HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018_02_14 Board Minutes
IDAHO FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 91
BOARD OF TRUSTEES -- BOARD BUSINESS MEETING
DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM -- 6:00 P.M.
690 JOHN ADAMS PARKWAY
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018
Present from the Board of Trustees: Present from the Administration:
Lisa Burtenshaw, Chair George Boland, Superintendent
Dave Lent, Trustee Kelly Coughenour, Director of Elementary Education
Deidre Warden, Clerk Carrie Smith, Director of HR & Finance
Larry Haws, Vice Chair Margaret Wimborne, Director of Communications and
Community Engagement
Gail Rochelle, Director of Student Achievement & School
Excused: Improvement
Larry Wilson, Treasurer Jennifer Jackson, Director of Curriculum & Professional
Development
Ralph Frost, Director of Transportation
Debbie Wilkie, Board Secretary, Recording
Guests:
Mike Clements, CEO, Bateman-Hall
Blanca Rico, Parent
Kathryn Hitch, Parent
Chairman Burtenshaw called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Dr.
Richard Nathan.
ADOPT AGENDA
Trustee Warden made a motion to amend the agenda to include Item V. Executive Session, pursuant to
Idaho Code, Section 74-206 (1) (b) Personnel and (c) Property. Trustee Haws provided the second. Motion
carried 4 ayes, 0 nays.
Trustee Warden made a motion to adopt the agenda as amended. Trustee Haws provided the second.
Motion carried 4 ayes, 0 nays.
REPORTS/INPUT/INFORMATION
a. Ethel Boyes and Temple View Boundary Change Recommendation
Margaret Wimborne introduced Blanca Rico and Kathryn Hitch, Ethel Boyes and Temple View
parents and committee members, who provided an overview of the committee’s work to provide a
recommendation for rezoning the Ethel Boyes and Temple View Elementary school boundaries.
Blanca shared a PowerPoint presentation and stated that the committee, which included parent
representatives from both school neighborhoods and District 91 staff, had met on three occasions
to review school boundary maps, options, safety bussing, walk zones, waivers and things that could
02/14/2018 D91 Board Minutes Page 1 of 6
be done to help make the transition easier for students. Representatives from the City of Idaho
Falls and the Idaho Department of Transportation also met with the committee for a discussion,
and to field questions from the group. Kathryn added this was not an easy task but after a lot of
discussion and deliberation the consensus from the group would be to rezone the Raymond and
Airport areas from Temple View to Ethel Boyes Elementary. A discussion was held regarding
concerns for students crossing Broadway, bussing is currently provided in both areas. Chairman
Burtenshaw thanked the committee for their time and efforts. This item is scheduled as an action
item later on the agenda tonight.
b. Student Reports – written comments, if provided, are attached.
i. Skyline – Fatima Sanchez and Omar Chavez reported.
ii. IFHS – Justin Shadley, reported.
iii. Compass – Priya Tumuluru, reported.
Because February is Heart Health Month, student representatives were also asked to report what
their schools are doing to promote heart health. Fatima and Omar reported after the sudden
death of an Eagle Rock student last week Skyline and Eagle Rock students came together to support
one another. Justin stated that IFHS now has three AED machine that have been donated to the
school, they also have students that are CPR certified. Priya stated that Compass students are more
focused on mental health activities, each month during focus time they work on mental health
issues through various workshops including yoga and meditation.
c. Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Boland stated the district is continuing our efforts with community outreach to
gather input from parents and patron regarding the best way to move forward with the plan to
modernize and update both Idaho Falls and Skyline high schools. The results of the
ThoughtExchange survey, that went out in December, should be available next week and the
information will be posted online. Also a telephone poll is underway, a company by the name of
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Patron Insight is conducting the poll starting February 3 through February 23, with results
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available in early March for the Board to review. A meeting is also scheduled on February 22 for
the design team, Hummel and AKM Architects, to meet with both high school staff teams regarding
options available for modifying the scope of work in order to reduce the overall cost. Trustee Lent
asked that the meeting invitation be forwarded to all board members.
The superintendent stated on Monday JFAC should be setting the K-12 Budget for the coming year
and said he will be watching that and other House Education Bills during this legislative session. A
brief discussion was held regarding the proposed legislature for the Idaho Reading Indicator
Assessment and Public School Vouchers.
Superintendent Boland also shared that the district is required by the State Department of
Education to review our K-12 Gifted and Talented Program and submit the district’s plan. The
superintendent turned the time over to Dr. Gail Rochelle, Director of Student Achievement and
School Improvement, who shared a PowerPoint presentation and provided an update of the GT
committee’s work to date. A discussion was held.
02/14/2018 D91 Board Minutes Page 2 of 6
d. Patron Input (Sign-in required) – written comments, if provided, are attached.
Parent Christina Warmann provided comments regarding school safety. Parents Dean Stutzman
and Andrea Chambers provided comments regarding the Temple View and Ethel Boyes boundary
changes. Parents Katy Browning, Erin Conley, Ann Traynor, Kristie Karroum, Erin Springman, Irina
Glagolenko, Richard Nathan and Martha Buitrago all provided comments regarding the PACE
Program. Parent Suketu Gandhi provided written comments regarding high school issues.
e. IFEA Report – Marcia Bingham and Joyce Rogers, Co-Presidents reporting.
IFEA raised close to $200 for the Idaho Education Association Children’s Fund after
sponsoring a local Ice Bocce Tournament last month.
Angela Gillman, IEA/IFEA Representative, shared a letter from the association in support of
opposition of the public school vouchers proposed legislation. Angela invited everyone to a
meeting scheduled this Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 4:30 p.m., at the Idaho Falls Public
Library to meet with local legislators regarding the issue. The association is asking board
members to consider signing the letter to show their support.
f. Other Items
i. Board Updates
a. Facilities Committee Report - no report.
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b. March 28 Work Session Date
A discussion was held regarding the need to reschedule the March 28, 2018 board
work session meeting. A discussion was held. The work session will be held on
Monday, March 26, 2018 at 5:30 p.m., at the District Office.
c. Monthly Budget Report – a hard copy was provided in the board packet for review,
no further discussion.
CONSENT AGENDA
Trustee Haws made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Trustee Warden provided the
second. No further discussion. Motion carried, 4 ayes 0 nays.
Items approved included:
a. Approval of Minutes
i. January 10, 2018 - Business Meeting
ii. January 12, 2018 – Work Session
b. Payment of Claims
i. January 2018 Payment of Claims $2,277,207.97
ii. IFEA Presidents’ Leave Invoices $215.04
c. Staff Actions
Leave:
Emily Brewster (LOP) Kindergarten - .5 FTE Westside Elementary
02/14/2018 D91 Board Minutes Page 3 of 6
d. Matching Funds
i. Dora Erickson Elementary
Chromebooks & Carts $15,000.00
ii. Longfellow Elementary
Chromebooks & Carts $12,669.66
iii. Idaho Falls High School
Virtual Reality Headsets $1,151.36
iv. Idaho Falls High School
Chromebooks & Cart $8,212.80
Total Matching Funds requested $37,033.82
e. Student Travel
i. Skyline High School Journalism
National Convention
San Francisco, CA
April 11-14, 2018
f. Other Items
i. Surplus and Discarded Equipment
Surplus Equipment - 8 student desks from Eagle Rock Middle School were given
to White Pine Charter School.
Discarded Equipment – obsolete technology.
ACTION ITEMS
a. New Bus Purchases
Superintendent Boland stated the proposal is to purchase three new busses through the state
contract for a total of $270,280.00. The state will reimburse between 180 to 200 thousand dollars
for depreciation, and the remaining will come out of the SPFF account.
Trustee Lent made a motion to accept the proposal for the bus purchase as presented. Trustee
Haws provided the second. Motion carried 4 ayes, 0 nays.
b. Ethel Boyes and Temple View Elementary Boundary Changes
Superintendent Boland reviewed that the recommendation is to rezone the Raymond and Airport
neighborhood areas from Temple View Elementary to Ethel Boyes Elementary. The superintendent
stated that the comments provided earlier this evening regarding the Sage Lakes demographics
were inaccurate, those numbers were provided and reviewed at the final meeting which that
patron did not attend. Had the district taken the kids from Sage Lakes and moved them to Ethel
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Boyes it would have skewed the demographics of both schools, by moving the recommended
neighborhoods it will keep the demographics of both school about the same.
Trustee Warden made a motion to rezone the elementary school boundaries by moving the Airport
and Raymond areas from Temple View to Ethel Boyes as presented. Trustee Haws provided the
second.
Discussions were held regarding student safety, bussing and the need to be proactive in educating
students and parents to help students be as safe as possible. Trustee Lent voiced his concern for
students having to cross Broadway. Superintendent reviewed that the committee, and the various
people from the City, Safe Routes to School and the Idaho Dept. of Transportation that were at the
meetings discussed this at length. Transportation is provided and we will need to encourage
students to ride them. The committee provided several good ideas that could be done to help to
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make the transitions easier. If the current 5 grader wants to remain at Temple View for their 6
grade year there is a provision in place for that. Superintendent Boland stated it is the
recommendation of the administration to accept the committee’s recommendation as presented.
Motion carried 3 ayes, 1 nay.
Trustee Warden asked if it would be possible to post information for the patrons voicing their
concerns this evening. Superintendent Boland stated it would be best to email the information
directly to them. Because there was so much patron input tonight on various topics, Chairman
Burtenshaw stated it might be helpful to send a response regarding the block of questions
presented. Superintendent Boland stated he would send the information.
c. City of Idaho Falls Easement Request at New Transportation Facility
Superintendent Boland stated this is a grant of easement for the City of Idaho Falls to be able to get
utilities to the new transportation facility, and to be able to maintain them properly.
Trustee Warden made a motion to approve the City of Idaho Falls easement request at the new
transportation facility so utilities can reach that building. Trustee Lent provided the second. No
further discussion. Motion carried 4 ayes, 0 nays.
d. Transportation Facility Project Guaranteed Maximum Price
Superintendent Boland stated that a bid opening was held for the new transportation facility, with
the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) at risk process there is a guaranteed
maximum price (GMP) of $2,738,966 proposed for the project, total cost with the architectural and
engineering fees is $2,930,694 as shown on the proposal. A discussion was held regarding good bid
coverage, five percent contingency built in for change orders and a timeline to begin in April with
the bulk of the happening in June after school gets out.
Trustee Lent made a motion to accept from Bateman-Hall the Guaranteed Maximum Price, and
associated bids, for the new transportation facility project as presented. Trustee Haws provided the
second. Motion carried 4 ayes, 0 nays.
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Chairman Burtenshaw called for a motion to convene in Executive Session. Trustee Warden made a motion
to go into Executive Session at 8:50 p.m., pursuant to Idaho Code, Section 74-206 (1) (b) Personnel, (c)
Property. Trustee Lent provided the second. Roll call was taken:
Lisa Burtenshaw – yes
Larry Haws – yes
Dave Lent – yes
Deidre Warden – yes
Larry Wilson - excused
Superintendent Boland and the Board of Trustees met in Executive Session regarding personnel, and
property matters. Trustee Haws made a motion to return to Open Session at 9:15 p.m., Trustee Warden
provided the second. Motion carried 4 ayes, 0 nays.
Trustee Warden then made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Lent provided the second. Motion carried 4 ayes,
0 nays. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.
02/14/2018 D91 Board Minutes Page 6 of 6
Wilkie, Debbie -D91
From: Shadley, Justin <shadjust631 @cloud.ifschools.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 11:35 AM
To: Emily McCoy-Leffel; McCoy-Leffel, Emily -D91; Wilkie, Debbie -D91
Subject: School Board Meeting Report
School Board Meetings 2/14/18
Justin Shadley
Question: Heart health
IFHS had the pleasure of having our third AED donated to us around Christmas. It is an honor to have so many
life saving devices that can help our students, if they need them.
Also, our student leadership class has nine students who are CPR certified.
Even for Souper bowl, our incentives and rewards encouraged students to have healthy lifestyle and find the joy
of exercising.
Souper Bowl
We have also been really busy with Souper Bowl! We have collected money and cans from businesses, stores,
elementary and middle school, our own high school, and from our surrounding community.
On six separate days, we went to collect cans and donations from nearby supermarkets.
We had one teacher who donated more than 6,000 cans alone, another who received 2,500, followed by another
with 2,300, and three other reached 2,100 or more! Teachers provided incentives to encourage donations.
We thank the district office for their 39 cans donated.
Our total donations received, reached 30,000 total.
School Board Meeting 2/14/18
- Healthy activities
- Sources of Strength is focusing on healthy activities this month.
- Ex: Last month was spirituality, some mediation was done in focus time,
yoga workshop, colouring for relaxation workshop.
Life after high school
- Everyone seems to have a plan
Some people have very specific detailed plans that go past college.
Others have more vague plans.
- All the seniors interviewed said they were ready for college.
- They definitely said they feel ready for College.
My name is Christina Warmann and I'm a parent of a 1s' grader and soon to be Kindergartener at Fox
Hollow Elementary.
I'm here to talk about creating a more secure front door entryway at Fox Hollow. Right now anyone can
walk through the front doors and technically have access to the whole school. I feel that Fox Hollow
presents a really safe environment in most aspects, except for the unlocked front door. This is a
summary of some research I've done of areas schools and their security measures. My daughter
attended preschool at Holy Rosary in town and as you can see on the sheet they have a pretty extensive
security system there. As a parent I really felt secure knowing she was behind those doors every day. I
didn't feel like the locked doors and front doorbell system were impeding on the learning atmosphere
there. In fact, it was nice to be greeted by the secretary every time I entered the school. A front door
security system isn't, for instance, as aggressive as metal detectors or police presence or bars on
windows, but it is effective in an unassuming way.
What I would like to see at Fox Hollow is a streamlined entryway where visitors enter the school and are
directed into the office in order to sign in, like D93. But, unlike the D93 schools, I'd like to see the door
from the office to the school be locked with a buzzer system. I don't feel that having a door from the
office to the school propped open is effective despite directing visitors through an office to sign in, like
Ammon Elementary where I visited. Of course, this is just my input and so in order to provide all
stakeholders' input I propose to put together a committee of parents, teachers, staff and Principal Utter
at Fox Hollow and get ideas on what would be effective for front door security and not be a hindrance
for day to day operations of the school.
In terms of funding, there are two possible ways to go about this. It's my understanding that the board
is going to propose another school bond for the high schools and so it may be possible at that time to
add language to the bond to include an upgrade to safety measures for the front door entryway at Fox
Hollow. Or, depending on its availability there may be an opportunity in using plant facility money for
this project.
Thanks for your time.
Front Doors and School Safety
Methods used by other schools in the area:
Holy Rosary Catholic School, Idaho Falls
• Video camera surveillance at multiple exterior doors, including main entrance
• Main entrance is locked and has doorbell
• Electronic card reader at exterior entrances
• Used Omni Security in Rigby
Alturas Academv. Idaho Falls
• Video camera surveillance, interior and exterior
• Key fobs on all exterior doors except for front main door
• Front main door unlocked during school hours
Woodland Hills, D93, Idaho Falls
• Four main exterior doors
• Three remain locked during school hours but fourth remains unlocked
• Layout forces visitor through the office
Ammon Elementary, D93, Idaho Falls
• A retrofitted front door makes visitors pass through the office to sign in. But, the door
from the office into school is propped open. Not locked. A distraught person could
easily bypass that security measure by simply walking into the school hallway. (This
seems like for it to be really effective, the door into the school should be locked and
have a buzzer capability.)
Westside Elementary, D91, Idaho Falls
• Large windows look out onto the front sidewalk and parking lot area from the office.
This allows for secretaries to see people coming in, but also for people to see them.
Visitors must pass through the front doors and fire doors to check in at front desk which
is not closed off from the rest of the school. There is a window looking out from the
office into the interior area between the fire door and main door. (This seems like a
good place for a visitor check-in window with buzzer capabilities for the fire door into
the school.)
Suketu Gandhi's Comments on the High School Issues February 14, 2018
Upon reading newspapers, School District 91 wants to pursue construction of new high
school building. If the goal is to improve learning for the Idaho Falls High School students, much
of the ills with the high school learning are well known, but the construction issues appears to be
a non -issue. Specifically, public that is to pay for the building still does not know the ills with the
building. However, there are issues with curriculum that students are offered, and much of the
ills in the learning in mathematics and science are easily cured through improvement in the
mathematics curriculum.
To be specific, National Research Council, a Federal Government Chartered Think Tank,
has examined the learning in high schools. This is documented in the report entitled Engaging
Schools: Fostering High School Students' Motivation to Learn, (Washington DC: National
Research Council, Institute of Medicine, 2004). The report is based on US high schools, and
many of the findings are applicable to School District 91. The report was made before the
proliferation of addiction of adolescents to the smart phones, but its finding are equally valid
these days, as it was in 2004. Mindset of adolescent still remains the same.
A way to improve learning requires students to be engaged. Engaging mind in
mathematics requires solving very interesting problems. In the elementary grades, resources are
made available that challenges students. When these resources are fully utilized, students learn
how to solve complex and challenging problems with ease. Among the advanced topics students
learn include how to add sequences of number, solve magic triangle and square problems, plot
data, and solve problems with Algebra. Furthermore, advanced students in the elementary grades
learn about 25% of designated high school geometry topics (in the Common Core) in grades 4-5.
Unfortunately, many topics that should be taught early are taught late. Specifically,
through engagement with a teacher, the public has learned that many of the topics that belong in
Algebra -1 & -2 are taught in pre -Calculus, as it is called these days. (Prior name of this course
was Trigonometry, Analytic Geometry and Combinatorial). Most of the problems given in
classroom are more of routine plug & chug. Very limited problems are given that integrate
previously learned materials.
Lack of challenges in mathematics means that high school students would not learn as
much needed. One major consequence of this is that poor mathematics skills prevents students in
accessing rigorous mathematics and science courses, despite being well prepared when they
enter 7a' grade. A casual observer clearly sees that electronics devices, such as Smart Phones,
and the social media that adolescent students are enslaved to engages their mind, but prevents
them from learning.
A way to mediate the problem requires teachers to have subject matter expertise, asking
thought provoking questions, and practicing reason & logic to solve problems. While Common
Core has improved the mathematics standards from those used previously, and the elementary
grades mathematics curriculum has exceeded these standards. Unfortunately, the secondary
school standards have not exceeded by expanding on topics (e.g., Matrix Algebra, Complex
Numbers), removing conceptual mathematical errors, and giving thought provoking problems. In
addition, there is a high expectation on the part of the teachers to teach materials multiple ways.
These topics are well known to those who know the subject in intricate detail, but they are not
necessarily found in the textbooks used in the Schools.
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Suketu Gandhi 's Comments on the High School Issues February 14, 2018
To the District's credit, establishment of Compass Academy imposes engagement of
students mind complete their project. However, there are multiple approaches to engage students,
and very limited are known, especially in comprehensive high schools. Thus, housing Idaho Falls
High School in a new building will not cure the ills that exists in the mathematics and science
curriculum. The cure to the ills is through improvement in the curriculum, exposition of the
topics. When done correctly, it will engage mind of the students. The success will be seen when
students refuse to be induced as slaves of Smart Phones and the Social Media.
2
February 14, 2018
Public Tax Dollars Should Not Be Used for Private Schools
Asthe Idaho Education Association (IB)Idaho School Board Association (ISBA)and Idaho Association
of School Administrators (IASA) oppose any form of school vouchers that divert taxpayer funds from
public schools into private or parochial schools, we personally join the brigade to support this
opposition. Public tax dollars should never be used to fund private schools. Period. Private schools, are
not accountable to taxpayers and can reject students they do not wish to admit. Private schools dnnot
have equal accessibility, accountability or oversight. They are not accountable to taxpayers AND not
accessible to many students. Private and parochial schools are non-existent in nearly all rural areas. This
is an extreme disadvantage to students. They do not have school choice options even available to them,
so their tax dollars go to support something they can't even utilize because this takes money from rural
school districts to fund private school tuitions in more urban areas.
There isnodata that shows that private schools doabetter job ofsenvingopecia|needs, low income or
military students ... which bthe platform being used topass this piece of legislation.The data does show,
however, that private schools selectively admit mrserve these students. This issimply because they are
not subject to the same civil rights laws and do not face the same accountability and transparency
standards that Idaho public schools are required to meet. These schools choose who they wish to have
attend. Private schools can and do reject students based on economic status, academic achievement,
disabilities, English proficiency, immigration status, sexual orientation or gender. Private schools are
exclusive rather can inclusive.
Our Idaho education system is already under -resourced, ranking 49th out of 50 states in per pupil
spending. Any legislation in any language such as "Education Savings Accounts", "Tuition Tax Credits"
and the like take taxpayer money away from public schools. Our Idaho legislators need to protect our
public schools and vote "no" on any form of private school voucher legislation. It compromises our
public schools' ability to serve our students and communities of this great state!
VVeare joining together here tomake our position perfectly clear: school vouchers are WRONG for
Idaho.
Idaho Falls Education Association (IFEA)
Idaho Falls Superintendent (member of IASA)
Idaho Falls School Board (members of ISBA)
IDAHO LEGISLATURE
D8= Sen. Steven Thayn- Sthayn@senate.idaho.gov. 208-332-1344
DB=Rep. Dorothy Moon- Dmoon@house.idaho.gov 208-332-1180
DB=Rep. Terry Gestrin- Tgestrin@house.idaho.gov. 208-332-1124
D30 Sen. Dean Mortimer- Dmortimer@senate.idaho.gov 208-332-1358
D30 Rep. Jeff Thompson- Jthompson@house.idaho.gov. 208-332-1081
D30 Rep. Wendy Horman- Wendyhorman@house.idaho.gov. 208-332-
1071
D33 Sen. Tony Potts- Tpotts@senate.idaho.gov. 208-332-1313
D33 Rep. Barbara Ehardt- Behardt@house.idaho.gov. 208-332-1189
D33 Rep. Bryan Zollinger- Bzollinger@house.idaho.gov. 208-332-1073
D34 Sen. Brent Hill- Bhill@senate.idaho.gov. 208-332-1302 or 332-1324
D34 Rep. Ronald Nate- Nater@house.idaho.gov. 208-332-1053
D34 Rep. Dell Raybould- Draybould@house.idaho.gov. 208-332-1173
D35 Sen. Jeff Siddoway- Jsiddoway@senate.idaho.gov. 208-332-1342
D35 Rep. Van. Burtenshaw- Vburtenshaw@house.idaho.gov. 208-332-
1179
D35 Rep. Karey Hanks —.Khanks@house.idaho.gov. 208-332-1056
D8= South Lemhi and Custer
D30 = Idaho Falls area
D33 = Idaho Falls area
D34 = Rexburg area
D35 = Butte, Clark, and Fremont Counties
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