HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-04-08 Board Minutes
Board Meeting Minutes –April 8, 2008
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Idaho Falls School District No. 91
Board Meeting Minutes
April 8, 2008
District Office Board Room
Idaho Falls, ID
7:00 PM
Present from the Board of Trustees: Present from the Administration:
Mary Ann Smith, Vice Chair George Boland, Superintendent
Ernest Jensen Guy Wangsgard, Director of Business Operations
David Lent Gail Rochelle, Director of Secondary Education
Cindy Ozaki-via conference call Karla LaOrange, Director of Elementary Education
Caroline Meagher, Recording Secretary
Jerry Wixom is out of town and excused from the meeting.
Vice Chair Mary Ann Smith called the board meeting to order.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ernest Jensen.
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY:
Dick Clute introduced Linda Shurtliff as Emissary of Excellence. Linda is a Title One tutor at Fox
Hollow Elementary School. Mary Ann Smith presented Linda with a plaque of appreciation from the
Board of Trustees.
I. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA:
Ernest Jensen motioned to adopt the agenda as written. David Lent seconded the motion. Motion
passed.
II. CONSENT AGENDA
David Lent motioned to adopt the consent agenda as written. Cindy Ozaki seconded the motion.
Motion passed. Items approved include:
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: March 11 and 18 , 2008
Payment of March 2008 Claims: $ 2,281,908.16
Matching Funds
: Bush Elementary-computer lab $ 6,901.00
Longfellow Elementary-technology 4,264.00
Total Matching Funds Request: $ 11,165.00
Staff Actions:
RESIGNATIONS:
Amy Barnwell Melissa Daniels
From Leave of Absence Math
Taylorview Junior High School Skyline High School
Christina Carroll Cheri Dobson
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6th Grade 4 Grade
Edgemont Elementary Linden Park Elementary
Kass Cornish Lyndsey Durst
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From Leave of Absence DACC 3 and 4 grade
C. E. Gale Ethel Boyes Elementary
Board Meeting Minutes – April 8, 2008
Angela Hall Julie Reynolds
6th Grade Special Ed/Kindergarten
Linden Park Elementary Fox Hollow/Westside
Brittany Hammer Leslie Schweider
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Preschool 4 Grade
Fox Hollow Elementary Westside Elementary
Molly Hulett Nancy Vollmer
Preschool From Leave of Absence
Fox Hollow Elementary Speech Language Pathologist
Justin Jeppesen Sara Waite
Resources/Social Studies PE Specialist
Taylorview Junior High School Elementary
Hillary Murray Alana Wells
6th Grade From Leave of Absence
Erickson Elementary Taylorview Junior High School
Kasey Nelson Allison Wilkerson
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From Leave of Absence 1 Grade
Eagle Rock Junior High Theresa Bunker Elementary
Emily Palmer Scott Smith
Earth Science From Leave of Absence
Eagle Rock Junior High Eagle Rock Junior High
RETIREMENTS:
Loa Clute Richard Pattee
Director of Student Services Social Studies
Administration Office Skyline High School
Dennis Griffeth Trudine Pattee
Elementary Principal Counselor
Ethel Boyes Elementary Idaho Falls High School
Darlene Kelley Ada Ritchie
Kindergarten Counselor
Hawthorne Elementary Eagle Rock Junior High
Gary Kelley DeLoy Roberts
Athletic Director/Business Teacher Science
Skyline High School Skyline High School
Jan Lang Lorna Roberts
4th Grade Computer/Math
Edgemont Elementary Skyline High School
Norma Lloyd Bill Savage
English/German Counselor
Idaho Falls High School Skyline High School
Shirley Murphy Marcy Solecki
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English 6 Grade
Idaho Falls High School Ethel Boyes Elementary
Board Meeting Minutes – April 8, 2008
Cheryl Stayner Suzanne Wizner
Kindergarten Math
Temple View Elementary Idaho Falls High School
LEAVE OF ABSENCE REQUEST:
Adriana Brown Holtom
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6 Grade
Sunnyside Elementary
III. REPORTS
a) Student Reports:
Nick Mason,
Representative for Idaho Falls High School reported:
1. Idaho Falls High School will hold their annual rummage sale this Friday and Saturday.
2. The high school has selected Laurie Jones as the new PTO president for next school year.
3. Spring sports have started.
4. Meng Gan has been selected as the new Distinguished Student of the year.
5. Logan Baker, a student body representative will put a “Tiger Town” sign on the smoke
stack above IFHS.
6. Student Body elections have been held and Eric Hillam will be Nick’s replacement for
next year.
Mark Christensen
, Representative for Skyline High School reported:
1. Skyline has elected Jace Herrmann to replace Mark next year as Student Body
Representative.
2. The student body held a campaign night this spring and over 200 kids attended.
3. Skyline held their rummage sale last weekend. Their proceeds will go to the Special
Olympics.
4. The Student Body is preparing for Diversity Week. They are calling it “Tolerance
Week” and hope to promote tolerance.
5. Class elections are coming up.
b) Patron Input:
Susan Smith
1. addressed the Board of Trustees to express her support for the Eagle Rock
New ERA program. Susan’s son is in the program this year. His grades are better in all
classes and he is now thinking about attending college. Without this program she fears
that he might have dropped out of school.
Elide Leavitt
2. also wanted to express appreciation to the Board of Trustees for the Eagle
Rock New ERA program. Her son has always had behavior issues and she used to
receive lots of calls from the school. This year she has not received any calls with any
reports of problems with her son. This program has made a big difference in his life and
she would like to see other kids have the ability to benefit from the program.
c) IFEA Report: there was no IFEA report.
d) Education Foundation:
Daryl Snyder, president of the Education Foundation, reported that:
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1. Mayor’s Scholarship Dinner will be held this week on Thursday, April 10. The event is
coming together nicely and the programs have been printed and they are exceptional.
They are expecting 390 guests.
2. The Skyline Legacy campaign has received a $5000 donation for the Athletic Complex.
They have identified two grants that they will apply for. They will target the school
reunions to promote the Skyline Legacy Campaign.
Board Meeting Minutes – April 8, 2008
3. Suzy Hersch has been selected by the Education Foundation Board of Trustees to
represent District 91 and the Education Foundation and work with the Write-Start
Program.
4. Finally, Daryl requested support from the board to recognize the volunteers that have
been working very hard and are overloaded. The Foundation operates primarily on
volunteer efforts and they need more volunteers to continue.
e) Superintendent’s Report:
1. Superintendent George Boland gave a brief overview of the recruiting efforts. This
Saturday we will hold an in-house recruiting fair. Next week George and Karla will
travel to Michigan to recruiting fairs. With changes in the economy in Michigan there is
a surplus of teachers graduating and not enough positions available in the area. This year
the numbers of available teachers are significantly down. There is a definite decline in
elementary teachers available. In Utah the schools are offering their graduates
internships with half salary; and they are offering contracts right away. Wyoming is also
having an impact on what is available in the market. We do offer low class sizes, low
cost of living and quality of life in the Idaho Falls and surrounding area.
f) NSBA Report (National School Board Association):
Mary Ann Smith, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees attended the Annual NSBA
conference in Orlando Florida over spring break. Mary Ann wanted to share an overview
of what she learned to our board of trustees and administration. We watched a
PowerPoint presentation that discussed the importance of our schools to teach skills
above the state standards. The kids that we graduate need to know how to connect the
dots, how to use their education and apply it. Our kids will have to compete in a global
world and to do that they need some higher thinking skills.
Professional Job markets and Higher Education report that kids that enter colleges do not
have the skill set and do not posses a professional disposition. They need to have better
collaboration and communication skills. They need more Rigor, Relevance and
Relationship training. They identified small learning groups as an effective way to meet
these needs.
Our kids need to know how to “Bridge the Digital Divide.” In order to be competitive,
technical ability and understanding will be mandatory. The kids who do not possess
these skills will be “at risk” of underemployment.
IV. PROPOSAL:
a)
Vince Howard, Principal at Eagle Rock Junior High School introduced Shelly
Thiel, teacher for the New ERA (Eagle Rock Academy.) Shelly thanked the
Board of Trustees for the opportunity to offer the program over this school year.
Shelly uses best practices techniques like SIOP and PBS when teaching these
kids. The small group setting combined with the best practices has increased
grades for these kids. They take the core classes with ERA and then they take
their elective courses with everyone else.
Chad Empey-a student of ERA addressed the Board of Trustees and
told them how this academy has helped him to do well in school
again.
Justin Hegstra, father of a student in the ERA also addressed the
Board of Trustees. He said that this program has made a huge
difference for his daughter and he is grateful. In this program she got
the help she needed to overcome her reading problems—she now
likes school again. Most importantly, he said that she now cares
about herself.
Shelly commented that they really try to focus on the positive and to treat all
students with respect. In turn, they expect respect from their students.
Board Meeting Minutes – April 8, 2008
Robin Busch, Vice Principal of Eagle Rock Junior High School asked the board
of trustees to continue with the program. They want to continue to reach these
students and to offer them an opportunity for success. They would like to work
on the transition for the kids from the eighth grade into the ninth grade to make
it smoother. They would like to request a half time aide at the end of the day to
help the kids de-brief. This aide will give the teacher time to meet with all the
students once a week for a one-on-one meeting.
David Lent motioned to enter Executive Session. Ernest Jensen seconded the motion. Motion Passed.
Ernest Jensen motioned to enter Open Session. David Lent seconded the motion. Motion Passed.
David Lent motioned to adjourn. Ernest Jensen seconded the motion. Motion Passed.
Meeting Adjourned.