April 13, 2011 Board Meeting Minutes

MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 61
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011 – 6:30 P.M.
DISTRICT OFFICE 

Board Member Paul Bates made a motion to convene to Closed Executive Session pursuant to Idaho Code §67-2345(1)(b) to consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent, or public school student.  The motion was seconded by Steve Guthrie and passed unanimously by roll call vote:  

Julie Dahlgren:  Aye
Dan Parke:  Aye
Steve Guthrie:  Aye
Paul Bates:  Aye
Kathryn Graves:  Aye  

Present were Board Chair Julie Dahlgren and Board Members Dan Parke, Steve Guthrie, Paul Bates and Kathryn Graves.   

Board Chair Julie Dahlgren stated that a quorum was present.

I.       Closed Executive Session

II.      Convene to Open Session

REGULAR APRIL BOARD MEETING

For complete details, please watch the streamed broadcast of the Regular April Board meeting.

III.     Call to Order and Welcome

IV.     Pledge of Allegiance

Board Member Kathryn Graves made a motion to amend the Consent Agenda with the following additions:

VI.     Accolades

Dear Dr. Barber,  

First, I want to thank you for all you are doing to support Blaine County Schools through your efforts with the current legislature. I know it has been challenging and time consuming for all of those who are working to preserve our schools and the terrific education of students in Blaine County. Thank you, thank you so very much.  

While you have been occupied with important business, the teachers and schools continue to do their jobs working hard to build future citizens. I want to tell you about a very special teacher, Mrs. Oliver.  

Kathy Oliver was one of my son Cody's teachers at Bellevue Elementary School. Cody had learning difficulties and other challenges during those years and FINALLY began to thrive as a student and took off as a learner. Although some of his concerns followed him through the years, we look back with appreciation on the great years in Mrs. Oliver's class (he was lucky to have her for TWO years---both first and second grade). I need to conclude this part of the story by saying that Cody has completed high school through the Alternative School and will graduate soon! The terrific staff there---in particular, Jill Bailey, has been an invaluable resource and support for him. Thank you to these two teachers who have done so much to care for Cody over the years  

This story is NOT over; - my daughter, Alyssa, had Mrs. Oliver for 2nd grade at Woodside and it was a year where she put it all together; - reading, writing, social skills, humor and creativity! She has the privilege to have Mrs. Oliver AGAIN---for 4th grade. What a wonderful year it has been! They recently completed their "Idaho Project". The students studied the counties of Idaho. Their final project is hanging in the Chamber of Commerce in Ketchum for the next few weeks. On a recent field trip they met the mayors of Sun Valley and Ketchum and the school was awarded the key to the city of Sun Valley! As a part of the project Ali drew maps and landforms and created a power point about "her" county. They also had oral reports and learned to speak clearly into a microphone. It was a FABULOUS experience! This kind of learning is inspirational, challenging and creative. It helps to shape a well-rounded child.  

Over the past few days, I have been helping Mrs. Oliver in the Ski Program at Woodside. She relates well to students, parents and staff and is caring to those around her. She diligently worked with the most beginner skiers on the "Magic Carpet." I saw her encourage and inspire these difficult students to get back up and try again. Kudos to Mrs. Oliver for all that she does and has done for so many students over the years, but especially MY children, Cody and Alyssa.  

Thank you, Lonnie, for supporting the outstanding teachers in Blaine County--especially; our favorite teacher, Mrs. Oliver!  

Sincerely and with great appreciation,
Traci Carlson

Dear Dr. Barber,  

I am writing this letter requesting a School Board Accolade for the Carey Basketball team and Coaches, Mr. Dick Simpson and Mr. Danny Simpson.

As you are aware, the Carey boys’ basketball team beat Nez Perce 57 to 56, last weekend to become the IA Division II State Champions. It was quite a game. Last year we lost the championship game by one point to Nez Perce.  

Mr. Jeff Cordes does an outstanding job of keeping track of information and representing our communities and schools in the Mountain Express. Here are a few of his statistics:

• Coach Simpson has been the head coach for the past 10 years.

• His head coaching record is 220 and 45.

• Finished the season with 17 consecutive wins

• Over the years Carey qualified to attend the State tournament 18   times.

• In the history of Carey School we have been to the championship    game 3 times.

• This is the first time ever that the Carey Panthers have won a state            championship in basketball.

• Carey finished this season with a record of 24 and 2 with Carey scoring 1438 points and their opponents scoring 1022. That is Carey averaging 53.3 points per game.

• Over the past four seasons (seniors this year), Carey has enjoyed:

  • Two state football championships (2008, 2010)

  • One football third place trophy (2009)

  • 2nd place last year in boys basketball (2010)

  • State Championship this year in basketball! (2011)

• In the State Championship game the panthers were much smaller layers over 6'2".

• Panthers were behind by 8 or 10 points at one point in third quarter.

• Coach Simpson kept them working together as a team to the very end.

• Coaches Dick and Danny coached the All-Star game during the last School Board meeting.  

At Carey High School we have great people as role models like these two coaches. Their teaching/coaching goes much deeper than the basketball court. They are teaching life lessons, and building productive citizens through basketball each day in practice and in the games. Carey School also has excellent students that work to be the very best they can be both in athletics and academics.  

Coaches Dick and Danny Simpson are examples of great people who enjoy working with our boys to help build them into productive young men now and for years to come. Thank you Coaches Dick and Danny Simpson!  

Sincerely, John M. Peck, Carey School Principal

Dear Dr. Barber and Board Members:  

I must try again to give great acknowledgement to the hard working teachers of the Dual Immersion program. This time of year is particularly important as one of the Latin American Holidays; Dia de Los Ninos is approaching.  This Holiday celebrates the children for the importance each and every one of them give to society now and in the future.  Two amazing teachers always rise to the occasion to make this celebration the best that it can be for all of the children in this valley; they are Juan Salamanca and Lisa Thilmont.  Both have spent countless hours after school helping to put on this event and have been doing this for ten years now.  Mr. Salamanca has gone from holding the rope on the piñatas to calling out the Bingo numbers.  Ms. Thilmont is our organizational guru and does it with a smile.  They are truly dedicated to the educational and cultural experiences of the children in our district.  Please make sure that their efforts are rewarded by reading this accolade at the April meeting. Also note that everyone is invited to this event April 30th at the Middle School.  

Thanks so much,
Sheri Thomas

Dear Patty and Fritz,  

As a mandate of the U.S. Department of Education, the selection process changed for the LEP Program of Excellence Awards. This year's program selections had to meet the rigorous requirements established by the USDOE's Title III Program which included a two year minimum of meeting AMAOs, growth on ISAT for the LEP subgroup, a gap analysis of the LEP subgroup as compared to non-LEP groups, evidence of an effective LEP Program, and evidence of meaningful parental involvement. A committee was established at the State Department of Education to review all relevant data and make the recommendations for the 2011 LEP Program of Excellence Awards. On behalf of the State Department of Education's Title III-LEP Program, we want to congratulate Wood River Middle School on being selected as the 2011 Idaho LEP Program of Excellence--Secondary.  

We are excited to honor the school's administration and staff at this year's Title I Conference taking place on April 6-8 at the Center on the Grove here in Boise. We will recognize the school's achievements at the awards luncheon on Friday, April 8th from 11:30-12:45pm. The school will receive a plaque and a check for $2,500.00 to be used to further enhance the LEP Program at Wood River Middle School.  

There will be a table reserved for 10 guests at the awards luncheon. Imagine Learning is sponsoring the awards luncheon and will cover the costs of the ten guests the school wishes to bring to help celebrate. Please send me the names of the ten individuals you would like to attend the awards luncheon by April 1, 2011.  

Again, congratulations to the staff at Wood River Middle School for being selected as the 2011 Idaho LEP Program of Excellence--Secondary. It will be my privilege to honor your school publicly and share with others the incredible work the staff does on behalf of LEP students and families.  

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need any further information.  

Respectfully,  

Fernanda M. Brendefur, Ed.D.
State Title III-LEP Coordinator
Idaho State Department of Education

Board Chair Julie Dahlgren read an excerpt from Karen Gedde’s nomination of Carla Scanlon for “Woman of the Year.” Ms. Gedde called her an amazing woman, a mentor and a dear friend.  She said that she has come to realize that it is impossible not to admire, to like and to respect her.  Her devotion and advocacy for children, anyone in need, for that matter, is above and beyond the call of duty. She quietly performs acts of kindness that often appear large and overwhelming.  She inspires me to strive to be my best.  

Julie Dahlgren: Carla does this for far more people and far more teachers.  I have personally benefited from Carla.  I’ve been able to work with her before I retired from teaching, and now, as a Cognitive Coach, she’s benefiting other teachers as well as students.  If you haven’t read the “Woman of the Year” article in the Mountain Express, please do so.  It also talks about Carla’s incredible involvement with her church and other families in the community; she touches all of us.  It is such a well deserved award; I just wanted to congratulate her.  

Please click here to view the March 23, 2011 Mountain Express “Woman of the Year” article.

Wood River High School Student Union students:  

Kaili Smith, Dash Stethem, Jessica Hamilton, Kylee Richmond, Daniel Owens, Easton Kimball, Kelsey Furlong, Ellen Davis, Quincey Rainey, Desi Midby, Allie Seigal, and Sean Sutton  

presented highlights of the 2010-11 school year via their own version of the Jeopardy game.   

Please click here to view the Student Union students’ presentation.

Special and Regular March Board Meetings – March 8, 2011

Please click here to view the March 2011 financial reports.

Sara Gilman, Woodside Elementary School Special Education Teacher

Claire Cummings, Woodside Elementary School Dual Immersion Teacher

Classified Staff – Exiting  

Martha Martin – Bus Driver – DSB – Transportation Department              

Classified Staff – Recommending for Hire              

Abigail Grafft – Paraprofessional – Wood River Middle School              

Certified Staff – Exiting              

*Dianne Parker – Kindergarten Teacher – Hemingway Elementary School            
Sarah Bristow – 3rd Grade Elementary Teacher – Bellevue Elementary School            
Jane Goodson – Social Worker – Woodside Elementary School            
Brent Carnduff – Elementary PE Teacher – Hemingway Elementary School              

*Retiring September 1, 2011

Alicia Pastor Hollis – 5th Grade Dual Immersion Teacher – Hemingway Elementary School

IX.     Public Comments

None.

Please click here to view the Environmental Practices Committee Annual Status Report.

Please click here to view the Wood River High School Environmental Club’s presentation of their accomplishments: W.A.T.E.R. (We Appreciate the Earth’s Resources).

Dr. Barber updated the Board regarding recent Idaho legislation (as printed as the Guest Opinion in the April 13, 2011 edition of the Mountain Express newspaper).

The 2011 Legislature made sweeping educational reforms, sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna, and signed into law by Governor Butch Otter.  The reforms, titled "Students Come First," are centered on three pillars of reform and touted as "a plan to educate more students at a higher level with limited resources."  

Senate Bill 1110 establishes a pay-for-performance system for teachers, Senate Bill 1184 forces a reduction of the number of teachers and paraprofessionals in Idaho by more than 1,000 to support more technology in the classrooms, and Senate Bill 1108 is labeled as a labor relations and employee entitlement bill.   While I personally believe that each of these bills contains some parts that are detrimental to the education of our children, I would like to focus on the implications that Senate Bill 1108, labor relations and employee entitlements, has for our school district.  

While Superintendent Luna has said that this legislation returns decision-making powers to locally elected school boards and creates a more professional and accountable work force, others have labeled it as a "union-busting" bill.  The bill in effect does the following:  

Phases out continuing contracts for all current and future teachers who have not yet earned it (have not completed three full years of successful practice in the district), to be replaced by one- or two-year contracts.  

Eliminates seniority as a factor in the RIF, reduction in force, decisions made by the board of trustees.  

Creates a requirement that feedback from parents and objective measures of growth in student achievement are factors in the performance evaluations of professional staff.  

Gives principals more control over the new professional staff assigned to their buildings.  

Eliminates the Early Retirement Incentive Program for certified teachers.  

Limits the length of negotiated agreements between the school district and teachers to one year.

Eliminates the "evergreen" clauses from negotiated agreements, meaning that master contracts that have guided districts and teachers for many years can no longer be carried over from year to year.  

Requires unions and teacher associations to provide documentation that they represent more than 50 percent of employees for collective bargaining to take place.  

Limits collective bargaining (negotiations) to compensation (salaries and benefits).  

Requires that all labor negotiations be conducted in public meetings.  

The Blaine County School District and the Blaine County Education Association have a longstanding and effective partnership in our district, including the negotiations process.  While negotiations have in the past been conducted in private, I am confident that our negotiations will continue to benefit both the district and our teachers, whether conducted in private or in public.  

In the past, negotiations have consisted of teams of certified teachers, administrators and board members.  This will not change.  The biggest change will be the fact that the law now limits negotiations to discussions about teacher compensation (salaries and benefits).  

While negotiations are conducted between the administration and certified teachers, it has been our history that any additional salary or increases in benefit have been extended to our hard-working classified employees.  I do not anticipate that this will change.  

I will inform the public of the negotiation dates as soon as they are established.  I am confident that the partnership that exists between the Education Association and the School District will continue to be both collaborative and fruitful and that the new process will serve our students, teachers, administrators and community well.  

The children that we educate today are tomorrow's future.  Our job is to give our children the best possible education so that they are equipped to create the best possible future.  We cannot do that without our valuable teachers.

Dr. Barber informed the Board of Trustees that a committee of administrators has been formed to begin the work on the creation of Digital Portfolios for Blaine County School District students.  As the Board knows, through their reading of Curriculum 21 by Heidi Hayes Jacobs (Chapter 9), as we move further into 21st Century learning, digital portfolios will become more critical to the documentation of student work.   

When student work is digitized, important benchmarks, assessments and projects that will become part of a portfolio that follows the students through their academic careers will be documented.  These portfolios, besides containing a record of student growth and development, can and will be used by teachers in a formative environment.  That is to say, teachers will have the ability to open these digital portfolios and see a record of the students’ work and growth through the years.  This will aide our teachers in understanding students’ strengths, challenges and preferred modes of learning.  The portfolios will also aide students when they are finished with school and ready to go on to college or the workplace.  They can provide the students with a way to show prospective schools or employers their exemplary work such as culminating projects, senior projects and the like.  We are very excited to begin the process of creating the criteria for placement of student work into the portfolios.  

The following administrative team has taken on this work:  

●   Principal John Peck
●   Principal Fritz Peters
●   Principal Brad Henson
●   Principal Angie Martinez
●   Principal Lynn Seifert
●   Vice Principal Rob Ditch
●   Vice Principal Keith Nelson
●   Curriculum Director Patty McLean

Please click here to view information regarding Dr. Chantal Thompson’s Oral Proficiency Assessment Training and Results, Staff Priorities for Grades K-8, and a listing of Who will be Piloting What in Math.

Julie Dahlgren, Board Chair:  I would suggest this be renamed a “Community Conversation” because we are suggesting a new format from the traditional “Town Hall” setting.  I have been strongly influenced by some tenets in the book Schools Cannot Do It Alone by Jamie Volmer. He researched hundreds of school districts and suggests that everything that goes on inside a school is tied to local attitudes, values, traditions, and beliefs.  By restructuring the typical format of PowerPoint presentation and then public comment in a three-minute microphone spot, we think we can start conversations that will ultimately ensure that every child receives a quality education in Blaine County School District.  

Our topic will be “What Constitutes a Quality Education?”  

We will have five sub-topics and tables where one trustee, an administrator, and a teacher will listen and take notes.  Some answers can be given immediately; others will need a more in-depth response.  The main purpose is to listen.   

The date for this “School Board Listening Session” is Monday, April 25 from 6:30 – 8:30 at the Wood River YMCA in Ketchum.  We will be advertising in the media and inviting as many folks as we can think of.   

Trustees Steve Guthrie and Kathryn Graves so generously served on the last town hall’s subcommittee.  Trustees Paul Bates and Kathryn Graves volunteered to serve on the “School Board Listening Session” subcommittee.

Julie Dahlgren:  All names are in for the three Trustee zones with no write-in candidates.  

Zone 5 is Don Nurge with no opposition.  

Zone 3 is Kathryn Graves with no opposition.  

Zone 1 is a contested race between Bellevue resident Halle Star and Carey resident Shawn Bennion.  Zone 1 encompasses both geographical areas.  I don’t know yet if there will be a public forum for a debate or a question answer session; I hope so.  

All candidates were in attendance at the Board meeting and were introduced by Julie Dahlgren.  

The Trustee Election will be held Tuesday, May 17, 2011.  Polling places have not been established by the County Election Office yet.  As you know, all Idaho elections are now conducted by the County Clerks and the School District has little involvement with the protocols.  

The new trustees will be sworn in at the Annual Board of Trustees Meeting on July 12, 2011.

The Board of Trustees self assesses annually for continual improvement.  Julie Dahlgren gave each Board Member a Self Assessment and asked them to send their completed forms to Board Clerk Laurie Kaufman by May 1, 2011.

Julie Dahlgren:  As I approach the end of my tenure, I become more convinced that it is difficult to do a good job without outside research and ideas.  It’s imperative that we stay up on educational trends, pedagogy, technology, laws, judicial decisions, and curriculum to name a few.  I would suggest a Board book club where we could dialog with each other, or with administrators and teachers, or patrons.  Here’s my best seller list for the moment:  

1. Jamie Vollmer’s Schools Cannot Do It Alone - A must read; the author is on the docket for ISBA’s annual meeting in November.  

2. Heidi Hayes Jacobs (Editor) Curriculum 21, Essential Education for a Changing World. - Core Team uses ideas and principles from this book.  

3. Zemelman, Daniels, Hyde Best Practice, Today’s standards for teaching and Learning in American Schools. - Suggested by Curriculum Director, Patty McLean.  

4. Daniel Pink, Drive, The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.  Hint: It’s not money.  Also, A Whole New Mind.  Get Pinked!  

5. Diane Ravitch, The Death and Life of the American School System.

XIV.    Action Agenda

Please click here to view the 2011-2012 School Year Calendar as presented. 

A Board discussion was held regarding student contact days.  

No action was taken at this time; it was agreed that additional time is needed to work on the 2011-2012 School Year Calendar. 

Board Member Kathryn Graves made a motion to approve the Silver Creek High School Graduation Requirements as presented.  The motion was seconded by Steve Guthrie and passed unanimously.

Please click here to view the Silver Creek High School Graduation Requirements.

Mike Chatterton:  Idaho Code Section 33-313 requires all School Districts to review and possibly redraw the boundaries of the Trustee Zones after each census is released.  The census was released last month; the District is required to review zone boundaries within 120 days of the release of the census numbers.  

I have asked for quotes from two companies to help us through this process.  Quadrant Consulting, Inc. from Boise has given us a price not to exceed $1,950 if both phases need to be completed.  The Land Group, Inc. from Eagle has given us a price of $2,410 if both phases are needed.   

My recommendation is to go with Quadrant Consulting.  

Please click here to view the Quadrant Consulting and Land Group proposals.

Board Member Steve Guthrie made a motion to approve the hiring of Quadrant Consulting to redistrict Blaine County School District’s Trustee Zone boundaries.  The motion was seconded by Paul Bates and passed unanimously.

Dr. Barber led a discussion regarding the existing “Leader In Me” programs in Carey School and Hailey Elementary School.  

Please click here to view Dr. Barber’s letter to the Board and letters from Principals John Peck and Tom Bailey.

Board Member Steve Guthrie made a motion to implement the “Leader in Me” program into Hemingway, Woodside and Bellevue Elementary Schools.  The motion was seconded by Dan Parke and passed unanimously.

Ron Martinez reported on last year’s Summer School and what’s in store for the 2011 Summer School session.  

Please click here to view Ron’s Summer School Presentation and student results from the 2010 IDLA summer classes.

Kate Heinecke presented the revamped Blaine County School District website to the Board.  The menus are redesigned and the overall design is updated.  All navigation menus are now in the left column with more selections than before; it is much easier to navigate and find information.  Thank you Kate; -- great work!

Buffalo Rixon presented the design-build team’s three design schemes (A, B and C) to the Board for their consideration for the Community Campus Auditorium Remodel project.  No action is asked for at this time as Budget meetings will take place in the near future regarding the design schemes and will be brought to the Board at a later date.  

Please click here to view the Community Campus Remodel presentation.

XVII.   Public Comments Regarding Tonight's Regular Agenda

I wanted to comment on the Summer School presentation because I thought it was terrific.  But I would encourage looking at those numbers; that we ramp-up the IDLA for the secondary schools, especially in light of what’s happening with Mr. Luna and his request.  I have to comment that I know a lot of people, our family included, that used Summer School every year between 8th grade on.  Sometimes our kids did two classes in the summer.  I really think it’s a great asset and looking at your numbers, I think they are really low because you’re running a great program.  Let’s utilize it, let’s look at it and let’s ramp it up.  I’m really concerned about 13 people failing, that’s a big figure, and if you do ramp up the program, those need to be looked at carefully because you need to have success in online learning.  Everyone coming into our school system does, so that number is big. We should encourage more people to go online successfully in the upper grades.

I know you’re doing your Board assessments.  I wanted to know, as a member of the public, do we hear about those later?  And do you compare them yearly and discuss them with the Board members?  I’ve looked at them but do you talk about improvement in certain things, are there certain areas that you are lacking in?  I’d like to see that discussion or hear about it.   

I’d also like to know if we could look at the way the Board meetings are run.  It’s an awfully long meeting tonight with a lot of important stuff, but maybe you could break it up and do accolades somewhere else or maybe switch that to the end of the meeting.  Because it’s hard to get the public here at 10:00 at night.  Thank you very much.

I have a “Leader In Me” question.  Kathryn was asking a question about how much it was going to cost for each school.  No one asked the question of you guys, how much of the “Leader In Me” budget comes out of, -- is that out of overall teacher inservice money, or what is that?  Is it just dedicated to “Leader In Me” and not out of inservice, is it to do with their collaboration money, what is it?  Other training maybe that they would be doing for something else?  

Mike Chatterton: It’s a separate line item under Professional Development.  

Penfield:  How much is Professional Development usually?  

Mike:  Last year it was $200,000.  Typically it depends on what we have planned for the year and what that is going to come out to.  

Penfield.  So this is an addition to Professional Development and not a chunk out of Professional Development.  

Mike:  Last year most of the money that we spent on “Leader In Me” came out of the carryover from the previous year’s Professional Development.  This year it will be an additional line item.  

Penfield:  Thank you very much.  The other question is about the 13 F’s, because I just signed my kid up for an IDLA class and I wanted to know if the 13 fails were because they were remedial students or was it because the kids didn’t put the time in to actually complete the course?  

Ron Martinez:  Those are students that were not engaged in the classes they were taking.  I think they tried to take it as a remediation and they continued to not do what was asked of them.  There were repeated contacts with them to try to encourage them to come in, get some help and to do what was being asked of them.  

Penfield:  So it was a lack of participation.  Thank you.

There being no further business to discuss, Board Member Dan Parke made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Steve Guthrie and passed unanimously.  

The Regular April meeting of the Blaine County School District Board of Trustees adjourned at 10:50 p.m.