RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 365
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
May 6, 2010
I. WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER
A. The Board of Trustees, Joint School District No. 365, met for the regular meeting at Rimrock Library on Thursday May 6, 2010. Chairman Dixie Black called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. then led the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed patrons.
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, Will Goodman, Robert Lemieux, Jared Lemieux, Erin Burnett, Melode Burnett-Simper, Harold Simper, Merrilan Simper, Michael C. Chandler, JayDene Aquiso, Robert Draper, Bonni Draper, Allen Merrick, Carol Merrick, Austin Merrick, Rita Gillespie, Travis Jewett, Jodi Jewett, Marie Hipwell, Russell Erwin, Dolly Morrison, Jessica Sonnen and Patty Dalrymple.
II. APPROVE AGENDA
Howard Field made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to approve the agenda for the May 6, 2010 meeting. Motion carried.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve Minutes for April 8, 2010 Regular Meeting
B. Approve Accounts Payable
Ray Meyers made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion carried.
IV. REPORTS TO THE BOARD
A. Superintendent Report—Vickie L. Chandler
Superintendent Chandler reviewed the enrollment report, May events calendar and substitute costs through April 15th with board members. She invited board members to attend all the activities and reminded them that graduation is May 16th and the board members should be at the entry to the gymnasium by 1:30. Graduation rehearsal and pictures will be at Rimrock on May 13th at 1 p.m. Mrs. Chandler congratulated the Rimrock FFA Chapter for their excellent program Monday evening and the Music Department for their outstanding concert Wednesday evening. Congratulations cards were signed for Penny Jones for receiving the prestigious Idaho Statewide Outstanding Prevention Service Award and Patty Dalrymple, long time 4th grade teacher at Grand View Elementary, for being selected as the PTA Idaho Teacher of the Year. Two board members will be out of town for the May 20th board meeting. Discussion was held on what to do about the next board meeting. Category I, II, III teachers need to be notified by May 25th, however they could approve all teachers at this meeting.
Howard Field made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to move the second May school board meeting to Wednesday, May 26th. Motion carried.
V. PUBLIC INPUT
None.
VI. ACTION ITEMS
A. Declare Financial Emergency
Superintendent Chandler explained that even though the state of Idaho has declared this emergency, each district is automatically in unless they opt out. The district must also declare that they are participating in the state emergency. Even if the district pays teachers exactly the same as last year, they need to declare an emergency because they would not be allowing for steps and lanes on the salary schedule which is directed in Idaho Code.
Howard Field made the motion and Ray Meyers seconded to declare participation in the state declared financial emergency. Motion carried.
B. Resignations/Applications
Superintendent Chandler stated she had received two resignations today. Gerald Chouinard has resigned the secondary English position to take a job as director/principal job with INSPIRE Connections Academy.
Marie Robertson made the motion and Ray Meyers seconded to accept the resignation of Gerald Chouinard and authorize the district to advertise for the secondary English position at Rimrock High School. Motion carried.
Bob Murray submitted a letter to resign on the Early Retirement Incentive Program through the State of Idaho.
Marie Robertson made the motion and Howard Field seconded to accept Mr. Murray’s retirement resignation and authorize for the advertisement of secondary P. E. Motion carried.
C. Approve Bus Maintenance Bid
Bus maintenance bids were to be turned in to the district office by 4 p.m. on the day of the board meeting. The clerk received two bids, one from Allen Merrick Truck and Tractor Repair and one from Robert Lemieux of Jumbo’s.
Joe Merrick asked to be dismissed from the discussion and left the meeting at 7:18 p.m.
Chairman Dixie Black asked Mr. Lemieux about his yearly inspections of $100 and an addition of $210 for brake inspections because last year’s bill had the additional charges so the total was $310. There were problems with the bills last year because the bill was higher than the bid. The air cleaners at 20% were explained by Robert Lemieux that was 20% over the cost. The board asked Robert how many tires would be needed to be replaced next year. His answer was 16 at the most, probably more like 8 or 10. The board asked each of them if they would like to explain their bid. Allen Merrick explained the inspection would be included with the filter replacement. Tire replacement was discussed. Commercial Tire has been replacing bus tires. The state bus inspections were discussed. Discussion was held on last year’s bid compared to last year’s invoices. An effort has been made to have the bid form changed to reflect what is actually being done. Bidding per mile and per hour was discussed. Bidders were asked to explain their software they would be using and Robert Lemieux stated he had been looking at VERSA. The chairman stated the board has asked for billing on the 1st of the month each month for next year. Allen Merrick stated Austin’s wife, Ashley, would use QuickBooks for their invoices. Each unit would have a list of materials and times. Their company philosophy is to take care of their customers. At the last board meeting Joe Merrick and Vickie Chandler were asked to revise the bid form. Brad Carpenter from Western Mountain Bus Company helped them work on the new form. Marie Robertson commented that the reason you have a contract is because that is what you pay on. The board agreed that every month they needed to go through the bill to see that it matches the bid. Board members agreed it was hard to compare the two bids because some things were higher on one bid sheet and other items higher on the other bid sheet. Service calls per mile were discussed and Allen Merrick stated he has never charged mileage, just a flat fee. Robert Lemieux said he charges $2 per mile and $50 per hour at the site. According to Brad Carpenter, there is a change with the buses for oil changes, instead of at 3,000 miles the oil can be changed at 6,000 miles. Allen Merrick stated United Oil will throw in oil analysis on the buses. They will pull a sample at 3,000 miles and 6,000 miles to see where the optimum interval will be. Oil specifications were discussed. Much discussion was held on the two bids.
Marie Robertson made the motion and Ray Meyers seconded to table the bus maintenance contracts until May 26th so they can investigate further. Motion carried.
Joe Merrick returned to the meeting at 7:56 p.m.
D. Decision on 4-day School Week for 2010-2011
The 4-day school week committee counted the survey results on May 3rd. The surveys had been mailed to each parent and notices were posted in all the newspapers and were in each school building for community members to comment. The committee counted the votes from the surveys. Will Goodman reported for the committee on the surveys which were opened on Monday with the parent survey showing 46 supporting the 4-day school week and 9 votes against. The survey from parents and community showed 34 votes for Monday and 16 for Friday as the day off. The staff surveys showed 41 in favor of the 4-day school week and 6 against and 38 voting for Monday and 8 voting for Friday. The surveys showed 85% in favor of a 4-day school week and 75% wanting Monday as the day off school. Since the community meetings and the interference of Family Home Evenings, the sports schedules would look about the same as this year, except with no home games on Monday nights. A sports schedule from 2008-09 and 2009-2010 was reviewed and discussed. (See attached schedule) Last year the school played 11 games on Monday with 7 of the 11 being home games. Mr. Goodman gave board members a list of student absences at each school to compare absences on Monday or Friday. Bruneau Elementary students absent on Monday were 72 and on Friday 67.5; Grand View Elementary students absent on Monday were 212 and 233 absent on Fridays and Rimrock students absent on Mondays were 174 and absent on Fridays were 186. Howard Field stated that this is a whole community and everybody should have voted, not just the parents because statistically there should have been more votes. He doesn’t see any financial gain and there was no breakdown of the per hour cost of savings and no transportation figures. According to the SDE material in 2008, 67 schools had a 4-day week. Mr. Field suggested all employees take a 4% cut and administrators take a 6.5% cut to balance the budget and have the entire community vote if they wanted a 4-day week. Marie Robertson stated she had received one call from a parent concerned about the 4-day week. She told him she would make the concerns known. Russell Erwin asked the question if we knew how much more they would cut in the year. Howard Field stated the legislature could add a half penny on the sales tax to raise the revenue to support education if necessary. This is the first time the legislature has cut education. Chairman Black stated she would like to keep the salaries the same for employees. Bus depreciation money was discussed. Joe Merrick asked if schools we researched were taking Friday off. If we take the Monday off, the entire school will be closed. Will Goodman said other districts saved on hourly salaries, substitutes salaries, 20% less on buses, and a savings of utilities with at least $30,000 in savings. Student absences on Monday and Fridays were discussed. Howard Field stated we would have a savings if the district combined both elementary schools. Superintendent Chandler explained that in the formula, Bruneau Elementary brings in one classroom unit of funding and that funding would be lost if they were combined. Discussion was held on closing the district office and moving it to Rimrock. Russ Erwin asked to have the motion include keeping the buildings closed on that day. Robert Draper asked if there was no financial gain, could we go back to the 5 days. The board assured him they would. Chairman Black stated she felt the district needed to try it for a year. Will Goodman recommended having another community survey at the end of the year to see if the community still wants the 4-day. Marie Robertson said she was totally against the 4-day week when the district started investigating. When she saw the number of substitutes and the number of student absences she changed her mind because of those two things. Her bias is that these kids need to be educated. She would be willing to try to see if we could make AYP. Howard Field stated teachers have too many personal days because they abuse it instead of being in the classroom. Marie Robertson said the student absences needs to be addressed.
Joe Merrick made the motion and Ray Meyers seconded that we go to a 4-day school week and take Monday off and have the buildings closed, except for staff in-service, and the necessary days and leave the option to revisit and change back to the five day school at the end of the year if necessary. Robertson, Merrick, Meyers, Black aye. Field, nay. Motion carried.
Joe Merrick commended Vickie Chandler, Cathy Sellman, Will Goodman, Jessica Sonnen, Patty Dalrymple, Phil McCluskey, Trent Bodily and Sherri Karren for the research and effort they have made investigating the 4-day week.
Superintendent Chandler stated she understood the Monday night issue and she would truly work at keeping activities off Monday nights.
E. Approve School Lunch Prices for 2010-2011
Superintendent Chandler stated the district prices were below the Federal requirement for the minimum for the district to receive Federal Funds. (See attached sheet) Junior/Senior High School student lunches will now be $2.00 from $1.75. Elementary student lunches will be $1.75 from $1.50. Adult lunches will now be $3.25 from $3.00. JayDene Aquiso explained that the USDA sets the reimbursement rates each year. Marie Robertson asked why we didn’t automatically charge the new reimbursement rates. JayDene Aquiso suggested raising the amount by 25 cents to cover the increases.
Marie Robertson made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to approve the Food Service Director’s suggested increase for food in our district. Motion carried.
F. Employment of Certified Staff
Tabled until Executive Session
G. Senior Graduation Appeals
Tabled until Executive Session
H. Personnel Issues
Tabled until Executive Session
I. Negotiations
Tabled until Executive Session
VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Joe Merrick made the motion and Howard Field seconded to adjourn into Executive Session for student issues, personnel issues and negotiations, items F, G, H, I. 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 student issues, personnel issues and negotiations.
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 8:42 p.m.
The board reconvened in Open Session at 10:10 p.m.
Joe Merrick made the motion and Ray Meyers seconded to waive the graduation requirements for Student A. Motion carried.
Joe Merrick made the motion and Marie Robertson seconded to approve the recommended hiring for certified staff except not extend a contract to Teacher A and advertise for the open position. Motion carried.
Marie Robertson made the motion and Joe Merrick seconded to freeze all staff salaries and benefits and don’t pay the steps and lanes for 2010-2011 and as result of staff survey change the Blue Cross deductible to $750. Black, Meyers, Robertson, Merrick, aye. Field, nay. Motion carried.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Marie Robertson made the motion and Ray Meyers seconded to adjourn. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
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(Catherine R. Sellman, Clerk) |
