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

December 17, 2009
                                                                                 
 I.         WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER
A.  The Board of Trustees, Joint School District No. 365, met for the regular meeting at Rimrock Jr. Sr. High School Music Room on Thursday, December 17, 2009.  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, Principal Gerald Chouinard, Diego Elizarraras, Sanjuana Zaragoza, Fay Zaragoza, Taylor Ramirez, Kathy Mori, Johanna Mori, Esperanza Elizarraras, Martin Elizarraras, Julie Bodily, Luis Manuel Elizarraras, Dan Bortholthaus, Trent Bodily, Kevin Barroso and Alfonso Barroso.            
                                                                                                           
II.        APPROVE AGENDA
Superintendent Chandler asked to amend the agenda to add Student Graduation Issue as Item 6 under Action Items.  Discussion was held on tabling #3
Joe Merrick made the motion and Ray Meyers seconded to approve the agenda with the addition of Action Item #6 for the December 17, 2009 meeting.  Motion carried.

III.       CONSENT AGENDA
A.  Approve minutes of the November 19, 2009 Regular Meeting
B.  Accounts Payable
C.  Bruneau Elementary Activity Accounts
D.  Grand View Elementary Activity Accounts
E.  Rimrock Activity Accounts
Ray Meyers made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to approve the Consent Agenda.  Motion carried.
                                                           
IV.       REPORTS TO THE BOARD
A.  Principal Reports- Phil McCluskey, Gerald Chouinard

Principal Gerald Chouinard reported the Students of the Month for December at Bruneau Elementary were Zane Mills, Luis Godinez and Carmela Bazan and for Grand View they were Dallyn Lowe, Mattie Draper, Hannah Field, Samantha Lindquist, Sierra Lawrence, Roberto Lino and Amanda Lingle.  Christmas Programs were held at Bruneau on December 15th and the Grand View Elementary Program was at Rimrock on December 16th.  Mr. Chouinard commended the students and staff for the excellent programs.  Northwest Association of Accredited Schools Review-Evidence Based School Evaluation Team visit will be scheduled for the middle of March.  Board members were given a time line and a list of the Steering Committee Members.  December newsletters were given to board members. 

Principal Phil McCluskey reported on the band concert and drama production.  He commended Janilee Macleod for directing the programs.  Mr. Harper and Mr. McCluskey have been working on the 4-year plans for students.  He gave board members a copy of information they have been working on.  First they surveyed all the students about what they want to do when they grow up.  A notice to parents will be sent home regarding the results of the survey.  They want to help students select classes which will help with their career interests.  Students may change their course planner with their parent’s permission.
(See attached sheets)  Discussion was held on a need to change curriculum, IDLA class work and where students can access their information.  Discussion was held on the high school buses arriving late in the mornings, students standing outside the building and then going to breakfast when the bell rings.  The board requested bus supervisor, Jim Dawson, start the bus routes 5 minutes earlier beginning January 4th. 
    
B.   Student Presentations:  Rimrock FHLA; Rimrock LEGO Robotics Team
Julie Bodily, Gifted/Talented advisor, and four junior high students attended the Boise Lego Robotics Competition in December with 59 teams in the competition.  Each team had a different challenge.  They explained the competition to board members, such as building a bridge from uncooked spaghetti and solving transportation issues in a community.  They demonstrated their robot which was built from Lego’s and the robotic board.  Everything on the board was built by the students from Lego pieces.  The team would like to start a high school robotics team next year.  Students visited with architects about their designs during the competition.

Future Hispanic Leaders of America President Luis Elizarraras and Advisor Dan Borgholthaus were present to report on their activities.  FHLA is committed to make sure that the youth succeed in building strong bridges between high school and higher education. They also promote cultural awareness and leadership skills.  Luis explained their activities, Cinco de Mayo, fund raising, community service projects and after school program.   The organization would like to give scholarships to the Youth Summit Camp for drug and alcohol prevention.   Superintendent Chandler commended the students on their Cinco de Mayo last year.  Luis Elizarraras explained how they prepared the food for Cinco de Mayo.  Principal McCluskey explained the five stations and the leadership organization involved in the Cinco de Mayo activities.

C.   Superintendent Report—Vickie L. Chandler          
Superintendent Vickie L. Chandler discussed the school events calendar with the board and encouraged them to attend as many activities as they could.  The attendance page and the course schedule for Rimrock were reviewed.  Discussion was held on the class schedule and meeting AYP.  The board would like reading and math classes scheduled in the morning on next year’s schedule.  Discussion was held on adding a Spanish II class.  Superintendent Chandler attended a meeting with superintendents from the small schools in Region III.  They discussed athletic schedules, costs and alternatives.  They asked that Athletic Directors not approve a football schedule until they meet again in January with better financial information.  Race to the Top information has been scarce.  The grant must be in to the Federal Government in January.  It may be necessary to have a special meeting to discuss it.  The ADA adjustment request has been received by the State Department.  They will send out acceptance letters after Christmas.  The Horseshoe Bend superintendent and technology personnel visited Rimrock so Will Goodman could show the security systems and other additions.  Horseshoe Bend is planning a bond levy for school improvements.  Superintendent Chandler, Principal McCluskey and Principal Chouinard attended an Evaluation Frameworks Training in Meridian on December 10th.

21st Century Community Learning Center Grant was explained.  The committee met on Wednesday to work on the needs of the grant.  The grant would cover keeping the schools open every day from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. for educational resources.  Tammy Payne, Amber Pearson and JayDene Aquiso are working on writing the grant.  The grant would also include paying for transportation to take students home. 

The board discussed the procedure for notifying parents when students have head lice. 

V.        PUBLIC INPUT     
Kathy Mori reported on the Treasure Valley Reading Association and their donations of free books for students.  Mrs. Mori gave books to children at the Grand View Elementary Christmas Program.  She said the parents and students were so excited about the free books and she thanked the board for approving the program for our school district.  The district pays $1 per child for the free books.

VI.        ACTION ITEMS

1.  Approve Kathy Freeman, Elementary Special Education Teacher
Board members had Kathy Freeman’s application in their board packets.  Staff members, Board Trustee Marie Robertson and Superintendent Vickie Chandler served on the interview team to interview four of eight applicants.  Ms. Freeman has already been working with Penny Hines and John Hannah to make a smooth transition on January 4, 2010. 
Marie Robertson made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to approve hiring Kathy Freeman as Special Education teacher.  Motion carried.

2.  Approve Julie Bodily, District Test Coordinator
Due to Penny Hines retirement, the district needs a new test coordinator.  Mrs. Hines has been working with Julie Bodily to ensure she has all the information and deadlines to be able to handle all of the state mandated testing.
Marie Robertson made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to accept Julie Bodily as District Test Coordinator.  Motion carried.

3.  Approve Elko Border Contract
The Elko County Border Contract was changed by Elko County this year to include many references to Special Education and Bruneau-Grand View responsibilities to Special Education students.  Superintendent Chandler has visited with Tim Hill, Finance Director at the State Department of Education, Jean Taylor Special Education Director for the State Department, Chris Hanson, Special Education Law Expert at Anderson, Julian, Hull Law Offices and they all feel the document would be detrimental to Bruneau-Grand View School District and may even be illegal.  The district office has been investigating the cost of bussing the students to Bruneau and Rimrock for their education.  The district responsibility is outlined in Idaho Code 33-1403.  Tim Hill’s interpretation of Idaho Code says the district could transport the students who live in our school district to our district schools.  Brian Julian of Anderson, Julian and Hill Law Offices reinforced the decision from the State Department of Education.  Discussion was held on reimbursement through the legislature for the school district, and a starting date for the Owyhee students and if the state would actually allow the district to bus students. 
Marie Robertson made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to table the border contract until a future date.  Motion carried.

4.  Approve Current Budget Update
Board members were given a copy of the budget in their board packets.  Superintendent Chandler asked board members if they had and questions and discussion was held on their questions. 
Ray Meyers made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to approve the current budget update.  Motion carried.

5.  Approve Superintendent Evaluation Process and Timeline
The superintendent evaluation needs to be done in January.  Chairman Dixie Black was given copies of the Superintendent Evaluation Form for board members to use in their evaluations.  They will give their evaluations to Chairman Black by January 10th so she can compile the results.

6.  Student Graduation Appeal
      Tabled until Executive Session

VII.     EXECUTIVE SESSION
Howard Field made the motion and Ray Meyers seconded to adjourn into Executive Session.  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 a student issue.

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 8:50 p.m.
            The board reconvened in Open Session at 9 p.m.
           
6.  Student Graduation Appeal
Joe Merrick made the motion and Marie Robertson seconded to accept the proposal for Student A.  Motion carried.

VIII.    ADJOURNMENT
Joe Merrick made the motion and Marie Robertson seconded to adjourn.  Motion carried.

            The meeting was adjourned at 9:02 p.m.

___________________________________________
                        (Catherine R. Sellman, Clerk)