HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020_08_12 Board Minutes
IDAHO FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 91
BOARD OF TRUSTEES -- BOARD BUSINESS MEETING
COMPASS ACADEMY AUDITORIUM
955 GARFIELD STREET, IDAHO FALLS, ID
7:00 P.M. -- WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020
Present from the Board of Trustees: Present from the Administration:
Lara Hill, Chair George Boland, Superintendent
Hillary Radcliffe, Vice Chair Kelly Coughenour Assist Supt Elementary Education
Larry Wilson, Treasurer Dan Keck Assist Supt Secondary Education
Paul Haacke, Clerk Carrie Smith, Director of HR & Finance
Elizabeth Cogliati, Trustee Gail Rochelle, Director of Student Achievement &
School Improvement
Shannon Taylor, Director of Student Services
Margaret Wimborne, Director of Communications &
Community Engagement
Ralph Frost, Director of Transportation
Brandi Moreno, Recording Clerk
Chairman Hill called the business meeting to order at 7:03 PM and requested a motion to amend the agenda. Trustee
Radcliffe made a motion to amend the agenda to include in the Executive Session and add Action Item - Employee
2020-2021 C. Trustee Haacke provided the second. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
ADOPT AMENDED AGENDA
Chairman Hill requested a motion to adopt the amended agenda. Trustee Cogliati made a motion to adopt the
amended agenda as presented. Trustee Wilson provided the second. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
REPORTS/INPUT/INFORMATION
a. Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Boland reported the Sunnyside addition is currently on schedule to be completed before the
start of school. The project did slow down due to COVID issues with material delivery but the project
manager was able to work through those issues. There are a few items that will not be in place at the start of
school such as window blinds and some furniture but we are optimistic the addition will be ready for the start
of school.
The Skyline High School track replacement project is under way and the Idaho Falls High School auto shop
improvements are underway and the auto shop should be ready at the start of school.
Today the district stopped the collection of activity participation fees, not because we aren’t going to have
activities, but because we had an issue last spring when the activities were cancelled and there were a large
number of refunds, it’s easier not to collect the activity fees now in the event there could be a cancellation.
An update on the D91 Online Academy, as of this evening we have 281 elementary students and 176
secondary students registered. The online academy is partnering with two organizations, at the elementary
level Florida Virtual utilizing our staff which we fully intend to build the capacity to meet the need and at the
secondary level Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA) who we’ve had a partnership with for a number of years
and if we have 12 or more students in a given course, IDLA will create a District 91 cohort facilitating more
collaboration in learning.
Superintendent Boland has been invited to attend a City Council Work Session on August 24, 2020 to answer
questions in regards to some of the issues the district is addressing and likely questions on how the district is
opening school.
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The Governor announced there will be a Special Session of the Legislature and they are still identifying what
specific topics will be addressed. Superintendent Boland has been in contact with Senator Lent on potential
topics that may come up, like liability associated with COVID, a significant issue of funding in terms of how
the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) will be calculated as there currently isn’t any mechanism within statute
or state board rule that facilitates the integration of all the different online and face-to-face possibilities into
counting students present or absent.
Finally, Superintendent Boland thanked people for taking the time to come to tonight’s meeting and the
approximate 200 emails received providing input. He stated there were some organized advocacy efforts and
some similarities and he also stated whatever decision the board makes tonight, it is not a final decision
because we don’t know what will happen going forward. He stated there is a plan and different scenarios
associated with the plan and those scenarios may change somewhat based upon the discussion of the board.
The decision that’s made tonight, is how we open, where we go from there depends upon the circumstances
associated with lots of different factors.
b. IFEA Report – Angela Gillman, IFEA President stated they were highly successful in posting their report last
week on the IFEA’s Facebook page and thinks there will be even more viewers with the conditions and the
importance of people not being able to feel like they can safely come to board meetings. IFEA will continue
to record IFEA reports and post the reports on their Facebook page. Angela stated she wants to make one
thing very clear tonight, to every person who is listening, and that is that every teacher wants to return to the
classroom, but teachers are afraid. Staff are afraid. Teachers always have and always will continue to do
whatever it takes for public education but the price or gamble for returning to school this year has never
been this high. Angela shared survey results in regards to District 91’s reopening plans. Angela’s written
report is attached. Discussion was held including how many people participated in the survey, clarifications of
teachers concerns, open communication to support our teachers, and accommodations to retain teachers.
CONSENT AGENDA
Trustee Wilson made a motion to accept the Consent Agenda as presented. Trustee Radcliffe provided the second. No
further discussion. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
Items approved included:
a. Approval of Minutes
i. July 15, 2020 Board Business Meeting
b. Review of Payment of Claims
i. July 2020 Bill List $3,993,020.26
c. Staff Actions
New Hires:
Name Position Location
th
Tami Leroux 6 Grade Edgemont Elementary
Sharon Eplion ESCE Hawthorne Elementary
st
Cydney Chapman 1 Grade Linden Park Elementary
Jerri Lynne Wood Counselor Westside Elementary
Emergency Hires: A hiring emergency exists, as declared by the Board of Trustees, for the following positions:
Name Position Location
Pat Gyles Administrator Online Academy
Resignations:
Name Position Location
th
Anne Marie Taylor 6 Grade Edgemont Elementary
08/12/2020 D91 Board Minutes Page 2 of 5
d. Other Items
i. Surplus/Discarded Equipment
Idaho Falls High School – discard 24 broken classroom desks
Idaho Falls High School – sell/donate 6 classroom tables
PROPOSALS
a. Second Reading – Board Policy Revisions and New Policy
i. Section 118 – Policy of Non-Discrimination in the Workplace
Superintendent Boland stated this policy was presented as a first reading in the last board meeting, this is the
second reading, this revision will bring the policy in compliance with the state and federal guidelines, no
public input has been received, this policy will carry forward to the September board meeting for the final
reading for adoption. No further discussion.
ACTION ITEMS
a. 2020-2021 SRO Agreement with the City of Idaho Falls Police Department
Superintendent Boland stated this agreement with the City of Idaho Falls Police Department is to provide four
School Resource Officers (SRO) in our schools and the terms and conditions associated with that. We’ve had a
longstanding relationship with the Idaho Falls Policy Department and the individuals that serve in these roles
have been a tremendous asset to our schools. A discussion was held about complaints with SROs.
Trustee Wilson made a motion to approve the 2020-2021 SRO Agreement with the City of Idaho Falls Police
Department. Trustee Haacke provided the second. No further discussion. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
b. 2020-2021 Transportation Agreement with American Heritage Charter School
Superintendent Boland stated we’ve had an agreement with American Heritage Charter School since its
inception. There has been a new section added to this agreement that addresses COVID parameters. It is the
recommendation of the administration to approve the agreement with American Heritage Charter School as
presented.
Trustee Haacke made a motion to adopt the 2020-2021 Transportation Agreement with American Heritage
Charter School as presented. Trustee Radcliffe provided the second. No further discussion. Motion carried
5 ayes, 0 nays.
c. 2020-2021 Safety Bussing Zone Recommendations
Superintendent Boland stated this item is brought before the board annually. Ralph Frost, Director of
Transportation provided a list of the current safety bussing zones that was included in the board packet for
the Board’s review. Superintendent Boland stated Ralph Frost is here tonight and has indicated there were
no changes from the previous year and deferred any questions the board may have to Ralph. It is the
recommendation of the administration to approve the Safety Bussing Zone Recommendations as presented.
No further discussion.
Trustee Radcliffe made a motion to approve the 2020-2021 Safety Bussing Zone Recommendations as
presented. Trustee Wilson provided the second. No further discussion. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
d. New Board Policy – Section 813.0.1 Employee Telework During Health Emergency
Superintendent Boland stated this is a new proposal for new board policy with regard to teleworking during
health emergencies. This is a model policy from the Idaho School Board Association that has had legal review
and because of the timing, we ask the board waive the three-reading review process and move to approve
08/12/2020 D91 Board Minutes Page 3 of 5
this policy as presented. A discussion was held clarifying what type of employee this policy could apply to
and who will approve employee teleworking.
Trustee Haacke made a motion to approve through a single reading the New Board Policy – Section 813.0.1
Employee Telework During Health Emergency as presented. Trustee Wilson provided the second. No further
discussion. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
e. Reopening Status
Discussions were held including the district’s three phase reopening plan, the number of in-person
instructional days, face mask mandates, and a proposal to add a fourth phase to include the same points as
the green phase, and add grab-n-go meals.
Trustee Haacke made a motion to approve the risk level that would be determined by Eastern Idaho Regional
Public Health COVID-19 Response Plan be used as a tool to determine when the district will transition
between the phases of the Idaho Falls School District reopening plan, adding an additional Blue Phase
th
between the Green and Yellow phases that allows students, grades Kindergarten through 12, go to school in
person Monday through Thursday with Friday as an online learning day, and include the special COVID leave
for district 91 employees. Trustee Wilson provided the second. A roll call vote was taken:
Lara Hill – nay
Hillary Radcliffe – nay
Larry Wilson – aye
Elizabeth Cogliati – aye
Paul Haacke – aye
Discussions were held including the fluidity of the reopening plan, special board meetings, duration of the
opening phase, staff training, lesson development, family planning and safety of students, teachers and the
community.
Trustee Haacke made a motion, based on the current Eastern Idaho Public Health COVID-10 Response Plan,
District 91 open August 26, 2020 in the Blue Phase continuing for the first six weeks of the school calendar.
Trustee Wilson provided the second. No further discussion. A roll call vote was taken:
Lara Hill – aye
Hillary Radcliffe – nay
Larry Wilson – aye
Elizabeth Cogliati – nay
Paul Haacke – aye
Discussion was held including clarification with regard to when the Superintendent can close individual
schools, a cluster of schools or all schools district wide due to COVID.
Trustee Wilson moved to grant Superintendent Boland the authority to close one school, if it is COVID
related, for one day and then call a special meeting of the board to discuss any lengthier school closure.
Trustee Radcliff provided the second. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
f. Athletics & Activities Plan Approval
The Athletics & Activities Plan was included in the board packet for the board’s review. Dan Keck, Assistant
Superintendent of Secondary Education and Gregg Baczuk, Skyline High School Athletic Director answered
board trustee questions including clearance to return to activities, use of district facilities during the different
Getting Back to School phases, and transportation plans.
08/12/2020 D91 Board Minutes Page 4 of 5
Trustee Radcliffe made a motion to approve the Athletics & Activities Plan as presented. Trustee Haacke
provided the second. A discussion was held regarding band and music plans. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
Chairman Hill called for a motion to go into Executive Session. Trustee Haacke made a motion to go into Executive
Session pursuant to Idaho Code §74-206 (1) (b) Personnel. Trustee Wilson provided the second. A roll call vote was
taken:
Lara Hill – aye
Hillary Radcliffe – aye
Larry Wilson – aye
Elizabeth Cogliati – aye
Paul Haacke – aye
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board of Trustees met in Executive Session for discussions regarding personnel matters.
ACTION ITEMS
g. Employee 2020-2021 A
h. Employee 2020-2021 B
i. Employee 2020-2021 C
Trustee Wilson made one motion to release Employee 2020-2021 A, Employee 2020-2021 B, and Employee
2020-2021 C from their contracts. Trustee Radcliffe provided the second. No further discussion. Motion
carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
Trustee Wilson made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Cogliati provided the second. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays, the
meeting adjourned at 10:36 PM.
08/12/2020 D91 Board Minutes Page 5 of 5
IFEA School Board Report
August 2020
D91 School Board
Let me make one thing very clear to everyone listening. Every teacher
wants to return to the classroom, but teachers are afraid. School staff is
afraid. Teachers always have and will continue do whatever it takes for
public education. But the price or gamble for returning to school this
year has never been this high.
We surveyed our members about D91’s reopening plans. Out of the 101
members who responded:
76% have strong to very strong concerns for returning to work
D91s reopening plan reducing concerns 52% disagree or strongly
disagree with 18% neutral
When asked if they had adequate opportunity for input, the graph
looks like a bell curve: 26% disagreed, 27% were neutral, and 38%
agreed
When asked if D91 is keeping staff as safe as possible, 42%
disagreed, 26% were neutral, and 33% agreed
77% say masks should be mandated
81% say they should have the right to mandate masks in their
classrooms
Staff ready to transition to online learning should the immediate
need arise 45% agreed, 29% disagreed, while 27% were neutral
When asked if staff will have adequate time provided to prepare
their classrooms for COVID safety recommendations before
school starts, 28% agreed, 46% disagreed, while 27% were neutral
Confidence in D91 safety measures rated at 17% agreed, 51%
disagreed, while 13% were neutral
As far as board meeting attendance, 10% said they would attend in
person and 76% are watching online
The need for streaming of board meetings is substantially high and
members are asking if you would habitually live steam first so they can
see what is happening at our board meetings but secondly so they can
view board meetings safely.
Our survey we will send out next will reflect our members views
of building plans. Principals are expected to have final building plans for
staff after their meeting tomorrow.
Last night IEA live streamed a statewide Town Hall meeting. The
topic was the bill legislators are wanting to hold an extraordinary special
session to create: a liability waiver bill
This bill would be detrimental and crippling to everyone….this law
will eliminate legal accountability for school districts to ensure safe and
healthy working and learning conditions. School districts would no
longer be able to be held liable to any safety plans, not liable for any
negligence, and would create the inability to hold any district to
standards of protection. Safety plans will turn into guidelines. There
would be no teeth to any violations of these plans. They should be
focusing on safe schools: school schedules, remote learning, substitute
teachers, classified staff, and other much needed supports during this
pandemic.
Actually this bill would not be detriment to everyone…it benefits
big business and insurance companies. Few insurance claims could filed
at all…..they simply would not have grounds to have to pay out.
As board members, please join us in contacting our legislators
about this harmful bill. If liability is such a massive issue, shouldn’t our
priority be in keeping people safe, rather than not holding anyone
accountable or reliable.
77% AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED
10% NEUTRAL
13% DISAGREED OR STRONGLY DISAGREED
21% AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED
28% NEUTRAL
52% DISAGREED OR STRONGLY DISAGREED
38% AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED
27% NEUTRAL
26% DISAGREED OR STRONGLY DISAGREED
33% AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED
26% NEUTRAL
42% DISAGREED OR STRONGLY DISAGREED
77% AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED
13% NEUTRAL
11% DISAGREED OR STRONGLY DISAGREED
81% AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED
8% NEUTRAL
11% DISAGREED OR STRONGLY DISAGREED
45% AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED
29% NUETRAL
27% DISAGREED OR STRONGLY DISAGREED
28% AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED
27% NEUTRAL
46% DISAGREED OR STRONGLY DISAGREED
***This question will be asked again on the next survey….when teacher will have been
provided with their individual materials and equipment
7% AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED
23% NEUTRAL
71% DISAGREED OR STRONGLY DISAGREED
17% AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED
33% NEUTRAL
51% DISAGREED OR STRONGLY DISAGREED
21% AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED
22% NUETRAL
58 % DISAGREED OR STRONGLY DISAGREED
11% Yes
13% No
76% Only if a virtual livestream is available