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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012_04_24 Board Minutes IDAHO FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT 91 BOARD OF TRUSTEES - WORK SESSION DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM – 12:00 P.M. 690 JOHN ADAMS PARKWAY APRIL 24, 2012 Present from D91 Board of Trustees: Present from D91 Administration: Dave Lent, Chairman George Boland, Superintendent Lisa Burtenshaw, Vice Chair Trina Caudle, Director of Secondary Education Jerry Wixom, Treasurer Karla LaOrange, Director of Elementary Education Deidre Warden, Clerk Carrie Smith, Director of HR & Finance Larry Haws, Trustee Gail Rochelle, Director of Student Achievement & School Imp. Margaret Wimborne, Coordinator of Communications & Community Engagement Debbie Wilkie, Recording Clerk Chairman Lent called the meeting to order at 12:05 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Trina Caudle. ADOPT AGENDA Jerry Wixom made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Lisa Burtenshaw seconded. Motion carried unanimously. WORK SESSION a.Board In-service i.Board Policy Review Larry Haws reviewed Board Policy Section 500 – School and Community Relations. A discussion was held regarding the importance of keeping the lines of communications open between schools and the community. Chairman Lent also reviewed protocol for board members when they visit schools and reminded them to always check in at the office and, as a courtesy, let the building administrator know in advance whenever possible. ii.Committee Reports Dave Lent shared a brief overview of the information he acquired while attending the National School Board Association’s Annual Conference on April 20-22, 2012. Dave shared several quotes and information regarding public charter schools. Dave also stated it is very rewarding to go to these meetings and hear about things that District 91 is already working on. A discussion was held. Lisa Burtenshaw reported that the Budget Committee met on April 18, 2012 to review state allocations in preparation for planning the district’s 2013 budget. Lisa commented that even though the State is proclaiming an increase for education it is really flat funding. Flat funding along with the increases for benefits and 4/24/2012 District 91 Board Minutes Page 1 of 3 energy costs means the district will be deficit spending again in FY13. Superintendent Boland stated that a big part of the 4.6 million dollar increase will come in the form of Pay for Performance bonuses and the district is only the pass-through agent for those funds. The State did agree to fund steps and lanes this year and did add some money for IT professionals to help with technology requirements. Deidre Warden shared that the Reduction in Force (RIF) Committee met on April 17, 2012 to finalize the proposed policy, and procedures, which will be brought before the Board on May 8, 2012 for a final reading. Deidre stated that this policy is being revised as a result of the changes made in the last legislative session and not because there is a need for reductions at this time. b.Construction Scope Update Mike Clements from Bateman-Hall provided handouts and reviewed information for the upcoming construction projects, the remodels at Clair E. Gale, Idaho Falls, Skyline and Emerson high schools and Theresa Bunker Elementary and the new buildings at Dora Erickson, Ethel Boyes, Edgemont and Longfellow elementary schools. Mike stated that everything is still on track for a June 1, 2012 start for projects that are slated to begin this summer. A discussion was held and it was determined that the Board would need to schedule a special board meeting during the last week of May to award bids for some of the projects to be started on time. c.Budget Review – FY13 Carrie Smith, Director of HR and Finance, provided a handout of the Fund Balance Projection Model as of April 2012. Carrie reviewed that state revenue looks lower than in the past because 1.2 million dollars received for Medicaid reimbursement, and approximately 1.2 million in expenses were moved out of the general fund and into separate funds as recommended by the auditors. Carrie reviewed that projected revenue for FY13 is based on an estimate of flat enrollment. Carrie stated that the increases are for steps and lanes, a slight increase on the classified base, the $60,000 designated for IT professionals and approximately $120,000 for the added math and science requirements. Carrie stated the budget document is still a work in progress, the revenue projections are getting close but there is still some work to be done on the expense side. The increase for medical benefits came in at 2.9 % and dental at 5% which is good but with no added funding it still requires deficit spending. Overall the district is in good shape for FY13 but will definitely have to make some priority decisions for FY14 to be able to maintain the 3% contingency fund as required by Board Policy. PROPOSALS a.Blended Learning Pilot Jennifer Jackson, Instructional Coach, again reviewed the proposed blended learning pilot she had previously introduced at the April 10, 2012 meeting. Chairman Lent had asked Jennifer to come back and show them how Brain Honey, the recommended learning management system, works. Jennifer introduced Aaron Jarnigan, Idaho Falls High School Assistant Principal, who gave a live demonstration of Brain Honey. A discussion was held. The blended learning th proposal will be placed on the May 8 agenda for the Board to vote on. b.Erickson Elementary Restructuring Plan Karla LaOrange, Director of Elementary Education and John Murdoch Jr., Dora Erickson Elementary principal, shared a PowerPoint reviewing the proposed restructuring plan for Dora Erickson Elementary. Karla stated that the demographics of the school have changed dramatically over the years. As a district we need to make some changes to enrich the lives of the students to help them overcome some of the obstacles they are faced with so they can focus on academic achievement. Karla introduced “Project We Believe” and explained that they picked this name because beliefs drive actions. The plan is to use a program called “The Leader in Me” which is a program that helps empower students to take ownership and become the leaders of their school. Karla introduced Dave Webster, elementary school counselor who recently visited a school that is using the “Leader in Me” program, to give an overview of the 4/24/2012 District 91 Board Minutes Page 2 of 3 program. Dave stated that the program is based on Steven Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Be proactive, Begin with the end in mind, Put first things first, Think win win, Always have a positive attitude, Seek first to understand and then to be understood, Synergize and Sharpening the saw) to help build a culture that empowers students to become leaders. Karla reviewed the culture expectations that would be implemented within the school, including school uniforms, and the academic expectations that would be used if the Board approves this plan. David England, Theresa Bunker principal, and his staff would also like to pilot “The Leader in Me” program next year. A th discussion was held. This item will be placed on the May 8 agenda for the Board to vote. ACTION ITEMS a.Approve Post-Issuance Tax Compliance Resolution Trustee Jerry Wixom made a motion to adopt the Post-Issuance Compliance Resolution as presented. Trustee Deidre Warden seconded. Motion carried unanimously. b.Approve Magnet High School Name Selection Matt Bertasso, Director of the new Magnet high school, stated that over one hundred names had been submitted by students for the new high school. Matt and his staff reviewed all of the submissions and selected three names to be voted on by district staff and the community. Matt played a video clip that he and the staff prepared to share the winning selection. The name receiving the most votes, and being submitted today for the Board of Trustees to vote on, is Compass Academy. Matt stated that the Compass Academy logo uses both a design compass and a directional compass and represents what the new Magnet high school is about, a new way to learn and redesigning things to get students to where they need to be. Trustee Deidre Warden made a motion to approve the name Compass Academy for the new Magnet high school as presented. Lisa Burtenshaw seconded. Motion carried unanimously. c.Approve Magnet High School Schedule and Course Offerings Matt Bertasso, Director of the new Magnet high school, reviewed the integrated courses that will be offered in the fall. Matt stated that two Advanced Placement classes and electives courses will also be available for students. The teaching staff has been hired and they are working really hard to help build the course offerings so students can get registered. A meeting is scheduled for May 2, 2012 to share the course information with students and parents so students can finalize their schedules. Trustee Lisa Burtenshaw made a motion to approve the course offerings and schedule for the new Magnet high school as presented. Trustee Deidre Warden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. EXECUTIVE SESSION Trustee Jerry Wixom made a motion move into Executive Session. Trustee Larry Haws seconded. A roll call vote was taken: Dave Lent – Yes Jerry Wixom – Yes Deidre Warden – Yes Larry Haws – Yes Lisa Burtenshaw – Yes The Board of Trustees met in Executive Session pursuant to Idaho Code §67-2345 (1) (b) Personnel. Trustee Jerry Wixom moved to return to Open Session. Trustee Larry Haws seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Jerry Wixom moved to adjourn. Larry Haws seconded. Meeting adjourned at 3:10 PM. 4/24/2012 District 91 Board Minutes Page 3 of 3