HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023_01_24 Board MinutesBoard Members present: Administration Present:
Elizabeth Cogliati, Treasurer (remotely)Dr. Jim Shank, Superintendent
Hillary Radcliffe, Chair Angela Pendlebury, Director of Finance
Larry Wilson, Vice Chair (remotely)Kevin Klingler, Director of Maintenance and Operations
Paul Haacke, Clerk
Jessica Cushman, Deputy Clerk, Recording
IFEA Present:Margaret Wimborne, Director of Communication
Julie Nawrocki, President
Jessica Donnelly, President Elect
IDAHO FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT #91
BOARD WORK SESSION 4 PM (Tuesday, January 24, 2023)
Generated by Jessica Cushman
Work Session called to order at 4:08 PM by Chairwoman Hillary Radcliffe.
ADOPT AGENDA
Chairwoman Radcliffe requested a motion to adopt the agenda. Trustee Haacke made a motion to adopt the agenda.
Motion by Paul Haacke, second by Elizabeth Cogliati. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Voting Aye: Elizabeth Cogliati, Hillary
Radcliffe, Paul Haacke Not Present at Vote: Larry Wilson
WORK SESSION
A. Board Professional Development
Chairwoman Hillary Radcliffe starts the Board Professional Development by referencing "Leading a High Reliabilities School"
book in Chapter 2. She then reviews Tuckman's Five Stages of Team Development, which is attached to the board agenda.
The Board discusses team development to include Board Norms and Focus. Chairwoman Radcliffe states today's work is a
start and she hopes to continue to reevaluate what the Board discusses and update to what works best for the Board
throughout the year. The Board discusses the focus of the Board to be with the best educational welfare for students,
curriculum, policy, and increasing student achievement. Chairwoman Radcliffe states that she will work on a brief statement
to include the focus items the Board has agreed upon. This will be present along with Board norms as a reminder, at Board
meetings.
The Board then reviews sample norms provided by Chairwoman Radcliffe, which is attached to the board agenda. Chairwoman
Radcliffe reiterates this discussion is a start for setting the Board norms. They discuss the norms and set their Board Norms to
include:
Assume positive intent and nothing else, ask for clarification and knowledge, not judgement.
Listen with curiosity to what everyone has to say - we all come with different perspectives and priorities that bring
depth to the conversation.
Be open to new ways of thinking.
Discuss ideas and issues not people, with a positive tone.
Come prepared and ready to engage - read agenda/info and be ready to discuss with no surprises.
Goal is not to agree, but to gain a deeper understanding from one another.
Disseminate information through Dr. Shank.
Trustee Haacke provided norms from a previous employer. He states they are honest, open, candid, constructive, own your
data, confidential, participate, non defensive, and concise. The Board discusses setting board meeting norms with all the
information discussed. Chairwoman Radcliffe again states that she will work on a brief statement to include the norms the
Board has agreed upon and possible keywords.
Chairwoman Radcliffe asks about norms outside of Board meeting and refers to Board Policy 1405 School Board Use of Email
and Social Media. The Board discusses the policy and the Board agrees the Board Chair will respond to all email requests and
if Board of Trustees have additional questions, they will individually reply to an email. Chairwoman Radcliffe then refers to
Board Policy 1400 Board/Staff Communications as a reminder that staff communications with Board to and from should go
through Superintendent Shank and follow a chain of command. Chairwoman Radcliffe states part of Board norms would be
for Trustees to redirect staff back to the Superintendent if they get communications and not to respond individually. In Board
discussion regarding this policy, they would like the staff to also have a reminder of the policy on Board/Staff
Communications. Trustee Wilson adds that it is also the responsibility of the Board to let patrons with complaints or issues
know that one board member can not act on their own because everything is done as a Board. He states it needs to be
recognized that decisions are made as the Board not by an individual Board member.
Chairwoman Radcliffe also requests that all Board Trustees schedule a time to visit all schools, per Board Policy and the
building principals should be aware that the Trustees are there to visit as a Board Member not as a parent. The Board all
agrees to follow policy.
Chairwoman Radcliffe reiterates that she will work on finalizing the focus and norms the Board has agreed upon and bring
them back to them to review, however she wants to address one more topic. Chairwoman Radcliffe asks the Board moving
forward how to address if any Board Member is not following the Focus and Norms set. The Board discusses and decides
asking the Board collectively if Board Norms are being followed, will be sufficient.
B. Facilities
Superintendent Shank reviews facilities talking points he has provided for the Board, attached to the Board agenda. He does
state that he would add the cost of modular classrooms to the list of facilities projects presented. The Board reviews and
discusses the facilities projects and budget. Kevin Klinger, Director of Maintenance provided input on any questions the Board
had on the facilities projects. Superintendent Shank requests the Board appro ve the plans for Ravsten bleacher/Classroom
roof repair and high school safety access doors and walls as action items at the next board meeting. He also mentions that we
need modular classrooms for Idaho Falls High school and may need to approve that purchase also. The Board discusses the
priorities they would like to move forward with on the facilities with the budget set aside.
Superintendent Shank asks the Board to discuss at another Board Work Session the details of the Supplemental Plan Facilities
Fund Lease Swap Option. In planning for this work session, Trustee Haacke asks for a current bid on new elementary plans, a
report for the principals on the elementary schools impacted, and a report from Kevin Klingler on changes for the current
elementary plans. Superintendent Shank states he will be send potential dates for a work session or special meeting.
ADJOURN
A. Adjourn
Chairwoman Radcliffe requested a motion to adjourn. Trustee Haacke made a motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 6:32
PM.
Motion by Paul Haacke, second by Larry Wilson. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Voting Aye: Elizabeth Cogliati, Hillary
Radcliffe, Larry Wilson, Paul Haacke