HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020_03_18 Board Minutes
IDAHO FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 91
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
WORK SESSION – 5:30 P.M.
DISTRICT BOARD ROOM
690 JOHN ADAMS PARKWAY, IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020
Present from the Board of Trustees: Present from the Administration:
Lara Hill, Chair George Boland, Superintendent
Hillary Radcliffe, Vice Chair Kelly Coughenour, Asst. Supt. Elementary Education
Larry Wilson, Treasurer Dan Keck, Asst. Supt. Secondary Education
Paul Haacke, Clerk Carrie Smith, Director of HR & Finance
Elizabeth Cogliati, Trustee Margaret Wimborne, Director of Communications &
Community Engagement
Shannon Taylor, Director of Student Services
Gail Rochelle, Director of Student Achievement &
School Improvement
Camille Wood, Director of Technology
Ralph Frost, Director of Transportation
Sarah Sanders, Director of Curriculum & Assessment
Justine Reese, Child Nutrition Supervisor
Brandi Moreno, Recording Clerk
Chairman Hill called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. Trustee Radcliffe made a motion to accept the
amended agenda as presented. Trustee Cogliati provided the second. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
WORK SESSION
a. High School and Middle School Scope Discussion
Superintendent Boland stated the purpose of this meeting was to look at potential bond scope and
resolutions. The deadline to notify the county elections office of a bond question on the May ballot
is this Friday, March 20, 2020. Obviously, a lot has happened since scheduling this meeting and
rather than a discussion of what the scope might be, perhaps the more appropriate discussion is
whether or not it makes sense for us at this point in time to contemplate running the bond given the
financial situation nationally, impacts locally, the unknowns, and also challenges in conveying
information of what a bond scope might be.
b. Bond Discussion
Chairman Hill stated she wants to hear everyone’s feelings on the bond. She stated in good faith,
she doesn’t feel comfortable trying to run a bond in these times and try to bring it to the public.
Trustee Radcliffe agreed and thinks the bond needs to be deferred. Trustee Cogliati stated if things
settle down the board can try again in August with a resolution in July. Trustee Haacke stated he’s
had similar thoughts and there is difficulty in communicating the bond information to the public
with only allowing ten people to gather at once. Trustee Wilson agreed and stated the timing is not
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a good time. Trustee Haacke stated he feels the board should still continue planning so they are
more prepared when they feel a bond is ready to put forward. Superintendent Boland stated its not
abandoning the effort, it’s postponing the effort and there’s work that can be done to refine things
to get a resolution to the county. Discussions were held.
c. School Closure
Superintendent Boland stated on Sunday, March 15, 2020 there were several meetings state wide
with the Governor’s office, Department of Health and Welfare, and the State Department of
Education and at that time it was the district’s decision not to close school. On Monday March 16,
2020 schools were open with the average districtwide attendance around 60%. With the
announcement that came out of the Whitehouse on Monday afternoon, it was obvious the district
didn’t have the justification we had previously to keep schools open so at that time, the district
elected to close the schools but still allow one day, Tuesday for staff and parents to bring their
children and students to school to provide daycare if they needed due to the short notice.
Superintendent Boland stated, at this point school is closed through Spring Break. The District
Administrative Team and Principals have been meeting daily this week and working with teachers to
identify the key standards that need to be addressed through the end of the school year and
planning how that instruction will be delivered to students. School will be out for Spring Break and
the week after that, teachers will create lessons and train on how to provide those lessons and
communication remotely with students.
Superintendent Boland stated, our first priority will be the Senior class, making sure we are
providing instruction they need to demonstrate mastery and receive credit. Within state board rule
it defines what’s necessary to award credit with a provision that states notwithstanding the credit
definition of subsection 105.01.a, a student may also achieve credits by demonstrating mastery of a
subject’s content standards as defined and approved by the local school district or LEA. The district
is going to recommend the board approve end of course assessments as a demonstration of mastery
to enable the district to provide an avenue for seniors to demonstrate mastery, receive credit, and
graduate. This would also allow the remaining high school grades to do the same to receive credits
as we are two-thirds of the way through the school year.
Superintendent Boland stated the district will recommend the board declare the May 29, 2020 as
the last day of school, which is already the date on the district calendar as the last day of school. If
we have a prolonged closure for students that takes us to that point, or if we are able to bring
students back into the schools, Mary 29, 2020 will still be the last day of school. There have been a
multitude of questions if we will have to make up time the guidance we’ve received from the state is
that we can submit a waiver and there would not be a need to make up the time. Declaring the last
day of school is a way to provide our students and families some certainty in these uncertain times.
Superintendent Boland stated the District Administrative Team and Directors are all here tonight to
answer any questions the board may have in regards to the school closure. Discussions were held
including providing meals to students during the closure, clarifying dates of remote learning, how
instruction could be delivered to students without internet access, the learning gap for those
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students who have support at home to engage in learning and those who do not, if school buildings
will be open for small groups of students to receive support, what services for special education
students look like, two way communication between families and teachers, district employee
exposure risks, how district funding is impacted during the closure, student device availability, and
home internet access overloading.
ACTION ITEM
a. Bond Resolution
Trustee Haacke made a motion to table the Bond Resolution. Trustee Cogliati provided the second.
No further discussion. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
b. High Reliability Schools Agreement
Superintendent Boland stated it is the recommendation of the administration for board
authorization to enter in an agreement with the Marzano Institute High Reliability Schools as
presented.
Trustee Wilson made a motion to authorize entering into an agreement with Marzano Institute High
Reliability Schools as presented. Trustee Radcliffe provided the second. Trustee Cogliati requested
to include the activity dates of August 20 & 21, 2020 and January 18, 2021 as presented. Motion
carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
c. Approve or Deny Exception to Board Policy 1002.0 Attendance for COVID-19
Superintendent Boland stated it is the recommendation of the administration that during the period
of COVID-19 closures the board set aside the provisions within Board Policy 1002.0 Attendance.
Trustee Radcliffe made a motion to approve the exception to Board Policy 1002.0 Attendance for
COVID-19 through the 2019-2020 school year. Trustee Wilson provided the second. No further
discussion. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
d. Emergency School Closure Districtwide March 17-20, 2020
Superintendent Boland stated an Emergency School Closure form will be submitted to the state and
it is the recommendation of the administration to ratify the school closure of March 17-20, 2020.
Trustee Wilson made a motion to ratify the Emergency School Closure March 17-20, 2020. Trustee
Radcliffe provided the second. No further discussion. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
e. Authorize Classified Employee Compensation During Closure
Superintendent Boland read allowed the Classified Employee Compensation During Closure draft.
Trustee Radcliffe made a motion to authorize the Classified Employee Compensation During Closure
as presented. Trustee Wilson provided the second. A discussion was held. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0
nays.
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Superintendent Boland stated on behalf of all of the employees, thank you very much. This will
enable a significant number of people to sleep better tonight that might not have otherwise. The
board expressed to the district employees that they are very much appreciated while they are on
the front lines, and to stay safe.
f. Senior Credits
Superintendent Boland stated that within State Board Rule there is a provision where credit can be
assigned for students who have demonstrated mastery of a content standard as approved by the
local school district or LEA. It is the recommendation of the administration to approve the awarding
of credit through the demonstration of mastery based upon performance of an end of course
assessment.
Trustee Cogliati made a motion to authorize the awarding of credit through the demonstration of
mastery. Trustee Haacke provided the second. No further discussion. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
g. Extended Closure – March 30, 2020
Superintendent Boland stated it is the recommendation of the administration for schools be closed
for students the week of March 30,2020 through April 3, 2020 so that staff can develop and train for
the implementation of remote lesson delivery.
Trustee Wilson made a motion to extend school closure the week of March 30, 2020 through April 3,
2020. Trustee Radcliffe provided the second. No further discussion. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
h. Last Day of School – May 29, 2020
Trustee Cogliati made a motion that the last day of school be as it currently is on the school calendar
on May 29, 2020 unless there is something different mandated by the state. Trustee Wilson
provided the second. No further discussion. Motion carried 4 ayes, 1 nay.
Trustee Wilson made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Radcliffe provided the second. No further discussion.
Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays. The meeting adjourned at 7:41 PM.
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