. David Lent seconded the motion. Motion passed. Five Aye votes School Resource Officer Agreement . In prior board meetings the board of trustees has discussed the School Resource Officer (SRO) Agreement with the City of Idaho Falls Police Department. The City is requesting the salary portion that the school district funds for police officers increase to 70% instead of 50% because the school district employs the officers for 70% of the year. The SRO’s will be employees of the City of Idaho Falls who are independently contracted to School District 91. The City of Idaho Falls drafted a new Agreement. George Boland made some grammatical changes to the agreement. The Administrators of the receiving schools will direct the SRO for their school. This school year, we will employ police officers as SRO’s at Eagle Rock Junior High, Skyline High School, Clair E Gale Junior High and Taylorview Junior High School. Idaho Falls High School has a retired Police Officer hired as a district employee for their SRO. Emerson High School employs a reserve officer as a district employee SRO. The budget includes the anticipated increase in cost for six City of Idaho Falls SROs. We have only hired four. Page 5 of 6 SUP 08-09 BRD MIN 08-08-13 Deidre Warden motioned to enter the proposed agreement by the City of Idaho Falls for School Resource Officers. David Lent seconded the motion. Motion passed. Five Aye votes. Award bid on Maintenance Building Roof . Dana Wood, Director of Operations, presented five bids to the board of trustees to replace the roof on the Maintenance Building. Last winter the roof was very leaky causing unsafe working conditions. Of the five bids, the administration recommended acceptance of the low bid from Smith Roofing to replace a 70’ x 140’ roof. David Lent motioned to accept the low bid from Smith Roofing in the amount of $49,395 to replace the roof on the maintenance building. Ernest Jensen seconded the motion. Motion passed. Five Aye votes. Superintendent George Boland reported no executive session would be needed. Jerry Wixom motioned to adjourn. Ernest Jensen seconded the motion. Motion passed. Meeting Adjourned. Page 6 of 6 SUP 08-09 BRD MIN 08-08-13