RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 365
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
May 26, 2010
I. WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER
A. The Board of Trustees, Joint School District No. 365, met for the regular meeting at Rimrock Music Room on Wednesday, May 26, 2010. Chairman Dixie Black called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
B. Roll Call – Chairman Dixie Black, Vice Chairman Ray Meyers, Marie Robertson, Joe Merrick, Howard Field, Superintendent Vickie L. Chandler and Clerk Cathy Sellman were present. Also attending were Principal Phil McCluskey, Russell Erwin, Robert Lemieux, Melode Burnett-Simper, Erin Burnett, Allen Merrick, Austin Merrick, Robert Draper, Bonni Draper, Carol Merrick, Jodi Jewett and Travis Jewett.
II. APPROVE AGENDA
Superintendent Chandler stated there would not be a student attendance appeal, Item L under Action Items.
Ray Meyers made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to approve the amended agenda. Motion carried.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve minutes of the May 6, 2010 Regular Meeting
B. Accounts Payable
C. Bruneau Elementary Activity Accounts
D. Grand View Elementary Activity Accounts
E. Rimrock Activity Accounts
Howard Field made the motion and Marie Robertson seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion carried.
IV. REPORTS TO THE BOARD
A. Principal Reports-Phil McCluskey, Gerald Chouinard
Principal Gerald Chouinard was absent and excused from the meeting due to an emergency with his child.
Superintendent Chandler gave his report for him. Students of the month for Bruneau Elementary were Quenson Johns, Samantha Lindquist and Makayla Carothers and for Grand View Elementary were Marta Vega, Jessica Riley, Rafael Vega, Ray Draper, Dara Loder, Toby Thomas and Fabiola Gomez. ISAT testing and IRI testing are completed. Data is being analyzed by data teams and the reading coach. Elementary Field Days for both schools were a fun time but a little windy. Thanks to Mr. Skerjanec, Mr. Murray, Mr. McCluskey and high school students for helping with the events. End of the year BBQ’s were held on May 20th at Bruneau and May 19th at Grand View. Bruneau Elementary held their award ceremony, kindergarten graduation and 6th grade graduation on May 20th. Grand View Elementary awards, and 6th grade promotion was held May 21st. Nick Vandenberg, former Rimrock graduate was the guest speaker for the Grand View 6th grade promotion. Superintendent Chandler reported that Nick had done a very nice job and she was proud of him. He is currently serving in the military.
Principal Phil McCluskey reported on graduation. He thanked the board for their support with students before graduation. He gave board members a folder he and Mr. Harper have been working on for next year with 4-year plans, etc. The students have been registered for classes for 2010-2011. A letter stating “your child is currently on track to graduate and another with your child is not on track to graduate” will be mailed to incoming seniors for next year so they and their parents will be made aware of the situation. He discussed the 7 period days instead of the block schedule for next year’s classes. He would also like to move the tutorial period to the end of the day which should help students who will be absent for sports activities at the end of the day. The new Prevention Grant will provide time for training which will also be at the end of the day. With 7 periods instead of 8 periods next year, 54 credits would be the maximum students could earn, which would mean less elective credits; core credits would remain the same. Current policy states a requirement of 58 credits. With 8 periods students had a potential to earn 64 credits. Board members were given explanation sheets. (See attachment) World History has been moved to a junior high class. Discussion was held on transfer students credits. The state requires 29 core credits but our district would require 36 core credits. The proposal for policy changes will go through the policy committee to present to the board for approval at the June board meeting. State requirements of credits were discussed. The district requires a “C” or better to pass math. Science classes were discussed. Seniors will be required to have a senior project by 2013. This will be implemented next year. Alternate assessment for someone who does not pass ISAT testing, the student technically cannot receive a diploma. IDLA has specific sources which can be utilized. If a student does not pass the ISAT they would need to pass the IDLA course with at least a 70%. The state would need to approve the process also. Grading scale for AP & dual credit courses was discussed. The school would like to challenge students to challenge themselves. With dual credit courses the students would receive credit at the high school level and college level. The courses are actually college courses. AP courses, which are being used by many high schools would also challenge students. Principal McCluskey encouraged the board to review the information on challenging courses where students could take the final exam and pass the class. Core classes were discussed. The board asked if the class schedule will be ready before school. Mr. McCluskey commented that he was waiting to see about the new hires, such as the music program before he finalizes the schedule.
B. Superintendent Report—Vickie L. Chandler
Superintendent Vickie L. Chandler reported the district will receive the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant of $11,144 for 2010-2011, thanks to JayDene Aquiso, Food Service Supervisor. There will be a bus technician training for whoever is awarded the bus maintenance bid. Enrollment at the end of the school year was 48 students in Bruneau, 124 students in Grand View and 160 at Rimrock for a total of 332 students. A year ago there were 352 students district wide. There is a possibility the district will be down even more students by fall. Mrs. Chandler sent an email to all staff members regarding the schools being closed on Mondays starting on June 7th, including custodial staff and district office staff. Discussion was held on summer help. Two technology student technicians will work this summer. One technology technician employed from last year will work on the maintenance crew this summer. There was an elementary staff meeting on Tuesday, May 25th with a purpose of preparing for next school year. Staff members were given a paper to fill in with weakness, strengths, challenges and gripes and they were all anonymous. Mrs. Chandler felt they had good discussions with elementary staff members. The Rimrock Library lettering of “The Cheryl Whiteside Library” has been completed. Retirement plaques were presented to Cheryl Whiteside, Bob Murray, Penny Hines and Dee McCluskey at the end of school luncheon attended by staff members on Wednesday, May 26th. Superintendent Chandler thanked Mr. Gary Jones for cooking the meat for the dinner.
V. PUBLIC INPUT
None
VI. ACTION ITEMS
A. Resignations/Hirings
Superintendent Chandler received a resignation letter from Chance Skerjanec who is going to teach in Vale, Oregon next year. When Mr. Murray retired, Mr. McCluskey looked at the schedule with a 7 period day and decided the school could have one full time PE teacher at Rimrock and a ½ time for elementary P.E. which would cut a ½ P.E. position at Rimrock. Driver’s education classes were discussed. Robert Draper asked if Mr. Murray would be interested in contracting the classes for students. Liability insurance on the driver’s education car was discussed. Selling the driver’s education car was discussed. Melode Burnett-Simper asked about a para-pro doing PE for elementary students. Superintendent Chandler will contact the State Department of Education regarding the elementary PE position to see if a par-pro could fulfill the requirement.
Marie Robertson made the motion and Howard Field seconded to accept Chance Skerjanec’s resignation and advertise for a full time secondary P.E. position. Motion carried.
Ray Meyers made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to allow Superintendent Chandler to advertise for a ½ time elementary P.E. position after conferring with the State Department of Education regarding a parapro filling the position. Motion carried.
Jodi Jewett stated she would be happy to pay $400-$500 for driver’s education if it could stay within the community.
Principal Phil McCluskey told the board they have done several interviews for math and English. The committee would like to recommend hiring Mandy Hardan, a recent graduate of BSU, for the English position. She has taught summer school and is currently teaching night school and alternative schools. She is substituting on a regular basis in the Boise School System. Joe Merrick served as the board member on the hiring committee. Ms. Hardan has had managerial skills through her employment at Albertson’s. Her student teaching supervisor contacted Superintendent Chandler with a good recommendation.
Ray Meyers made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to approve the hiring of Mandy Hardan for the English teacher at Rimrock. Motion carried.
B. Approve Bus Maintenance Bids
This item was tabled at the May 6th board meeting. Joe Merrick asked to be dismissed and left the meeting at 8 p.m. Discussion was held on the two maintenance bids and a bus driver survey. Chairman Black asked the board if they could go into Executive Session to visit with the people who have submitted bids.
Marie Robertson made the motion and Howard Field seconded to go into Executive Session to review the bus maintenance bids. Motion carried.
The board returned to open session at 8:56 p.m.
Board chairman Dixie Black apologized for the time in Executive Session and stated it will be a very difficult decision for the board to make.
Marie Robertson made the motion and Howard Field seconded to award the contract to Jumbo’s because it is a lesser amount but with the stipulation that everything in the contract be met or the contract will be voided and awarded to Allen Merrick. Motion carried.
Joe Merrick returned to the meeting at 9 p.m.
C. Approve District Liability Insurance Contract
The current liability carrier, CNA Insurance and Premier Insurance both submitted bids for the school district liability insurance. Superintendent Chandler stated last year the district put it out for bid and the bid from CNA magically came down from the previous year by about $20,000. Premier Insurance bid last year but the bid was a little higher. This year Premier Insurance came in with the lower bid and CNA’s bid came in comparable. CNA has provided excellent insurance for the district. We have had two lawsuits which have cost the insurance company thousands of dollars. CNA has stated the district would not be able to use Brian Julian and Amy White both of which are top educational law attorneys in the state. Premier Insurance has assured the superintendent that they will also use Brian Julian and Amy White. Premier Insurance will provide extensive training for bullying, texting, sexting, sexual harassment etc. for students, staff members and the community. CNA has an online training for staff members. There is some question that if schools leave CNA Insurance they are not letting districts have their premium rebate from ISBA. State Insurance is investigating if they can withhold the rebate. Caldwell, Mountain Home and Glenns Ferry all use Premier Insurance. Superintendent Chandler recommended Premier Insurance because of the bullying/sexual harassment training they will provide to the district.
Ray Meyers made the motion and Howard Field seconded to accept Premier Insurance’s proposal for 2010-2011 liability insurance. Motion carried.
Discussion was held on the community also being included in the bullying/ sexual harassment training.
D. Approve Rimrock Fee Schedule
Student fees from 2009-2010 and proposed for 2010-2011 were discussed. (See attached fees)
Marie Robertson made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to accept the Rimrock Fee Schedule omitting the driver’s education fee. Motion carried.
E. Employment of Classified Staff
Item tabled until Executive Session.
Superintendent Vickie Chandler submitted a list of names, assignments and funding sources for the board to review.
F. Approve 2010-2011 School Calendar
Superintendent Chandler had submitted two proposals and worked with the calendar committee to develop a school calendar for 2010-2011 with a 4-day school week. Staff members will start work Monday after the Owyhee County Fair on August 16th and students will start on August 19th, Thursday following the fair. School will be in session Tuesday through Friday and one Monday, the Monday before Thanksgiving in November. Graduation will be held on May 22nd.
Joe Merrick made the motion and Ray Meyers seconded to approve the 2010-2011 School Calendar as presented. Motion carried.
G. Amended Budget Hearing
The amended budget has been advertised with the needed changes. Superintendent Chandler had written in an explanation for everything which was changed for board members to review. The budget was reviewed again line by line.
Joe Merrick made the motion and Marie Robertson seconded to accept the Amended Budget. Motion carried.
H. Set Annual Budget Hearing Date
Discussion was held on the 2010-2011 budget hearing date.
Marie Robertson made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to set the annual budget hearing date for June 17, 2010. Motion carried.
I. Rimrock Water Right Clarification
Superintendent Chandler explained that a mistake had been made during adjudication and the Department of Water Resources has recognized the mistake and needs to clarify water rights for Rimrock, Maurice Lee and Simplot. The district will not receive any less water right as stated in a letter from the Department of Water Rights Attorney General. When the right was originally written they all had the same point of diversion.
Joe Merrick made the motion and Ray Meyers seconded to accept the correction of a partial decree of a water right at the high school. Motion carried.
J. Approve Negotiated Agreement
The only changes in the agreement were the year (2010-2011) and references to days which now become hours because of the 4-day school week. It has also been noted that the staff chose to change the Blue Cross deductible to $750 from $500. Discussion was held on calculating the hours instead of days. The district office will convert sick leave days into hours. Superintendent Chandler called other school districts using 4-day school week to see how they were doing leave.
Ray Meyers made the motion and Howard Field seconded to approve the Negotiated Agreement as changed. Motion carried.
K. Personnel Issues
None
L. Student Attendance Appeal
None
VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Howard Field made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to adjourn into Executive Session for personnel issues. Motion carried.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of School District No. 365, recess from an open meeting into Executive Session pursuant to Section 67-2345, Idaho Code, to discuss personnel issues.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that following the Executive Session, the Board will reconvene in public session to conduct further business or for adjournment of the meeting.
The board recessed into Executive Session at 9:39 p.m.
The board reconvened in Open Session at 9:59 p.m.
Marie Robertson made the motion and Ray Meyers seconded to approve the classified staff as presented acknowledging that Penny Jones will be moved from a classified employee to a Grant Program. Motion carried.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Howard Field made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to adjourn. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 10 p.m.
___________________________________________
(Catherine R. Sellman, Clerk) |
