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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018_04_20 Board Minutes IDAHO FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 91 BOARD OF TRUSTEES -- ANNUAL BOARD RETREAT DISTRICT OFFICE – 12:00 P.M. NOON 690 JOHN ADAMS PARKWAY FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018 Present from the Board of Trustees: Present from the Administration: Lisa Burtenshaw, Chair George Boland, Superintendent Dave Lent, Member Carrie Smith, Director of HR & Finance Deidre Warden, Clerk Debbie Wilkie, Board Secretary, Recording Larry Haws, Vice Chair Larry Wilson, Treasurer Guests: Mike Clements, CEO, Bateman-Hall & CMGC Parents/Patrons: Matt and Ann Traynor, Lisa Keller, Jay Doman Chairman Burtenshaw called the meeting to order at 12:07 PM. ADOPT AGENDA Trustee Warden made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Trustee Haws provided the second. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays. BUDGET UPDATE Carrie Smith reviewed that the FY18 budget is on track and revenues are coming in as anticipated at about $300,000 more than what we had budgeted. Carrie stated the district would look at paying some one-time expenditures with any remaining funds. Carrie provided handouts and reviewed the FY19 general fund and classroom technology estimated revenues, as well as the preliminary Fund Balance Projection Model. Discussions were held regarding teacher salaries, career ladder, flow-through monies, state reimbursement for transportation, funds reserved for potential land purchases and employee insurance rates. STAFFING UPDATE Superintendent Boland provided updates regarding staffing for the 2018-19 school year stating he anticipates about 40 vacancies to fill. At the elementary level it looks like about twenty-four vacancies, including some added positions like the addition of two combination classes at Sunnyside to accommodate growth. The superintendent stated four teachers from Temple View will be moving to Ethel Boyes with the boundary changes that will take place in the fall. Both Kelly Coughenour and Sarah Sanders have been working hard to fill the vacancies, 40 vacancies out of 560 teaching positions in the district, from a percentage standpoint is not too bad. The Superintendent stated one thing we struggle with is attracting and retaining substitute teachers and bus drivers. Discussions were held regarding contract negotiations, recruiting retired workers to be substitute teachers and the open administrative positions at Theresa Bunker Elementary and Compass Academy High School. 4/20/2018 D91 Board Minutes Page 1 of 2 FACILITY AND HIGH SCHOOL REDESIGN DISCUSSION Chairman Burtenshaw led a discussion regarding facility updates, and the high school redesign projects. Mike Clements provided a handout and reviewed the transportation facility progress report. Parents and patrons Matt and Ann Traynor, Lisa Keller and Jay Doman were invited today to share their perspectives on the proposed high school projects. Discussions included:  Property taxes, construction management process, value engineering, the benefit of bringing on a construction manager who knows the actual costs of materials and being able to set the maximum guaranteed price which happens after the design specifications are known. Over the past twenty-five years the district has had two bonds, in 1991 it was not Bateman-Hall that was selected, the other in 2012, Bateman-Hall was selected.  In the educational profession, what are the structural requirements needed in order to support the processes that teachers are going to use to produce the knowledge, skills and attributes that are necessary today? It looks different today than it did in 1950. Larger classrooms, flexible space and collaboration are some of the things, parents, teachers and students asked for when this process started 2-3 years ago.  Space is really the issue. In the next 10 years we could possibly have another 1000 students going to high school in District 91, we may be able to remodel Idaho Falls High School but it cannot handle another 1000 students. It doesn’t make sense to put 30 or 40 million into IFHS and turn around in 10 years and still not have the space. The plan is to repurpose IFHS and house the Career Technical High School programs, adding capacity in a similar model that the Board did with Compass a few years ago. There is no doubt we can get electronics and power with a remodel at IFHS but it cannot handle that many students.  Wanting to keep the traditions of Idaho Falls High School at Idaho Falls High School, if it has to be used as something else keep it education based. Each group of students have the right to build their own traditions no matter where they attend school. The district need to put a concerted effort into telling patrons what the plan is for repurposing IFHS.  Tax rate may not go up but it will go longer. Be up front, give examples of what taxes look like if the district does not do a bond, then give examples of what their taxes will look like if a bond is passed. The more people understand it, the more likely they will be to say ok.  Board members reviewed parent and patron feedback from the survey that was conducted after the November 2017 bond election failed which included: reduce the amount, run a tiered ballot to add one auditorium and a practice gym at IFHS, field work, auditorium usage, providing tours of the current facilities, use of reserve funds, and what can be done to get more parents out to vote. Chairman Burtenshaw asked board members if they felt like they would be ready to vote on a bond resolution at th the next meeting on May 9. A discussion was held. Board members decided it would be helpful to meet again th before May 9 to go through the numbers one more time. A meeting was scheduled for Thursday, May 3, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. at the district office, each board member will present their individual proposals then as a group work th through the proposals to come up with a resolution to present on May 9. Chairman Burtenshaw called for a motion to adjourn. Trustee Wilson made the motion to adjourn. Trustee Warden provided the second. The meeting adjourned at 5:37 PM. 4/20/2018 D91 Board Minutes Page 2 of 2