RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 365
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
JULY 14, 2011
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 Thursday, July 14, 2011. Chairman Dixie Black called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m., welcomed patrons and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
B. Roll call –Chairman Dixie Black, Vice Chairman Marie Robertson, Howard Field, Joe Merrick, Lori Bennett, Superintendent Vickie Chandler and Clerk Cathy Sellman were present. Also attending were Principal Amber Pearson, David Meyers, Christine Meyers, Kermit Tate, John Hannah, Kelli Buckingham, Harold Simper, Merrilan Simper, Travis Jewett, Jodi Jewett, Beth Gasper, Ted Cantrell, Sandy Cantrell, Jose Ayala and Christian Ayala.
II. APPROVE AGENDA
Joe Merrick made the motion and Marie Robertson seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve minutes of the June 16, 2011 Regular Meeting and special meeting on June 22, 2011.
B. Accounts Payable
Superintendent Vickie Chandler told the board the district had the opportunity to purchase a new John Deere lawn mower for $5000 from rental funds.
Lori Bennett made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion carried.
IV. REPORTS TO THE BOARD
A. Principal Reports
Amber Pearson gave an update on the schools painting and improvement projects. They have had yard sales and cleaned out materials which have not been used in many years. The elementary schools goal was to make “First Year Status” for AYP this year. Mrs. Pearson is very pleased Bruneau Elementary has made “Safe Harbor”, which means with the very low previous student scores, the students have made a 10% plus growth this year in everything including sub-topics such as ELL students, etc.
B. Superintendent Reports
Principal/Superintendent Vickie Chandler reported an anonymous donor wants to refurbish the baseball field in Grand View, including scraping the infield, replacing the bleachers with clay-upgrades and if money permits new fencing. Doug Thurman from Grand View Lions Club has asked permission for the project. Grand View community used a portion of the new sound system for the Grand View Days Parade. People commented they could finally hear. Rimrock Student Body has donated $4100 to help cover the cost of the equipment. Next Friday morning, July 22nd; three interviews will be conducted for a new woodshop teacher. The administrative staff is taking math classes for 5 days as required by the state. Discussion was held on hiring a woodshop teacher and the funding. The district will be appealing the ISAT results for one Rimrock student. If the appeal is accepted Rimrock may make AYP in Reading and Math. If not, Rimrock will meet it in Reading. The Rimrock scores were very strong in reading. Superintendent Luna has told administrators the state would be using last year’s AYP target goals instead of the higher ones. Idaho has appealed the US Dept of Education to stay at previous year’s level. The districts biggest challenge is the economically disadvantaged subgroup. Mrs. Chandler has questions as to why 6th grade was included with the elementary scores and also with Rimrock scores. She is trying to find answers from the SDE. Discussion was held on tracking ISAT scores. At the last board meeting she had told the board that the district would probably get $108,000 if the state divided up 50M. The state dispersed 60M and the district received $102,000 so she’s not sure what formula the state used. Mrs. Chandler read a thank you card from Marilyn Dean for her retirement gift certificate. Sympathy cards were signed for the Sid Erwin Family and Celia Hall and family. Channel 7 News has interviewed Penny Jones and Courtney Bennett regarding the IDFY experience and will air the program on Sunday, July 17th at 9 a.m. The Glenns Ferry Gazette and Owyhee Avalanche reported University of Idaho scholarship recipients from this area and Mrs. Chandler was pleased to see the majority of them were from Bruneau and Grand View.
C. – 4-Day Survey Results from Staff, Students, Parents
Superintendent Vickie Chandler reported on the survey results. Linda Bennett just finished the bus odometer report for the state transportation department and buses traveled a total of over 22,000 less with a 4-day school week. The staff survey numbers, parent surveys, student surveys, survey of Monday practices were all discussed. (See attached sheets) Patrons were given a copy of the survey results and the results will be posted on the website in the near future. Mrs. Chandler stated she was concerned with the number of kilowatts used at Rimrock the last 3 months, but her amount of kilowatts used at home followed the same pattern. The plan is to survey people about the 4-day week again earlier in the spring of 2012 for the 2012-2013 school year.
V. PUBLIC INPUT
Beth Casper asked why the gates at the elementary school are padlocked. She asked if there was a reason for it and if the kids were not suppose to play in there. Discussion was held on issues with maintenance of lights, flushing toilets, outside lights at Rimrock, padlocked gates to the playground at Grand View, tree by lunchroom at Grand View, etc. The board asked Cathy Sellman to check with Jim Dawson and John Aquiso on the issues.
VI. ACTION ITEMS
- Oath of Office for New Board Members
Board Clerk Cathy Sellman administered the oath of office to trustees Dixie Black and Joe Merrick.
- Reorganization of Board/Chairperson
Board Clerk Cathy Sellman asked for nominations for board chairperson.
Howard Field made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to continue with the same board positions, including dates for 2011-2012 meetings, Action Items B through I with a unanimous decision. Motion carried unanimously.
- Reorganization of Board/Vice-Chairperson
- Appoint a Clerk of the Board
- Establish Dates for the 2011-2012 Board Meetings
Board members had a list of possible board meeting dates in their board packets. (See attached list)
- Approval of Joint Exercise of Power Agreement
This action allows Board Clerk Cathy Sellman the power to invest idle funds into the State Investment Pool.
- Appoint Board Member for Policy Committee
Lori Bennett had been chosen for the policy committee at the last meeting.
- Appoint Board Member for Strategic Planning Committee
- Appoint Board Member for Technology Committee
- Approve Resignations/Hirings
Amber Pearson reported the ELL teacher who had been offered the job did not accept the position because of a decrease in her pay from her current job. The district has many more applicants the administration is working through. The jobs have been reposted with a reading endorsement and an ESL certificate. Superintendent Vickie Chandler asked the board to approve the phone poll to rescind the resignation of Nick Wadsworth, Rimrock science teacher.
Marie Robertson made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to approve the phone poll to rescind the resignation of Nick Wadsworth. Motion carried.
- Approve Bruneau and Grand View Elementary Handbook
The handbook was in board packets to review before the meeting. Amber Pearson reviewed the changes in the handbook. For the most part it is the same as last year. Grand View Elementary has had student planners in the past. Interstate Studios will donate the planners to the school because of using the company for school pictures. There is a signature page in the books for students and parents to sign and return to the school. The school contact phone numbers will be included in the books. Principal Pearson would like to do yearbooks for the students for $7 each. She will contact PTA/PTO to help students who may not be able to afford a yearbook.
Joe Merrick made the motion and Howard Field seconded to approve the Bruneau and Grand View Elementary handbooks. Motion carried.
- Approve Rimrock Student Handbook
The handbook was in board packets to review before the meeting.
Changes in the handbook were reviewed and discussed. The computer use policy was completely changed to comply with state law. Adult consequences have never been in the policy before. Student Body Constitution did not change because that is only changed with a vote of the student body.
Lori Bennett made the motion and Marie Robertson seconded to approve the Rimrock Student Handbook with changes. Motion carried.
- Approve Bruneau-Grand View Staff Handbook
The changes were reviewed and discussed. Reduction in force was completely deleted and put in according to the new state law. Certified employee evaluations have completely been changed according to the new state law including a parent input form.
Howard Field made the motion and Lori Bennett seconded to approve the Bruneau-Grand View Staff Handbook. Motion carried.
- Approve Policy Changes for 502.3, 502.3.1, 503.5 and 502.2.6 (PERSI, ID. Code)
These were changes made in the negotiated agreement but needed to be changed in policy also because of new state law.
Howard Field made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to approve policy changes for 502.3, 502.3.1, 503.5 and 502.2.6. Motion carried.
- Discussion and/or Approval of Monday Sports Practices for JV and/or Varsity
Superintendent Chandler discussed Question #6 of the student surveys; “Do you think you should be able to practice on Monday? The results were 56 yes; 39 no; and 6 no opinion. Discussion was held on the issues. Question #9 of parent survey was “Do you think students should be able to practice on Mondays?” The results were 43 yes; 20 no; 14 had no opinion. Vickie Chandler read the responses. The issue does not involve junior high practices, just Junior Varsity and Varsity. Discussion was held on adding another question to the next survey; “Did your child participate in sports?”
Joe Merrick made the motion and Marie Robertson seconded to allow varsity and JV sports practices on Monday, as long as they are not using heating in the gym, have the practices at the same time every day and coordinate girls and boys sports to be at the same time as much as possible. Motion carried.
VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Joe Merrick made the motion and Marie Robertson seconded to adjourn. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
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Catherine R. Sellman, Clerk |
