HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009_01_13 Board Minutes
IDAHO FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT 91
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
BOARD MEETING
CLAIR E GALE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
January 13, 2009
7:30 PM
Present from the Board of Trustees: Present from the Administration:
Mary Ann Smith, Board Chair George Boland, Superintendent
David Lent, Vice Chair Dr. Gail Rochelle, Director Secondary
Ernest Jensen, Treasurer Karla LaOrange, Director Elementary
Jerry Wixom Guy Wangsgard, Director of Business
Deidre Warden Caroline Meagher, Recording Secretary
Scott Marotz, District Attorney
Board Chair Mary Ann Smith called the meeting to order.
Pledge of Allegiance was led by David Lent.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Ernest Jensen motioned to adopt the agenda with the following changes: Move Action Item b) Board Policy 603.1 and
603.2 Graduation Requirements to Roman numeral two – Action Item. Change Reports from Numeral II to III.
Change Consent Agenda to IV, Proposals to V, Action Item to VI, and Executive Session to VII. David Lent seconded the
motion. Motion passed.
ACTION ITEM
a.Board Policy 603.1 and 603.2 Graduation Requirements:
Mary Ann Smith, Board Chair explained to the patrons that Ernest Jensen changed the order of the agenda to
move the Graduation Requirements discussion to the beginning of the meeting. Mary Ann thanked everyone
for their participation in this process. Board members have each received many emails and several phone
calls. Each School Board member has the duty to balance academic best practices, education of the whole
child, and to balance the budget. The national economy has experienced a downturn and Idaho has not been
able to escape this. The governor is proposing $80 million dollars of cuts to public schools. The recent events
make this a bad time to implement a new schedule. No matter what schedule is adopted, it will never have
the chance it deserves to succeed. We would immediately need to figure out what to cut. There is a huge
concern about this budget issue.
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Ernest Jensen asked the Board Chair to entertain a motion based on the need to consider all the issues
related to this very important decision, and the fact that there is need to obtain clarification from the State
Board of Education on the application of the applicable IDAPA rules to a trimester system. Ernest Jensen
motioned to table this matter and seek input from the State Board of Education and continue to look at all
possible alternatives and information relevant to this decision. Jerry Wixom seconded the motion.
Board Chair, Mary Ann Smith asked for discussion from the Board of Trustees.
David Lent expressed that his concern has shifted and he is now focused not on the students who will
graduate from college, but on those students who will not move on to college. He believes that the schedule
we adopt is not the beginning or the end of high school reform, the curriculum and the instruction is also
very important. He is not comfortable to move forward with the schedule.
Deidre Warden stated that her concern has been about the opportunities that are available. There are 57
credit opportunities in the trimester system. The semester schedule will reduce the credit opportunities to
48. We need to give our kids the opportunities to succeed.
Jerry Wixom welcomes the opportunity to slowdown the decision process. He is concerned about the
population who struggles with our current requirements. With this motion, will we continue the trimester
system for next year? Please explain how this will impact the current eight graders are preparing to schedule
for the ninth grade?
Scott Marotz, district attorney responded to Jerry’s concern about the implications of tabling this decision.
Tabling this decision will delay any ultimate decision on changing Board Policy for graduation requirements.
The ninth grade will remain on semesters and the high schools will remain on trimesters. The eighth grade
students who are preparing their four-year plan will plan with the same credit requirements as the eighth
graders from last year with the addition of two credits in math and two credits in science.
In regards to the IDAPA (Idaho Administration Procedures Act) issue, the State Board of Education adopted
new graduation requirements into IDAPA. This is the rule book that Idaho school districts have to operate
from. The state mandated 46 semester credits in order to graduate in March of 2007. It defines a semester
credit as equaling one half of a school year. The trimester is clearly not one half of a school year. We need to
go to the State Board of Education for a clarification so that we will not be out of compliance.
Ernest Jensen commented that the governor made a recommendation to cut $80 million dollars from public
schools. When the new graduation requirements were passed in 2007, they knew that there would be costs
associated with the adoption. The State at that time was prepared to help fund this mandate. They knew
that we would need to hire more science and math teachers to meet the needs of the requirements. The
governor also made it plain that no legislation will come forth this year with a cost associated. The
requirements passed by the State Board of Education in 2007 may not have the funds to implement it.
Five aye votes – motion carried.
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REPORTS
a.Student Reports:
i.Jace Herrmann for Skyline High School:
Skyline won the soup-er bowl competition against IFHS. They collected over
55,000 cans of food for the food kitchen.
Skyline will have a lock-down.
Intramural sports are coming up.
Class elections are coming up.
ii.Ashley Hunter, representing Eric Hilliam from Idaho Falls High School reported:
IFHS participated in the soup-er bowl competition and brought in almost 23,000
cans.
Tiger Pride days was held 12/17 and will be held again on 1/15.
Winter sports are starting up.
Multi-cultural week is next week on Tuesday. They have a guest speaker.
b.Patron Input:
Andrea Chambers – Thanked the administration and the Board of Trustees for taking their
time to carefully consider all options. She believes that we need to explore the concept of
a seven period semester day to provide both depth and continuity. Many kids are not
represented by the vocal patrons who have been attending the meetings. These kids are
the kids who are not represented and they are the ones who need their needs addressed.
Suketu Gandhi – Because of the decision to table this decision tonight, he will not say what
he planned to say. He would like to see the district look into why students are failing. He
believes that the quality of education at the elementary schools could be better.
Steve Piet – His two kids are graduates of IFHS and he is in favor of higher standards and
semesters. His kids had trouble with trimesters and the lack of continuity. The job of the
Board of Trustees is to give our students the best education for the money. He feels like
this is a cop-out to table the decision tonight.
Sharon Parry - Sharon reviewed her kids’ transcripts and determined that her kids would
have had to take every available zero hour and seventh hour class as well as take two
online classes to take the same number of classes on the semester system that they took
on trimester system. The semester system does not provide the opportunities to take as
many classes as the high end kids would like to take.
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c.IFEA Report: Nancy Caldwell, president of the IFEA reported that the governor’s cut in funding will be a
major issue. The students will pay the price. She is looking forward to negotiations and retirement banquets
to come this spring.
d.Education Foundation Report: The Education Foundation was not present.
e.Superintendent’s Report:
George Boland introduced Rodger Barlow, Principal at Theresa Bunker Elementary school. Rodger
has a report on the growth in student achievement at his school.
Rodger reported that more and more students are enrolling who do not know basic social rules. As
a result, they have created a passport where students earn stickers for meeting goals. When their
passport is complete they receive a nutritional snack.
Rodger referred to the Theresa Bunker School Continuous Improvement Plan. In this plan, goals 3
and 4 are worked on every week when teachers meet to collaborate. Through this collaboration
they are able to place students in the classes where they need to be so they can work at an
appropriate level. By placing students in the right spots, they have shown incredible growth.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Jerry Wixom motioned to adopt the consent agenda as written.
David Lent seconded the motion. Motion Passed. Items approved include:
Meeting Minutes December 9, 2008 and December 16, 2008
Payment of November 2008 Claims $ 2,579,974.50
Matching Funds
Temple View Elementary – 17 LCD projectors $ 7, 500.00
Dora Erickson Elementary – Computer lab $10,050.00
Taylorview Junior High – 10 computers $ 4,000.00
Taylorview Junior High – Student Response System $ 1,600.00
TOTAL MATCHING FUNDS $23,150.00
PROPOSALS
a.Board Policy changes to Open Enrollment Policy 1003.4
George Boland reported that this is the second reading of proposed changes to the Open Enrollment Policy.
It is proposed to delete this portion of policy and move it to section 1012.2 under athletic eligibility. This
will align the board policy with the Idaho High School Athletic Association rules. The district has received no
input from patrons in regards to this policy change. This policy is available online for patron review and
th
comments. The third reading of this policy occurs on February 10 as an action item.
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ACTION ITEM
a.Bid award for QuickStart Bundle SAN.
Guy Wangsgard, Director of Business addressed the Board. Only one bid was received for this item. It relates
to data storage and it will be funded from the plant facilities funds. Guy recommends that we award the bid
to Valcom in the amount of $70,989.00.
Jerry Wixom motion to award bid to Valcom in the amount of $70,989.00. David Lent seconded the motion.
Five Aye votes – motion passed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Personnel, Section S67-2345 (B)(F), IDAHO CODE
David Lent motioned to enter executive session. Ernest Jensen seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Jerry Wixom motioned to enter open session. Ernest Jensen seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Deidre Warden motioned to adjourn, David Lent seconded the motion. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned.
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