HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021_09_21 Board Minutes
IDAHO FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 91
BOARD OF TRUSTEES – BOARD WORK SESSION
DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM 690 JOHN ADAMS PARKWAY IDAHO FALLS, ID
4:00 PM TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
Present from the Board of Trustees: Present from the Administration:
Lara Hill, Chair Dr. James Shank, Superintendent
Hillary Radcliffe, Vice Chair Dan Keck, Assist. Superintendent Secondary
Larry Wilson, Treasurer Kelly Coughenour, Assist. Superintendent Elementary
Paul Haacke, Clerk Margaret Wimborne, Director of Communications &
Elizabeth Cogliati, Trustee Community Engagement
Tito Paredes, Director of Information Technology
Julie Nawrocki, IFEA President Heather Wade, Director of Human Resources
Angela Pendlebury, Director of Finance
Jessica Means, Recording Clerk
Gail Rochelle, Director of Federal Programs
Chairwoman Hill called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Trustee Radcliffe made a motion to adopt the
agenda. Trustee Cogliati provided the second. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
WORK SESSION:
a. ISBA Resolutions
Superintendent Shank shares the ISBA Resolutions, stating the process starts with recommendations
from school districts to the ISBA and will carry to the legislature. The resolutions have been provided
to the board with nine resolutions for the 2022 year and also included are instructions to providing a
resolution. Superintendent Shank states we are participating by learning about the details of the
resolutions and providing a vote to ISBA. He also states Item 4 has been scratched as he reads the
resolution list. Superintendent Shank states that Item 1 Career Ladder Placement for out of state
Teachers and Administrators for Kimberly and Filer School District is providing the notion to have
more latitude with the career ladder for out of state employees. He then states Item 2 Hiring
Flexibility on Licensed Counselors for Bonneville School District is recognizing licensed counselors to
work in schools as long as they meet the criteria that is required. Item 3 School Age accountability
requirements for Caldwell School District and he then reads this is changing the required school age
from 16 to 18. He states that now a student can choose to withdrawal from school at the age of 16
and they are wanting to bump that up to the age of 18. Item 4 is scratched. He then reads Item 5
Support for Idaho’s Content Standards, Item 6 K-12 Funding Formula Principles, and Item 7 Career
Ladder Records Storage are all for Boise School District. He states the Content Standards have
multiple bullet points to read through. He reads Item 8 Discussion of Sale of Public Property in
Executive session for Moscow School District. Trustee Haacke states usually Public Property is
discussed in Consent Agenda. He asks why would it need to be discussed in Executive discussion.
Angela Pendlebury, Director of Finance, adds the discussion can be held in Executive session also.
Superintendent Shank then reads Item 9 is Consistent Priorities for ISBA Advocacy for ISBA Executive
09/21/2021 D91 Board Minutes Page 1 of 6
Board. He states they all have a do pass recommendation and in the Region 6 meeting these
resolutions will be reviewed and the board will be given an opportunity to ask questions. They then
will be up for vote in the annual business meeting for ISBA. Trustee Haacke states in the past Kuna
School District has asked our district to participate in a development fee, that is in regards to housing
developments in the area and collecting funding for additional elementary schools which help with
bonds to build additional schools.
b. Strategic Plan
Superintendent Shank starts the strategic plan discussion by discussing the Continuous Improvement
Plan (CIP) that are provided to the board. He asks Gail Rochelle, Director of Federal Programs to be in
attendance to answer any questions the Board might have in regards to the CIP. Gail Rochelle
explains that two years ago the CIP was developed from scratch and last year we were able to submit
the same plan. She then states this year they have provided the option to submit the same plan
again. So, the plan this year is an updated version of the CIP that was submitted the last couple of
years because the goal is to move forward and have the opportunity to create a new CIP. She
references Superintendent Shank stating the strategic plan will be a part of the CIP. She then states
that as we move into the HRS schools that it makes sense to include that process and language in our
CIP. Gail states the pieces of this plan that are different in this plan from the plan before are the
performance metrics. She states those pieces are updated based on the performance of our students
th
in literacy, math, and College and Career Readiness. There are also goals related to ISAT from 6 and
th
8 grade was built from where we performed last year and setting a goal that was reasonable to
strive to attain. One of the comments from the State in the past was that the goals were not
attainable based on prior performance, so now what is in the plan are more realistic description of
where we might be. Superintendent Shank states the CIP will end at the end of this school year and
we will be able to have a new plan to put in its place. He then asks if the board has any questions.
Gail adds that the State emailed us in regards to the Go On rates and a discrepancy with the
information they have provided us with. They are addressing us soon with corrections.
Trustee Haacke asks about performance targets for 2021-2022 being targets or actuals. Gail answers
that those are just targets and then explains the data for the targets are based on actuals from the
previous year, however actuals are not required to be reported in the form. Trustee Hill asks if the
Strategic Plan will the framework for the new CIP. Superintendent Shank answers yes it will be and it
will feed what needs to go into the CIP and how it is crafted. Trustee Haacke asks about the results on
Kindergarten Fall IRI percentage last year being 59.09% and the target this year is 60%. He asks if we
do not think we can improve more than the 1%. Gail asks for clarification of the percentage he is
referring to and then states that percentage is based on growth. Gail states that our growth of 60% is
already a high percentage and the growth we are showing are from students that are coming in not
knowing letters and we are growing them to entry level reading skills and jumping up an entire
category. Kelly Coughenour, Assist. Superintendent Elementary, states that the IRI scores report
three scores 1,2, or 3 and the Performance Metric reports on students who have improved by one or
more categories. He then states some of the students score a 1 which is the highest they can score
and they aren’t included in that percentage because they can not score higher than a 1. Trustee
Cogliati adds that these are also students who are new to us in Kindergarten and we have not seen
them to help them improve. Trustee Haacke requests that we strive for a higher percentage. Trustee
09/21/2021 D91 Board Minutes Page 2 of 6
Cogliati adds that at some point we will not be able to attain a higher percentage if the percentage
keeps moving up with the different demographics of students. Trustee Haacke asks if we can strive to
at least get 63% and push ourselves. Gail Rochelle adds that we haven’t always met the 60% and the
data that we don’t see is multiple years of data that shows the growth we have achieved since the K-
3 literacy initiative was implemented, which is the additional funding received from the state to
provide different sorts of intervention like the extended day Kindergarten program. Superintendent
Shank asks if board would like to make the change to 63% from 60%. Trustee Radcliffe states that we
do not have all the information needed however by creating a strategic plan we will have a better
understanding to make the new plan for next year and will be setting the new goals and have the
data that backs the percentages up. She also states that the board has not been actively participating
in how these numbers and percentages are acquired, so they are late in changing the information.
Gail states we can provide data on the reading scores if the board would like. Trustee Wilson states
that would be good information to review. Gail Rochelle states this data is something Legislatures are
interested in because of the funding that is provided. The board agrees to change the percentage of
the Kindergarten IRI target to 63% from the proposal given by Superintendent Shank.
Trustee Haacke asks about FAFSA and the percentage of total seniors reported in completing it and
why it has an importance if not all students need financial aid. Dan Keck, Assist. Superintendent
Secondary, states that the College and Career Readiness Advisors strive to get all seniors to complete
the FAFSA and it is also used for scholarships. Trustee Hill proposes that the board dives into the
strategic plan page by page to create their own. Superintendent Shank states the draft that is
provided has some information from experience to use if the board would like to use and a provided
template. He reads through some of the information on goals and objectives and adds that it needs
to be specific enough that it will provide the information that is required in the CIP for next year. He
then states it gives us the opportunity to see how we are doing and set targets on where we would
like to be and to be definitive in the work of how we will get there to include the framework on
HRS/PLC/visible learning and also a facility plan with a 5 to 10-year look. Superintendent Shank also
adds that we can do this work on our own or we can look into a consultant if we would like to
consider. Trustee Cogliati asks why the draft provided does not include the HRS/PLC framework.
Superintendent Shank states that is just a draft from experience for an example and the board will
need to create their own Strategic plan to include those pieces. Trustee Hill states the draft does
have pieces that are similar to what the schools are presenting with their HRS goals.
Trustee Wilson asks if the Superintendent would take the lead on this project instead of getting a
consultant. Superintendent Shank states that he would take lead and it is an opportunity for team
building and working together, instead of getting a consultant and then it will provide leadership
within the Board. Trustee Wilson states he likes in the draft the pieces that are broken down and are
needed from each school. Superintendent Shank adds it helps because that information is feed to the
board and are needed to complete to place expectations. He also states from the beginning HRS
framework is the framework and PLC is the vehicle of how we get there, so that is the context on the
resolution. Trustee Wilson asks about the parent advisory council being required in each department.
Superintendent Shank replies that yes, each department would need to have that parent advisory
council if they have not in the past. Trustee Radcliffe states she likes the idea of the strategic plan so
the Board will have awareness of what the schools are working on. Trustee Radcliffe asks about the
09/21/2021 D91 Board Minutes Page 3 of 6
percentage of free and reduced lunch that is reported in the CIP plan, is the percentage based on not
having to apply last year. Angela Pendlebury answers that yes, it is reported based on the
applications filled out however there was Federal funding paying for all school lunches last year and
is continuing this year. She states the reporting will be done differently because of the funding
moving forward. Trustee Wilson asks for a timeframe for the Strategic plan and what the next steps
are. Superintendent Shank answers that this draft is the beginning of the timeframe, checking on
what the board would like to do. Trustee Hill adds that the board will take this on as a project to work
on in the next few weeks.
c. Learning Loss/Learning Found
Superintendent Shank states the learning loss/learning fund is apart of the ARPA plan that will be an
action item tonight for the Board to approve. He states that $1.9 million is dedicated to learning loss
this time and another $800,000 to be released after legislature is finished and it has to all be used by
2024. However, there is an additional $500,000 ready to be spent on learning loss activities now and
needs to be spent December 31, 2021. Superintendent Shank shares with the board ideas on the
spending the funds. The process will be that schools will need to fill out an application on using the
funds for learning found that will go to the committee to be approved. Superintendent Shanks states
on back on the ARPA meeting minutes provided are some ideas that the elementary principals have
shared. For secondary schools, some ideas Brooke Stosich shared were study programs and two after
school programs to improve their learning. Superintendent Shank states the list are growing with
ideas from principals. Trustee Haacke asks Trustee Hill if she participated in all the ARPA committee
meetings. Trustee Hill states yes, and her feedback was the biggest issue she saw was the school
counselor issue not having time to counsel students because they are scheduling for student classes.
Trustee Haacke states that he did not know that school counselors were actually counselors and that
we need to move to add more resources to help with the scheduling so they can provide the help and
counseling to students. Trustee Haacke asks if there was parent involvement. Trustee Hill said yes,
there was parent participation, but the some of the parents did not attend all the meetings, however
the administrators were present at all the meetings. Superintendent Shank added the some of the
parents could not attend all three meetings. Trustee Haacke asked what exactly are we approving in
the ARPA plan. Trustee Hill points out the plan given to the board and states the language is vague
with how the money will be spent to cover all the basis of spending to keep our options open. Angela
Pendlebury, Director of Finance states that we have to submit the plan to the state to get it approved
before we are authorized to spend the money. Trustee Wilson asks what the follow up is. Angela
states that when the money is spent we need to report it monthly on how it was spent.
d. Facilities
Superintendent Shank states that we met with Cooperative Strategies today to go over the scope of
the project. We focused on a couple of things with them and shared board goals and looking at the
projects and feedback they can give us. Superintendent Shank states we emphasized a 5 to 10-year
plan and was hoping to get something done by the time we need to run for the supplemental plan
facilities fund but he does not think we will get the information in time. The kick-off date will be on
th
October 7 and no time is determined yet. We will then provide them with additional data to study
our demographics. He states we are hoping that it will not take the 6 weeks that they are stating
09/21/2021 D91 Board Minutes Page 4 of 6
because that pushes us into the holidays. He states that we are looking forward to the work with
Cooperative Strategies.
e. ARPA Report
Trustee Hill asks to review the ARPA minutes that were provided from the meetings held. She asks if
any of the Board members have questions. Superintendent Shank adds given the time we were given
st
provided by the state of October 1, three meetings were all we had time for. Trustee Hill states
there was good discussion in all the meetings. Trustee Haacke ask how many people attended the
meetings. Trustee Hill responds 12 to 15 people at each meeting. Superintendent Shank states that
we received a couple of emails of public input. Trustee Hill reads the emails, see attached. Trustee
Hill adds those emails were referring to the ARPA Plan that is very broad in description.
ACTION ITEMS
a. Approve CIP Plan
Superintendent Shank requests the approval for the CIP Plan, unless there are modifications the
board would like to make, he states we recommend approval.
Trustee Radcliffe made a motion to approve the CIP Plan for 2021-2022. Trustee Haacke provided the
second and asks per the outcome of the discussion of changing to the 63% for the Kindergarten Fall IRI
target. Superintendent Shank said it will be updated. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
b. Approve ARPA Plan
Superintendent Shank requests the approval for the ARPA Plan as presented and recommended
approval.
Trustee Wilson made a motion to approve the ARPA Plan as presented. Trustee Haacke provided the
second. No further discussion. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
c. School District Mass Action Lawsuit Against JUUL 1:36
Superintendent Shank states that Anderson, Julian, and Hull approached us and asked if the Board would
like to join in this lawsuit. He references materials that were provided to the Board, as of today there are
over 450 districts that have joined the lawsuit. Superintendent Shank spoke with Amy White, attorney
from Anderson, Julian, and Hull, who stated there are over 30 districts in the state of Idaho that have
joined the lawsuit, as of last night. She is anticipating another 30 districts joining and was aware that we
were talking about this in the board meeting tonight. Superintendent Shank references the materials with
actions JUUL has taken to influence K-12 age students to vape. There are claims made by the government
towards them, including the FDA and others. They also offer guidance on how to help schools with vaping.
Superintendent Shank states vaping is a huge issue. He also states that school districts across the state are
dealing with the vaping issue also. He states there was an award given, vape detectors, and suggestions
for the issue. They have already with one lawsuit in North Carolina for $40 million dollars and have already
had some action. Materials include an article from Provo, Utah and another article on how school districts
09/21/2021 D91 Board Minutes Page 5 of 6
are suing JUUL. Superintendent Shank states with the materials provided there is a strong basis for us to
join the lawsuit and let it play out and see where it goes. There is not cost to the district, just basically
states the district will join the lawsuit with the other districts in the state. He then states that we can table
the motion and wait for the next board meeting or move forward with the motion. Trustee Haacke states
he spoke with the SRO at Skyline High School recently and there is a big issue with vaping, he states that if
we can get money and help educate, put in alarms and cameras then it would be helpful. He also states
that we need to let the public know that we are taking this matter seriously and want to address it.
Trustee Haacke states that vaping is an epidemic in our district and everywhere. Superintendent Shank
states that vaping is the number one reason for getting suspended in other districts. Students are getting
hooked and bringing devices to school that they shouldn’t be bringing to school and getting in trouble.
Trustee Haacke made a motion whereas District 91 recognized that vaping is a national and local problem
impacting upon student health and the disciplinary operation of the District; and whereas multi-district
litigation is pending against JUUL, as well as its shareholders in Federal Court; and whereas the Board
having considered the inclusion of the District in this multi-district litigation and having found it to be in
the best interest of the District and its students, I hereby move that the Board of Trustees take all
necessary steps to join this lawsuit as a Plaintiff against JUUL and direct the Board’s Chairman and/or
Superintendent to execute all appropriate documents to that end. Trustee Wilson provided the
second. No further discussion. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
d. Student Travel
Superintendent Shank refers to the student travel requests that have been turned in; Cross country meet
for both IFHS and SHS and also two volleyball travel requests for SHS, all need addressed before the next
board meeting.
Trustee Radcliffe made a motion to approve the student travel. Trustee Haacke provided the second. No
further discussion. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays.
Chairwoman Hill called for a motion to adjourn. Trustee Wilson made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Cogliati
provided the second. Motion carried 5 ayes, 0 nays. The meeting adjourned at 5:16 p.m.
09/21/2021 D91 Board Minutes Page 6 of 6