HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013_04_16 Board MinutesIDAHO FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 91
BOARD OF TRUSTEES -- BUSINESS MEETING
DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM -- 7:00 P.M.
690 JOHN ADAMS PARKWAY
APRIL 16, 2013
Chairman Lent called the meeting to order at 6:35 P.M.
Trustee Brian Hillman made a motion to move into Executive Session. Trustee Larry Haws provided the second. A roll call
vote was taken:
Dave Lent —yes
Lisa Burtenshaw —yes
Deidre Warden — yes
Larry Haws —yes
Brian Hillman—yes
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board of Trustees and Superintendent Boland, met in Executive Session pursuant to Idaho Code §67-2345 (1) (b)
regarding a personnel matter.
Trustee Warden made a motion to return to Open Session. Trustee Burtenshaw provided the second. Motion carried 5
ayes, 0 nays.
The Board reconvened in Open Session at 7:08 pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Compass Academy Student
Representative Andrew Johnson.
Present from the Board of Trustees:
Present from the Administration:
Dave Lent, Chairman
George Boland, Superintendent
Lisa Burtenshaw, Vice Chair
Carrie Smith, Director of HR & Finance
Deidre Warden, Treasurer
Gail Rochelle, Director of Student Achievement &
Larry Haws, Clerk
School Improvement
Brian Hillman, Trustee
Camille Wood, Director of Technology Services
Kevin Klingler, Director of Operations
Margaret Wimborne, Coordinator of Communications & Community
Engagement
Debbie Wilkie, Recording Clerk
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
a. Emissary of Excellence
Diana Molino, Ethel Boyes Principal, introduced Counselor Marie Elser as the Emissary of Excellence. Marie has
worked at Ethel Boyes since 2007 and has been an incredibly positive leader. Diana stated that as counselor
Marie has a huge array of duties and she is continually collaborating with staff to find effective ways to help
students to succeed. Marie's co-workers greatly appreciate her positive outlook on life and willingness to help.
04/16/2013 D91 Board Minutes Page 1 of 5
Diana shared that she, her staff, the students' and parents' know Marie will always perform her duties with the
highest level of professionalism, integrity and outstanding character.
Chairman Lent thanked Marie for her service to the students and staff at Ethel Boyes Elementary and presented
her with a certificate and token of appreciation.
b. Volunteer of the Month
Tammi Utter, Linden Park Principal, introduced patron Dee Abercrombie as the district's Volunteer of the
Month. Mrs. Utter stated Dee began volunteering at Linden Park when her youngest child started kindergarten
there and even though her daughter has moved on to middle school Dee still continues to volunteer on a daily
basis. Mrs. Utter shared that Dee helps the students' read and learn their math facts and is the number one
substitute for the staff because they know they can count on her.
Trustee Haws thanked Dee on behalf of the District and the Board and presented her with a certificate and token
of appreciation.
c. Business Partner of the Month
Bobbi Crosser, Coordinator of the Professional Technical Program, introduced Pharmacist Spencer Dietz and
recognized Heartland Pharmacy as the Business Partner of the Month. Mrs. Crosser shared that when the
Pharmacy Tech Program was started for the high school students Spencer was first to respond and offer any help
we needed. She stated Spencer has provided internship hours and job shadowing for the students, attends the
advisory committee meetings and he has also listened to two senior project presentations. Bobbi thanked
Spencer and all of his employees for their efforts. Spencer thanked the district and shared that the program is
very valuable for students by empowering them to make decisions before going to college so they are focused
when they get there.
Trustee Burtenshaw thanked Spencer on behalf of the District and the Board for his support and presented him
with a certificate of appreciation for Heartland Pharmacy.
ADOPT AGENDA
Trustee Burtenshaw made the motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Trustee Warden provided the second. Motion
carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
REPORTS/INPUT/INFORMATION
a. Student Reports —A written report, if provided, is attached.
Idaho Falls High School - Caitlyn McNamara reported and introduced Aubrey Holt as her successor.
Caitlyn also shared that Ms. Emily McCoy, who teaches AP European History, Psychology and Holocaust
has been accepted for a paid fellowship to attend a five-week seminar in England, Belgium and the
Netherlands this summer to study the role of economics in modern European history. Ms. McCoy was
also the only teacher from the Mountain West to be awarded the fellowship.
ii. Skyline High School - Paige Herrmann reported and introduced Rose Rammell as her successor.
iii. Compass Academy - newly elected Student Representative Andrew Johnson reported and provided
data published from New Tech Network regarding student achievement.
iv. Emerson High School - Kyle Thomason reported.
04/16/2013 D91 Board Minutes Page 2 of 5
b. Patron Input —Written comments, if provided, are attached.
Parent Suketu Gandhi shared comments regarding Board Policy, Section 600 - Instruction.
Parent Kenneth Krell shared comments regarding budget cuts.
Student Elizabeth Krell shared comments regarding budget cuts.
Teacher Daniel Stapp shared comments regarding allocations of district funds.
Parent Kathy Tracy shared comments regarding funding for music education in schools.
Student Zoe Raschke shared comments regarding funding for the Drama program.
Student Tabetha Tracy shared comments regarding funding for Choir and Drama programs.
Student Ircia Orihuela shared comments regarding funding for Drama and Choir programs.
Parent Chris Lile shared comments regarding the importance of elective offerings.
c. IFEA Report - Written comments, if provided, are attached.
Mitzi Ellingson, IFEA President, shared comments and concerns about the reduction of class offerings at the
secondary level. Angela Gillman, IFEA President -Elect, also reported and provided written comments.
d. Education Foundation Report - no report.
e. Superintendent's Report
FY14 Budget Information
Superintendent Boland shared that the district has been dealing with declining revenues from the state
since 2008-2009. The district has been able to sustain many of the programs and services with federal
funds and also being able to carry over a fund balance as a result of those funds. Unfortunately, federal
monies are gone and our savings account, or fund balance, is to the point the district can no longer
continue to sustain all programs and services because the current expenditures exceed the current
revenues and expected revenues into the future. Since 2008 the district has gone through two rounds
of budget cuts cutting over 7 million dollars and is now faced with another 3.5 to 4 million dollar
shortfall. The superintendent stated the shortfall hasn't come as a surprise we knew it was on the
horizon and had tried to utilize the fund balance to gain as many efficiencies as we could along the way.
The issue is a state funding issue. The superintendent provided a handout regarding the current state
funding formulas and stated the information will be posted on the district webpage after the meeting
for review. The superintendent also stated that adding to the district's budget dilemma is the opening
of two new charter schools within the district, American Heritage and Odyssey Charter Schools, which
could mean a reduction in the number of support units the district will receive next year. The
superintendent reviewed that there are also some significant unknowns that will have to be taken into
consideration as they come to light. The superintendent reviewed a timeline of anticipated events
planned for the budget setting process and stated the administration has been working with building
principals to identify the minimum requirements it would take to open our doors next year.
Superintendent Boland reviewed two lists, the Superintendent's List and the Public Input List, of
suggested reductions that were compiled after receiving input from the administration, faculty and staff
members. Public meetings will be held on April 25, 27, 29 and 301h to gather public input to help make
decisions when setting the budget. The superintendent reminded the audience that no decisions have
been made yet with regards to reductions. The information will be compiled and recommendations
presented to the board on May 14th and then the board is scheduled to set the budget after the Budget
Hearing meeting on June 11th. A discussion was held. Patrons, parents, staff and students were
encouraged to join the district in the process.
04/16/2013 D91 Board Minutes Page 3 of 5
f. Other Items
National School Board Association Conference Report
Superintendent Boland, Chairman Lent, Trustee Haws and Trustee Hillman attended the National
School Board Association's Annual Conference April 12 -15th and shared information about the sessions
they attended including Implementation of the Common Core, Being a Better Board Member, Making
Tough Decisions, Leadership, Blended Learning and School Safety.
CONSENT AGENDA
Trustee Haws made a motion to accept the Consent Agenda as presented. Trustee Warden provided the second. Motion
carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
Items approve include:
Meeting Minutes: March 8, 2013 Special Work Session
March 12, 2013 Special Work Session & Business Meeting
March 26, 2013 Work Session
March 2013
Payment of Claims:
$3,556,314.86
Matching Funds:
Eagle Rock Middle School
Weight Room Equipment $9,999.00
Total Matching Funds: $9,999.00
Student Travel:
Skyline High School — Graphics Communication Dept.
Journalism National Competition and Convention
San Francisco, CA
April 24-28, 2013
Skyline High School — DECA
International Marketing Competition and Leadership Training
Anaheim, CA
April 24-28, 2013
Skyline High School — BPA
National BPA Conference
Orlando, FL
May 8-11, 2013
PROPOSALS
a. Second Reading — Board Policy Revisions, Section 600
Superintendent Boland reviewed minor changes, mostly typing corrections, have been made since the first
reading of the revisions. A discussion was held about adding reference to the State Board provision for math
requirements as part of the district's graduation requirements. This item will be added before the third reading
scheduled on May 14, 2013.
04/16/2013 D91 Board Minutes Page 4 of 5
ACTION ITEMS
a. Award Construction Bid Packages for Longfellow Elementary Construction Project
The Contractor Bid Summary was presented and questions were referred to Mike Clements, Chief Executive Officer,
Bateman -Hall. Mike stated the total price was down $200,000.00 from the earlier projects and said they received good solid
bids for all packages. A discussion was held.
Trustee Warden made the motion to accept the Longfellow Elementary Contractor Bid Summary as presented. Trustee
Hillman provided the second. A discussion was held. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
b. Approve Contractor for Special Inspections and Testing for Longfellow Elementary Construction Project
Superintendent Boland stated it is the recommendation of the administration to utilize MTI of Idaho Falls after working with
them on the other three projects.
Trustee Burtenshaw made the motion to award the contract for Special Inspections and Testing for the Longfellow
construction project to MTI of Idaho Falls. Trustee Haws provided the second. A discussion was held. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0
nays.
c. Schedule Hearing Regarding Employee 2012-2013F
Trustee Haws made the motion to schedule a Hearing for Employee 2012-2013F on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 5:30 p.m.
Trustee Warden provided the second. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
Trustee Warden made a motion to go into Executive Session regarding negotiations. Trustee Hillman provided the second. A
roll call vote was taken:
Dave Lent —yes
Lisa Burtenshaw —yes
Deidre Warden — yes
Larry Haws —yes
Brian Hillman -yes
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board of Trustees, Superintendent Boland and Carrie Smith met in Executive Session pursuant to IDAHO CODE §67-2345
(1) (c) Negotiations.
Trustee Warden made the motion to return to Open Session at 9:48 pm. Trustee Burtenshaw provided the second. Motion
carried 5 ayes 0 nays.
Trustee Haws made the motion to adjourn. Trustee Warden provided the second. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays. Meeting
adjourned at 9:50 pm.
04/16/2013 D91 Board Minutes Page 5 of 5
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Suketu Gandhi's Comments on Proposed Board Policies 600 April 16, 2013
It is easier to prevent bad decisions from coming into force than to correct bad decisions
that are in force. The public has seen the impact of the Board's decisions on students. Among
them were instruction delivery model that set high school students to fail and the poor quality
mathematics and science textbooks that prevent students from rigorously learning mathematics
and science. Poor mathematics and science education in high school prevents students from
accessing mathematics, science or engineering curriculum in universities that offer rigorous
education. The instructions that enable students to master topics quickly continue to remain out
of reach. The decision to change the instruction delivery model was corrected. It should be kept
in mind that the Board remained ignorant of the problem until the administration started the
review in 2006, which happened after many years after its implementation. The public need not
wait a long time before corrective steps are taken, and want to ensure that correct decisions are
made in the selection of instructional materials.
The way to vaccinate against bad decisions from being implemented is to reject them at
the outset. When the public with the knowledge is involved in the deliberation process, the
committee would be enlightened with the information on how similar problems were handled
elsewhere, the textbooks that contains all the desirable contents, and the proven strategies that
deliver results. Idaho allows the public to participate in a curricular material selection committee
under Title 33-512A. The text is simple and the language is clear. Unfortunately, the District's
policy on the curricular selection materials neither allows the public to view, nor to participate in
the committee. It limits the public to view and make comments after the decision has been
reached. This is just a ceremonial introduction of the curricular materials to the public, where
any substantive objection becomes irrelevant. The tangible outcome from the public participation
would be seen in the selection of the mathematics curricular materials. Having the right
curricular materials in classrooms results in strong mathematics education for the students. This
will set a precedent on the process of selection of the instruction materials for sciences.
Furthermore, when Board decisions harm the students, public does not want the wrong
policies to remain intact for the eternity. The first step in taking corrective action requires
understanding of a problem in detail. When legitimate concerns on specific issues require
lengthy discussions, and when the administration fail to address them, the public should be
provided with an opportunity to comment in details. They should be allotted 15-20 minutes to
make representation. This means that the Board learns relevant facts, potential solutions with the
aim of implementing changes. The present 3 -imputes for public to make its case is inadequate,
and the e-mail communications does not guarantee any actions.
The other comments on the policy revisions concerns mathematic education for high
school graduation. Specifically, students, who complete Calculus BC in 11t' grade, should not be
forced to take additional mathematics course. However, newer courses would be welcomed. The
newly available time slot may be used to access equally tough additional science course. Idaho
Board of Education recognizes this for high achieving students, and allows exception from the
mathematics course requirements. In addition, please include the review of the high school
instruction delivery model in 2015. This will provide an opportunity to identify the ways to
improve it. The serious concern is 60 minutes classroom instructions, which should be reduced to
40-50 minutes to match student's attention time, and to encourage them to do homework outside
of their classrooms. When the review is conducted, data will be collected on the efficacy of the
full year course on the students learning (or the reduction in the failure rate).
Suketu Gandhi's Comments on Proposed Board Policies 600 April 16, 2013
A Sample of the Issues with Mathematics Textbooks
1) Lacks coherent introduction of topics: In mathematics, topics are built upon previously
learned materials. The textbooks and workbooks that are coherent should be given
serious considerations.
2) Too many factual mathematical errors. Among them include proper teaching of product
of positive and negative numbers, a number with exponent 0 is a unity.
3) Quotes results, teaches procedures not the concepts: This is seen in the division of a
whole numbers, and fractions, and products and quotations of signed numbers.
4) Does not close topics: Addition, subtractions, multiplications and division of whole
number goes on for several years.
5) Exercises are very simple. Lacks multisteps problems. Fails to provide reasonably
complex problems that require strategies and reasoning along with the computations.
6) Fails to derive relationships. One such example is seen in the addition of series of
numbers (high school).
7) Fails to instill intuition through visuals.
8) Too many unnecessary description, photographs (e grade and onward).
9) Neglects to teach mental math and math tricks.
10) Topics that could be taught early are neglected altogether.
11) A method to find square root through estimation & iteration is ignored.
12) Multiplication tables from x 11 —> x20 (not part of the Common Core Math, but must be
taught).
13)Use ofbargraphs to solve complex problems.
14) Lacks experimental determination of 7r.
15) Lacks coherence between science and mathematics from elementary school to high
schools.
16) Fails to teach lines of symmetry based on rotational symmetry.
Issues Concerning Policies:
1) Classroom period of a long duration: 60 minutes. Ideal time should be 40-50 minutes.
2) Prerequisites for AP Physics and AP Chemistry (mathematics background).
3) Algebra I taught for 2 years.
4) Providing mathematics library resources (excellent problems) for the teachers.
5) Establishing new mathematics courses: Linear & Matrix Algebra, Integration of
Mathematics & computer science (e.g., numerical solutions, random number generation
to solve math problems).
6) Do students master foreign language better when the language is taught in the language
without English?
Wilkie, Debbie -1391
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
April IFEA Report
Gillman, Angela -D91
Tuesday, April 16, 2013 9:30 PM
Wilkie, Debbie -D91
April IFEA Report
Delegates have just returned from Delegate Assembly in Boise talking, debating, discussing topics and sharing information
on critical education topics. A few topics included Professional Development, Membership Crisis Response Team, and Star
Rating issues. Did you know NEA has donated $4 million for IEA initiatives over the past 3 years? Our region, Region 6, raised
$128.06 per delegate, an average of $2,304 from our local during the fund raising efforts for the Childrens' Fund while we
were there.
Day at the Capitol was an event held March 21st. This day included a very early morning bus trip to get to Boise by 9:00.
Local association members met with state senators and representatives about the education laws being formed. We met
with one on one, sometimes 2-3 on one, with senators and representatives: Bart Davis, Janet Trujillo, Wendy Horman, and
many others. I was able to personally witness the influence of the IEA leadership that spoke with legislators about the
harmfulness of some of the laws being created. Senators on the education committee asked questions about impact of the
laws to our IEA leaders and tabled several laws or portions of the law to be sent back into committee for better construction
and language. Our IEA works on behalf of its members and the students that our members teach.
Negotiation surveys have been sent out and are now closed in preparation for upcoming negotiations. We are very
optimistic about being able to agree with the many non -monetary items that were in our 2009-10 master agreement.
A few dates to remember:
The Task Force for Improving Education(the Governor's Task Force) is holding public forums across the state. The one for our
area is Monday April 22 at 6:30 at the Tingey Auditorium here in Idaho Falls. It is very important to have people bring their
input. We have sent out announcements to our members already.
A date for the Retirement Gala has been set and is in the works for May 16th at the Hilton. The theme is "Hats Off to
Educators". We invite all to attend.
Angela
Thank you!!!
DI 1