RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 365
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OCTOBER 13, 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, October 13, 2011. Vice-Chairman Marie Robertson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., welcomed patrons and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
B. Roll call –Vice Chairman Marie Robertson, Howard Field, Joe Merrick, Lori Bennett, Superintendent Vickie Chandler and Clerk Cathy Sellman were present. Chairman Dixie Black was absent and excused. Also attending were Principal Amber Pearson, Beth Gasper, JayDene Aquiso, John Aquiso, Trevor Nelson, Jodi Jewett and Mike Parker.
II. APPROVE AGENDA
Superintendent Chandler stated Action Item D could not be approved because no template is in place yet. The item can be discussed but not approved.
Joe Merrick made the motion and Lori Bennett seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve minutes of the September 15, 2011 Regular Meeting
B. Accounts Payable
C. Bruneau Elementary Activity Accounts
D. Grand View Elementary Activity Accounts
E. Rimrock Activity Accounts
Joe Merrick made the motion and Lori Bennett seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion carried.
IV. REPORTS TO THE BOARD
A. Principal Reports
Principal Amber gave updates on an Oct 3rd meeting with Fernanda Brendafur from the State Department of Education regarding the ELL Plan and students. Mrs. Brendafur guided Mrs. Pearson in writing ELP’s and held meetings at the elementary schools to teach the teachers how to write them. Mrs. Brendafur has also been assisting with finding a replacement for the ELL position. Brandi Lisle, Kathy Mori and Sam Stafford attended the Idaho ELL Standard Training in Kimberly on October 13th. Principal Pearson explained an online program for students who do not speak English which Boise area schools are using. She is working on a grant to cover the cost of the program curriculum and support for three years. The in-service went very well and the next three trainings will help teachers with strategies. Parent-Teacher Conferences are being scheduled for October 26th & 27th. The AIMS Web licensing agreements have been approved for every request the district submitted. The district has applied for a grant to increase capacity builder support. A team of people attended the Idaho Scratch-off lottery tickets for schools. The schools are having a Johnny Appleseed Assembly and a Back Pack Program for students from Idaho Food Bank. Staff members from Shoshone Elementary School will visit our district on October 28th to see the intervention programs, math concept boards, scheduling, etc. Our staff members visited Taft Elementary to learn from them. The new title intervention program has been wonderful and students are learning at their grade level. The Leadership Team held a meeting and they need to write two reports. The goal is to obtain first year status for both elementary schools. The schools are trying to keep all documentation to get first year status. The Healthy Schools Action Plan has been turned in. Idaho Power is going to volunteer to help move the white boards, etc. in classrooms. Mrs. Pearson suggested getting a small set of tools in each school. The district has been accepted to attend the free Advanced AIMS Web Training. Red Ribbon Week is starting October 18th. There was a misprint on the lunch calendar which has been corrected. Bruneau Elementary has had gas leaks and the school was evacuated while the gas company fixed the leaks. The company is looking for more leaks also. John Aquiso explained the problems with the gas leak and the replacement of a regulator several years ago.
B. Superintendent Reports
Superintendent/Principal Vickie Chandler reported on enrollment which is up to 339 students, the district had 324 students last year. (See attached sheet) A November calendar of activities was given to board members. A football playoff game could possibly be hosted by Rimrock. Coach Juan Colunga won the “Be True To Your School” $1000 award for the football program from Commercial Tire. Channel 6 interviewed Coach Colunga regarding the award. Mrs. Chandler explained the Building Capacity Builders who have been working in the district. Joanie Peterson has been working at Rimrock and Karen Osman has been working in the elementary schools. Rimrock is planning a “Back to School” night on October 26th with the same format as the Hispanic Night last spring. One presentation will be in English and one in Spanish for all parents. Jeff Zander from Elko County School District called regarding a handicapped child on the Idaho side at the Nevada border which needs special education services. Mrs. Chandler discussed the border contract with Jeff Zander from Elko. Under Nevada law the care-giver must be a certified nurse. Mrs. Chandler is working with Elko County on the issue. Monday, October 17th is an in-service day working on the Charlotte Danielson Method of Teacher Evaluation with Joanie Peterson conducting the training. Rimrock Homecoming is Friday, October 21st with activities planned throughout the week. Some students would like to start a wrestling team. Discussion was held on the possibility. Mrs. Chandler has contacted Mountain Home School District about including Rimrock students on their team. Trevor Nelson has a background in wrestling and would like to coach the team. The budget and transportation for a wrestling team were discussed. The board directed Trevor Nelson and Mrs. Chandler to check on possibilities as long as there was not a cost to the district because of the tight budget. Every day at the end of the day there is an advisory period where an advisor takes 4 or 5 students to check on PowerSchool to see their grades, disciplinary reports, etc. The counselor brings a report with 2.3 or less GPA to a teacher meeting. Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office sent a letter with a check for $468 for restitution from Kevin Hansen to the Alumni Association. The money was put in a Rimrock Account for Alumni. Last week there was a direct deposit request so the prosecuting attorney office can direct deposit the money. Seniors would like to have black and green gowns this year. Discussion was held on the issue. The board will send a thank you card to the Grand View PTA for their service to the school and a sympathy card for Kay Seegrist. Glenns Ferry sent people to Rimrock to gain information on the 4-day school week. Mrs. Pearson had a call from northern Idaho to see why our kindergarten students had the highest IRI scores in the state. Corrective Action and restructuring was discussed.
C. Grand View PTA Report
Beth Gasper, Grand View PTA reported on projects they are working on. They currently are holding fund raisers by selling pizza kits and tickets for holiday baskets at the Christmas program and a drawing for ½ beef. They have had business donations of money to help with science fairs, Zoo Boise, an assembly for each class, bringing the Discovery Center to the school, assemblies in the gym for the entire school, Halloween Fun Fest for the public, students do Christmas and Valentine cards for the troops and they are mailed to them, movie nights with kids bringing pillows and blankets and watching movies. The PTA has bought tissue and hand sanitizers and provided field trips for each class last year. They plan to buy 3rd & 4th grade music recorders, donate money for library books, purchase dies for the die cut machine, provide insurance and donate playground equipment. Mrs. Gasper asked the district to help get rid of the “goat heads” which ruin basketballs. They are working to find funding to move the computer lab into a bigger room. Their volunteer service work includes helping teachers copy materials, cutting, laminating, etc. They have a basket for teachers to put anything they need done. They are planning a gym night to promote healthy life styles. They have sponsored an art project contest and a few have been sent to state contests. They had a math class for parents last year with Ms. Martinko and Mrs. Dalyrmple. Service projects included a food drive where they donated to the local food bank and donated to Red Cross. They participated in Teacher Appreciation Week and the parents volunteer many hours in the office and class room. They attended PTA Advocacy Day at the legislature which helped parents understand what’s going on in the school. She told the board they would be happy to help with anything the schools need. Discussion was held on both PTA and PTO groups from both elementary schools working together. The board commended the PTA group for all the positive things they are doing in the schools.
D. Maintenance Report
John Aquiso, maintenance supervisor, had asked the board to be on the agenda. He would like to be on the agenda every other month. Mrs. Chandler said the bus drivers are all lined out with their activity trips, etc. She had set every Thursday morning for a meeting with John along with Cathy Sellman, Amber Pearson and Will Goodman to touch base with him. John had told the board he would do the job for 60 days and then decide if he wants the job permanently. John told the board he didn’t have any tools at each school. The board told John they would help him in any way they could and if he needed part time help to get caught up they could get someone. The sprinklers have been blown out and winterized. John has checked other companies to see about purchasing paper towels. They can be purchased $15 a case cheaper but the paper towel holders will need to be changed. He would like to make a plan to see what needs to be done. John asked to work on Mondays to try to get caught up and the board gave their approval. The STF Lawn Service proposal for lawn mowing, weeding, fertilizing, etc. was discussed. Joe Merrick researched the expenditures for lawn maintenance and had an estimate of the expenses. Discussion was held on the lawn mower repairs and the warranty for the mower. The water system at Bruneau was discussed. The emergency ballasts on lights, 7 or 8 in Grand View and 6 or 7 in Bruneau have been replaced. John said he had a tractor with a loader he could use for outside maintenance and there is a big gopher problem at all the schools. The board assured Mr. Aquiso they would help him in any way they could to improve the maintenance in the district.
V. PUBLIC INPUT
None
VI. ACTION ITEMS
Board members asked to change the agenda to allow Mike Parker to present the audit first.
B. PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF 2010-11 AUDIT
Mike Parker of Bowen, Parker & Day in Homedale was present to review and present the 2010-11 audit. Mr. Parker had an exit conference via phone on Tuesday with Superintendent Vickie Chandler, Clerk Cathy Sellman, Howard Field and Marie Robertson. Mr. Parker discussed the audit page by page. The General Fund Balance is $74,751 which is the lowest fund balance the district has ever had. He told the board they were going to need to be very tough and tight with the budget. A supplemental levy was discussed. Cathy will take the audited numbers and put them into the budget to see what the 2011-2012 budget will look like with the audited fund balances. Special Education funding will be less for this year. The district took in $500,000 less in the entire budget last year than in previous years. The federal stimulus money will not be available for 2011-2012. As part of the audit the auditors test for internal controls. They pulled 45 samples of items in the district office including PO’s, signatures on checks, etc. and it was perfect. Mr. Parker stated the management team does a great job making lemonade from lemons. There was discussion on supplemental levies and pay to play sports.
Joe Merrick made the motion and Howard Field seconded to approve the 2010-2011 audit. Motion carried.
- APPROVE PHONE POLL ACCEPTANCE OF RESIGNATION OF LEP TEACHER
The resignation of LEP teacher, Amanda Heaven had been previously approved through a phone poll of board members. Sandy Denley has asked to resign from her cooking position at Rimrock because of health issues by the end of December.
Joe Merrick made the motion and Howard Field seconded to approve the resignation of Amanda Heaven as LEP teacher and to accept the resignation of Sandy Denley. Motion carried.
C. APPROVE STATE MANDATED RESTRUCTURE OF ALTERNATIVE PATH TO GRADUATION
The plan the board had previously approved was not accepted by the state. The state has given the district some suggestions and Wade Harper has provided a new format and will work with the one that was in board packets. (See attachment) If students pass ISAT’s the plan does not go into effect.
Joe Merrick made the motion and Lori Bennett seconded to approve the Alternative Graduation Plan. Motion carried.
D. APPROVE STATE MANDATED PRINCIPAL EVALUATION TEMPLATE
Superintendent Chandler gave board members a sample of the principal performance evaluation form and discussed it. The form will be approved at a later date.
E. APPROVE DAILY INCREASE IN SUBSTITUTE WAGES TO MEET FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE REQUIREMENTS
The number of hours in the school day has gone up with the 4-day school week. The Federal Minimum wage has also gone up. Superintendent Chandler recommended raising the substitute wages to meet the requirements.
Joe Merrick made the motion and Howard Field seconded to increase the daily substitute wages to meet Federal minimum wage requirements. Motion carried.
F. APPROVE ISBA RESOLUTIONS AND PROPOSED BYLAW CHANGES
Discussion was held on the ISBA resolutions and the proposed changes which will be voted on at the state convention. Superintendent Vickie Chandler reviewed the bylaw changes and said most of the changes were just with wording and there weren’t a lot of changes that would affect the district. The resolutions were reviewed and discussed one by one. (See attached resolutions)
Howard Field made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to give Lori Bennett the authority to vote for the board on the ISBA Resolutions and proposed by-law changes. Motion carried.
VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Howard Field made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to adjourn to executive session to discuss a personnel issue. Motion carried.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of school District 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 10:35 p.m.
The board reconvened in Open Session at 11:30 p.m.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Howard Field made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to adjourn. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 p.m.
_________________________________________
Catherine R. Sellman, Clerk
|
