RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 365
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

January 11, 2010

I.   WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER

A.  The Board of Trustees, Joint School District No. 365, met for a special meeting at Rimrock Jr. Sr. High School Auditorium on Monday, January 11, 2010.  Chairman Dixie Black called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
      
B.  Roll call - Chairman Dixie Black, Vice Chairman Ray Meyers, Howard  Field, Superintendent Vickie Chandler and Clerk Cathy Sellman were present.  Joe Merrick and Marie Robertson were absent and excused.  Also attending were Principal Phil McCluskey, Principal Gerald Chouinard and Gary Jones.

II.   ACTION ITEM

1.  Approve Participating in Idaho’s Race to the Top Grant

The special meeting was called to discuss Bruneau-Grand View School District’s participation in the Race to the Top Grant.  Race to the Top is a highly competitive federal grant to encourage and reward states for improving student achievement and ensuring students are prepared for college and careers.  The grant covers four areas: Standards and Assessments, Data Systems to Support Instruction, Great Teachers and Leaders and Turning Around Lowest Achieving Schools.  Idaho is planning to submit a proposal for $75-100 million, which could vary with the amount of districts signing up for the grant.  Very few states will be selected in the first round of applications.  However, if Idaho is not selected in the first round, the comments received on the application will help in the development of a stronger application for the second round of awards, which will be made in June 2010.  If Bruneau-Grand View School District wants to participate, the grant needs to be signed and returned to the Idaho State Department of Education by midnight Tuesday, January 12th.  Superintendent Chandler just received the information on Thursday, January 7th.  She has reviewed the 77-page document and made it available to board members also.  She had flagged the document with yellow sticky notes showing the items our district is already required to do.  Mrs. Chandler visited with Gary Jones, BGVEA President and has also asked for input from staff members.  He contacted staff members and received two or three responses.  The staff was undecided about the grant.   Superintendent Chandler has contacted other school districts in the state to see what they are going to do.  If sounds like small districts are more willing to sign than large districts.  Districts signing on to the grant will be able to help form the framework.  The Charlotte Danielson Method for Staff Evaluations was discussed.  The grant includes AYP and growth model, incentives for hard to fill teaching positions and $1500 teacher’s bonus and $375 bonus for support staff for schools meeting Adequate Yearly Progress.   There will be a consortium with other states to develop core standards.  The district would have a 90-day period to rescind the application once it is signed.  The MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) requires three signatures, the superintendent, the board chairman and the representative from the teachers union.  There will also be a Post Award Agreement with a final signing or withdrawing. 

After much discussion,

Ray Meyers made the motion and Howard Field seconded to take a vote to sign the Race to the Top Grant.  Black, Meyers, aye.  Field reluctantly voted aye.  Motion carried.

Superintendent Chandler, Dixie Black and Gary Jones signed the document.  Mrs. Chandler will submit the document to the Idaho State Department of Education. 

Howard Field made the motion and Ray Meyers seconded to adjourn.  Motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.

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           (Catherine R. Sellman, Clerk)