HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026_01_14 Board MinutesANNUAL BOARD MEETING (Wednesday, January 14, 2026)
Generated by Jessica Cushman
Board Members present: Administration Present:
Hillary Radcliffe, Chair Karla LaOrange, Superintendent
Kristy Mickelsen, Trustee Jessica Cushman, Deputy Clerk, Recording
Paul Haacke, Trustee Kelly Coughenour, Executive Director Personnel and Planning
Shay Ricks, Trustee Lanell Farmer, Director of Finance
Jeremy Westwood, Trustee David England, Executive Director Learning and Instruction
Tito Paredes, Director of Technology
IFEA:Thomas Kennedy, Director of Intervention and Support
Jessica Watrous, President
Business Meeting called to order at 5:30 PM by Chairwoman Radcliffe. Pledge of Allegiance led by Chairwoman Radcliffe.
ADOPT AGENDA
Chairwoman Radcliffe requested a motion to adopt the agenda. Trustee Ricks made a motion to adopt the agenda.
Motion by Shay Ricks, second by Jeremy Westwood. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Voting Aye: Hillary Radcliffe, Kristy
Mickelsen, Paul Haacke, Jeremy Westwood, Shay Ricks
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Reorganization of the Board of Trustees
Oath to Office - Trustee Haacke and Trustee Mickelsen take their Oath to Office administered by Board Clerk Jessica
Cushman.
Affirm Reorganization of the Board of Trustees
Chairwoman Radcliffe declared the Idaho Falls School District #91 Board of Trustees dissolved and asks the Board to proceed
with the Reorganization for the 2026 year.
Superintendent LaOrange declared the office of Chairperson of the Board for the 2026 year open for nominations. Trustee
Westwood made a motion nominating Trustee Hillary Radcliffe. Trustee Mickelsen provided the second. Trustee Ricks made a
motion nominating Trustee Paul Haacke. Trustee Haacke provided the second. No other nominations were brought
forward. Trustee Ricks made a motion to cease nominations. Trustee Radcliffe provided the second.
Superintendent LaOrange called for a vote for Trustee Hillary Radcliffe for Board Chairperson. Motion carried 3 ayes, 2 nays.
Superintendent LaOrange declared Trustee Hillary Radcliffe as the 2026 Board Chairperson.
Chairwoman Radcliffe declared the office of Vice Chairperson open for nominations. Trustee Radcliffe made a motion nominating
Trustee Kristy Mickelsen for Vice Chairperson. Trustee Westwood provided the second. Trustee Ricks made a motion nominating
Trustee Paul Haacke for Vice Chairperson. Trustee Mickelsen provided the second.
Chairwoman Radcliffe calls for a motion to cease nominations. Trustee Ricks made a motion to cease nominations. Trustee
Mickelsen provided the second.
Chairwoman Radcliffe called for a vote for Trustee Kristy Mickelsen for Vice Chairperson. Motion fails 2 ayes, 3 nays.
Chairwoman Radcliffe called for a vote for Trustee Paul Haacke for Vice Chairperson. Motion carried 4 ayes, 1 nays. Chairwoman
Radcliffe declared Trustee Paul Haacke as the 2026 Vice Chairperson.
Chairwoman Radcliffe declared the office of Treasurer open for nominations. Trustee Radcliffe made a motion nominating Lanell
Farmer as Treasurer. Trustee Westwood provided the second. No further nominations were brought forward. Trustee Ricks made
a motion to cease nominations. Trustee Mickelsen provided the second. Chairwoman Radcliffe called for a vote for Lanell Farmer
for Treasurer. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays. Chairwoman Radcliffe declared Lanell Farmer as 2026 Treasurer.
Chairwoman Radcliffe declared the office of Clerk open for nominations. Trustee Radcliffe made a motion nominating Jessica
Cushman as Clerk. Trustee Westwood provided the second. No further nominations were brought forward. Trustee Ricks made a
motion to cease nominations. Trustee Mickelsen provided the second. Chairwoman Radcliffe called for a vote for Jessica
Cushman for Clerk. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays. Chairwoman Radcliffe declared Jessica Cushman as the 2026 Clerk.
Chairwoman Radcliffe called for a motion to accept the reorganization of the Idaho Falls School District 91 Board of Trustees for
the 2026 year. Trustee Westwood makes a motion to accept the reorganization of the Idaho Falls School Dist. 91 Board of
Trustees for the 2026 year. Trustee Radcliffe provided the second. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Voting Aye: Hillary Radcliffe,
Kristy Mickelsen, Paul Haacke, Jeremy Westwood, Shay Ricks
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Review and Sign Code of Ethics
Chairwoman Radcliffe reviews the Code of Ethics for the Board of Trustees and they sign the Idaho School Board Association
Code of Ethics for School Board Members.
Set Dates and Times of Board Meetings
Chairwoman Radcliffe reviewed the prepared 2026 Board Meeting Schedule. The Board discusses changing a few
dates. Chairwoman Radcliffe called for a motion to accept the 2026 Board of Trustees Meeting Schedule. Trustee Westwood
makes a motion to approve the 2026 Board Meeting Schedule.
Motion by Jeremy Westwood, second by Shay Ricks. Motion Carried Voting Aye: Hillary Radcliffe, Kristy Mickelsen, Paul Haacke,
Jeremy Westwood, Shay Ricks
REPORTS/INPUT/INFORMATION
A. Patron Input: Agenda Items (Sign-in required) No comments were provided.
B. Student Reports
Skyline High School - Student Representative Tyler Swan provided an update on activities, which included information
on the Souper Bowl Canned Food Drive and a collaboration with Idaho Falls High School at Longfellow Elementary.
Compass Academy - Student Representative Elijah Zeller provided an update on activities, which included information
on the Student Council giving middle schools tours with hopes to get the enrollment numbers up for next y ear, Ed Talks
junior project, and Compass Congress senior project.
Idaho Falls High School - Student Representatives Olivia Peterson and Ava Thompson provided an update on activities
which included information on the Christmas Assembly which raised $2000 for student's in need, Gift of Literacy night,
updates on athletics, Sweetheart's dance in February, and Souper Bowl Canned Food Drive. They added that they are
excited to collaborate with Skyline High School for the assembly at Longfellow Elementary.
C. Celebrations
Superintendent LaOrange celebrates people in the community who have stepped in to be Athletic Trainers for the district at both
Idaho Falls High School and Skyline High School. We appreciate their time and support. Superintendent LaOrange states District
91 would like to thank the following people and anyone we have missed that has assisted as we transition into a contract with
Mountain View Hospital.
SHS IFHS
Dr. Leishman Dr. Eric Hunter
Dr. Josh Sirucek Keegan Parmer, DPT
Dr. Matt Merzlock Brandon Hanson, PA
Dr. Glenn Leavitt
D. Superintendent's Report
Superintendent LaOrange invites Tito Paredes, Director for Technology to present information regarding technology. He
addresses price increases and the preparation the technology department has made to help keep 1:1 devices throughout the
district. He does state that it will be harder to maintain, with the increase, for upcoming years.
E. School Report and Student Achievement
Superintendent LaOrange introduces Principal Kylie Dixon of Sunnyside Elementary, Principal Wade Leavitt of Edgemont
Elementary, and Principal Kelsey Anderson of Westside Elementary. They present their school and student achievement reports,
which is attached in board agenda.
F. Finance Update
Director of Finance, Lanell Farmer presented a budget summary, which is attached to the board agenda.
G. IFEA Report IFEA report written report is acknowledged and is attached to the board agenda.
CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Minutes
Board Business Meeting December 10 , 2025
B. Review of Payment of Claims
December 2025 Bill List $2,356,369.44
C. Staff Actions
New Hires:
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Name Position Location
Emergency Hires: A hiring emergency exists, as declared by the Board of Trustees, for the
following positions:
Name Position Location
Resignations:
Name Position Location
Retirees:
Name Position Location
Transfers:
To:From:
From:From:
D. Matching Funds
Longfellow Elementary- Shipping Container $4,350
Tayloview Middle School- Orchestra Chair/Cart and High Jump for Track $9,472
Temple View Elementary- Shipping Container $4,350
E. Early Graduation
Student 2025-2026 E, Compass Academy
F. Employee Acquisition Disclosure
Idaho Falls High School- District Employee's Spouse for service
G. Student Travel
Compass BPA, Boise, ID March 1-4, 2026
SHS BPA, Boise, ID March 1-4, 2026
IFHS BPA, Boise, ID March 1-4, 2026
SHS Baseball, CA March 12-14, 2026
IFHS Baseball, Queen Creek, AZ March 17-21, 2026
IFHS Baseball, Kuna, ID March 13-14, 2026
F. Approval of Consent Agenda
Chairwoman Radcliffe requested a motion to approve the Consent Agenda 4A through 4G. Trustee Haacke makes a motion to
approve Consent Agenda 4A through 4G.
Motion by Paul Haacke, second by Kristy Mickelsen. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Voting Aye: Hillary Radcliffe, Kristy
Mickelsen, Paul Haacke, Jeremy Westwood Nay: Shay Ricks
ACTION ITEMS
A. Second and Final Reading of Board Policies
Superintendent recommends approval of the Second and Final Reading of Board Policies.
Trustee Ricks makes a motion to approve the Sections
7010 Equivalence in Instructional Staff and Materials
7120 Budge Adjustments
7210 Fixed Assets and Management Discussion and Analysis
7215 Fund Accounting System
7230 Audit of District Financial Statements
7235 Fiscal Accountability and IDEA Part B Funds
7236 Employees Paid Federal Funds
Motion by Shay Ricks, second by Jeremy Westwood. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Voting Aye: Hillary Radcliffe, Kristy
Mickelsen, Paul Haacke, Jeremy Westwood, Shay Ricks
B. Bank of Commerce Account Update
Superintendent approves the closing of Bank of Commerce account and transfer to Zion's Bank. Trustee Westwood makes a
motion to approve the closing of Bank of Commerce Child Nutrition account and transfer to Zion's Bank.
Motion by Jeremy Westwood, second by Paul Haacke. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Voting Aye: Hillary Radcliffe, Kristy
Mickelsen, Paul Haacke, Jeremy Westwood, Shay Ricks
INPUT
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A. Patron Input: Not Related to the Agenda (Sign-in required) Patron input forms are attached to the board agenda.
ADJOURN
A. Adjourn
Chairwoman Radcliffe requested a motion to adjourn. Trustee Westwood makes a motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 6:50
pm.
Motion by Jeremy Westwood, second by Shay Ricks. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Voting Aye: Hillary Radcliffe, Kristy
Mickelsen, Paul Haacke, Jeremy Westwood, Shay Ricks
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