HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010_11_16 Board MinutesNovember 16, 2010
12:00 Noon
Present from the Board of Trustees
Dave Lent, Chairman
Jerry Wixom, Vice Chair
Ernest Jensen, Treasurer
Deidre Warden, Clerk
Lisa Burtenshaw, Member
Dave Lent, Board Chair, called the meeting to order.
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Michelle Sakota.
Present from the Administration:
George Boland, Superintendent
Guy Wangsgard, Director of Business
Dana Wood, Director of Operations
Margaret Wimborne, Communications Specialist
Debbie Wilkie, Recording Clerk
Jerry Wixom moved to adopt the agenda as amended. Ernest Jensen seconded. Motion carried.
WORK SESSION'
a. Board In-service
A discussion was held regarding the continuation of the board in-service item on the agenda, of the board
work sessions, in the future as a learning opportunity. Dave Lent, Board Chair, shared he felt it is
important for the Board to understand their own policies. The board chair will continue to plan and
present the in-service topic unless otherwise indicated by another member.
b. ISBA Convention Review
Superintendent Boland and members of the Board attended the Annual Idaho School Board Association
Convention, held in Boise, on November 10-12, 2010. A discussion was held today to share what they
took away from the convention. Lisa Burtenshaw stated the thread she came away with was that the
school board sets the tone for the whole district; that vision should be measurable and observable. Dave
Lent added change happens every day. As a Board we have to be able to recognize the change and go
back to our core values to meet those challenges. Dave shared the statement we can either be a district
wandering in the wilderness or one exploring the frontier. Deidre Warden shared that her vision for our
district, even though it may be very idealistic, would be 100% of District 91 students earn a diploma and
be accepted into a post -secondary plan whether it be a professional technical program, the military, a
two-year college or a four-year college. Ernest Jensen stated that a vision is sometimes difficult to define,
measures change as time goes on, but an umbrella vision can give direction. Superintendent Boland
stated regardless of what the vision is it has to be communicated and understood by everyone and there
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may not be a common understanding throughout the stakeholders in the district with respect to what
that vision is. Superintendent Boland shared that the vision may not be as measurable but the goals that
emerge from the vision or mission will be measurable. Lisa added that she felt true gratitude for all of the
fabulous pieces that District 91 already has in place working towards a "World Class Education."
Superintendent Boland and Board Member, Ernest Jensen, attended a session regarding the new Election
Consolidation law going into effect on January 1, 2011. With the new law in place the district will be
required to give the county no less than 45 days notice of an election. There are four dates scheduled to
hold elections, the second Tuesday in March, the third Tuesday in May, the last Tuesday in August and the
second Tuesday in November. An election for renewing the current supplemental levy should be held in
March 2011 in order to have contracts signed in May for the 2011-2012 school year, as stated in Board
Policy. The Board will hold a special work session on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 to discuss the
options for a March supplemental levy election.
c. Consolidation Feasibility Study Discussion
In response to public discussion of consolidation of District 91 and 93, prior to the bond election last
spring, Superintendent Boland has researched the possibility of a feasibility study. The Superintendent
provided a copy of a proposal received from Education Northwest to conduct a feasibility study. Within
Idaho Code, 33-310B, there is a provision that all school districts operating one (1) or more high schools
may conduct a feasibility study and prepare a plan for consolidation, which may also include district
consolidation. The cost of such feasibility studies and plans shall be reimbursed at an amount not to
exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per each school district that proposes to consolidate, in
accordance with rules promulgated by the state board of education. The state board of education shall
review and act upon all plans for school consolidation. The Superintendent provided a copy of the state
board of education rules stating the application procedure for reimbursement and a plan if the district
chooses to do this. The proposed study would take approximately four months, done in a collaborative
manner with both school boards; at this time District 91 does not have a commitment from District 93
they will need to review the proposal as well. The scope of work proposed as a starting point for the
study consists of the following areas:
1. What are the possible unintended consequences of district consolidation?
2. What are potential areas of service consolidation that might be useful?
3. What are appropriate models for evaluating benefits of consolidating districts?
4. What are the estimated cost savings from consolidating Idaho Falls districts 91 and 93?
Superintendent Boland added that Education Northwest will not make a recommendation simply report
what the findings are from the study and different models selected. The projected cost is $20,000, which
could be reimbursed by the State if both districts are willing to participate. Consolidation would still
require a vote of the patrons' from both districts but the proposed study would provide information
based on the models that would emerge from the study rather than on speculation. This item will be
placed on the agenda as an action item for the December 14, 2010 board meeting.
Jerry Wixom moved to adjourn. Deidre Warden seconded. Meeting adjourned.
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