January 11, 2011 Board Meeting Minutes

MINUTES
SPECIAL & REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 61
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2011 – 5:00 & 6:30 P.M.
DISTRICT OFFICE

Board Member Steve Guthrie made a motion to convene to Closed Executive Session pursuant to Idaho Code §67-2345(1)(b) to conduct a formal Expulsion Hearing for a Blaine County School District student.  The motion was seconded by Kathryn Graves and passed unanimously by roll call vote.  

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

Present were Board Chair, Julie Dahlgren, Vice Chair, Dan Parke and Board Members Steve Guthrie and Kathryn Graves.  Also in attendance were Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Lonnie Barber, Assistant Superintendent, John Blackman, Translator, Mildred Gonzalez, and Board Clerk, Laurie Kaufman.  

Vice Chair Dan Parke stated that a quorum was present.

I.     Closed Executive Session

The Executive Session for the purpose of conducting a formal Expulsion Hearing commenced at 5:00 p.m. in the Blaine County School District Office located at 118 West Bullion St, Hailey, Blaine County, Idaho, to determine whether or not the recommended expulsion of Student No. 2010-11:06 should be approved by the Board of Trustees of Blaine County School District No. 61.  

Dr. Barber then declared that he was the duly appointed Hearing Officer for the purposes of administering the hearing.  

Present at the hearing on behalf of the Administrative Staff were Principal, Pete Jurovich, Assistant Principal, Keith Nelson and Security Resource Officer, Raul Ornelas.  

Present on behalf of the student was his mother.  

The Hearing Officer verified with both parties that they had received a copy of the Notice of Hearing, which set forth the charges, location, time and date of meeting, and rights of the student as provided by statute.

Thereafter, upon conclusion of opening remarks, the Administrative Staff presented its evidence.  

Following the Administrative Staff’s presentation of evidence, the student presented his evidence.  

The Hearing Officer then allowed both the Administrative Staff and the student to give closing remarks and excused the parties so the Board would deliberate and make a decision.  

After a full and complete deliberation and being fully advised in the premises, the Board of Trustees of School District No. 61 hereby find as follows:

CONCLUSION  

The Blaine County School District Board of Trustees, after consideration of the facts and testimony presented, concluded that the student had violated the policies, rules, and regulations of the School District and such student is guilty of conduct which endangers the health and safety of other students.  

There being no further business to discuss the Board of Trustees convened to Open Session.

II.    Convene to Open Session

Board Member Dan Parke made a motion by stating: The Board of Trustees hereby renders its decision to expel Student No. 2010-11:06 from attendance at the District schools for one calendar year based on a violation of Blaine County School District Policy 507.3.  However, Student No. 2010-11:06 will have the opportunity to attend the Alternate Settings Center at the District Support Services Building beginning January 12, 2011 if the following conditions are met:

1. Student must complete forty (40) community service hours prior to graduation, with a certificate of completion from the agency provided to the Clerk of the Board;

2. Student will submit to the School District evidence of clean, random drug tests that are administered no less than one time per week.  The Board’s expectation is that each and every drug test will prove negative for all illegal substances.  If any drug test result is positive or is found to have been tampered with, the one-calendar year expulsion will immediately go into effect.  Copies of the results of each drug test will be provided to the Clerk of the Board;

3. Student shall not have violated any drug or alcohol laws of the State of Idaho during the term of the student’s expulsion or the one calendar year expulsion will go into effect;

4. Student will not trespass on any School District property nor attend any school sponsored event, including non-School District sponsored activities being held on school property.  If Student is found to be on School District property or at a School District function, law enforcement will immediately be contacted, and the School District will press trespassing charges against him;

5. Student will attend the Alternate Settings Center (DSS);

6. Student must present proof acceptable to the Blaine County School District administration of satisfactory academic progress at DSS;

7. Student must comply with all current and future Blaine County School District rules, regulations, and policies;

8. No gang clothing or gang activity;

9. No intimidation of students or staff;

10. Completion and documentation of the above criteria must be supplied to the Clerk of the Board for each of the requirements stated above prior to re-enrolling and are the sole responsibility of the student and the parents.

11. Student will be under a strict Behavioral Contract;

12. The Board expects 100% student compliance with the above stated criteria.

13. Student must comply, in all respects, with the Blaine County Probation Department, and, further, shall be required to self report to the School District, any probation violation proceeding, including but not limited to any probation revocation proceeding.

14. Further, the District directs its Administrative Officer to file such other petitions and take such other steps as are necessary under the requirements of Idaho’s Youth Rehabilitation Act with respect to this student.

The Student’s Behavioral Contract shall include, but not limited to, the following:

Behavior Contract:

1. No tardies;

2. No truancies;

3. A good faith effort to do well in all classes;

4. No intimidation or harassment of students or staff;

5. No consumption or possession of tobacco, drugs, alcohol, or other prohibited/illegal substances;

6. No gang activity;

7. No vandalism;

8. Be respectful of other students and staff members;

9. Must comply with all current and future Blaine County School District rules, regulations, and policies; and

10. The Board expects 100% compliance with the Behavioral Contract.

11. If Student violates the contract, the one calendar year expulsion will immediately go into effect.

The motion was seconded by Board Member Steve Guthrie and passed by roll call vote:   

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

There being no further business to discuss, Board Member Kathryn Graves made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:20 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Steve Guthrie and passed unanimously.

REGULAR JANUARY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

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

III.   Call to Order and Welcome

IV.   Pledge of Allegiance

Instead of beginning the Regular Board meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, the audience was treated to Colla Voce’s rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key; directed by Max Stimac and arranged by accompanist Jim Watkinson.  

For the last eight years, young women from Wood River High School have banded together in an elite vocal performing group called “Colla Voce.”  

Under the direction of choir director Max Stimac and with the help of pianist Dorinda Rendahl, they rehearse mornings before school preparing music ranging from classical to jazz, performing both “a cappella” and with a group of student instrumentalists from Wood River High School.  

The members of Colla Voce focus their unique talents on music from the standard repertoire, but also sing many songs especially arranged for the group by Max Stimac and by accompanist Jim Watkinson.  

Over the years the group has gained in popularity in the larger community and is particularly in demand during the holiday season. Their annual season-ending concert, held at Hailey’s Liberty Theater, is performed three nights to sell-out crowds.

Board Member Steve Guthrie made a motion to amend the current agenda with the additions of:  

Approval of Request for Up to Twelve-Week Family Leave (Consent Agenda)  

Andrea Gallegos – Wood River High School Paraprofessional  

and  

International Baccalaureate Update – Fritz Peters, Wood River Middle School Principal, Jane Walther, International Baccalaureate Coordinator (Information Agenda)  

The motion was seconded by Dan Parke and passed unanimously.

VI.   Accolade

Max Stimac
Wood River High School  

Re:  ISBA Annual Convention  

Dear Max:  

On behalf of the Executive Board of the Idaho School Boards Association we would like to personally thank you and your students for performing at ISBA’s Annual Convention.  

We received many wonderful comments regarding your performance during the President’s Reception.  The selections and variety of music was remarkable and the perfect performance for the evening.  We appreciate your willingness to perform at this event.  

Please convey our gratitude to your students for the time that they took to prepare, travel, and perform.  They are fine representatives of the Blaine County School District.  

We wish you and your students the best in future endeavors.  

Best Regards,
ISBA Staff  

Colla Voce        

Elana King-Nakaoka, Sarah Arters, Lauren Lichtenberg, Chloe Barrymore, Taylor Berntson, Anastasia Maricich, Morgan Brunker, Jonnie Pedersen, Rachel Conove, Mary Petzke, Mariah Davis, Samual Funk –Guitar, Julia Dwyer, Benjamin Thompson – Drums, Lauren Jacobs, James Williams - Bass, Mia Jefferson, Dorinda Rendahl - Piano  

Colla Voce then performed Prayer of the Children by Kurt Bester.

Hemingway Principal Don Haisley introduced the fifth grade student leaders that prepared and presented their Hemingway Elementary School Report to the Board:  

-    Alex LaFleur
-    Lucy More
-    Anik Zarkos
-    Sidney Chambers
-    Armando Ruiz
-    Kim Aranda
-    Oliver Guy
-    Brooke Beckwith
-    Tiernan Naghsh  

Please click here to view the Hemingway Elementary School Report.

Regular December Board Meeting – December 14, 2010            
Special Meeting of the Board – January 6, 2011

Please click here to view the December 2010 financial reports.

Amy Jonas, Wood River Middle School Special Services Teacher

Classified (Non-Certified) Staff – Exiting

Kerry Trombetta, Custodian – Wood River High School  

Jack Hegdahl, Paraprofessional – Wood River Middle School

Classified (Non-Certified) Staff – Recommending for Hire  

Janice Reutlinger, Paraprofessional – Woodside Elementary School

Andrea Gallegos, Wood River High School Paraprofessional

IX.   Public Comments

Larry Schoen commented on the posting of meeting minutes, the Superintendent’s Report and public schools tax structure.

Dear Board of Trustees, Dr. Barber and Mr. Chatterton,  

I would like to thank all of you for your active participation in the Trustee Workshop Special Meeting held on January 6th, to discuss the facilities levy building projects and the town hall meetings. It was extremely informative for all of us in attendance; and the review of the progress we are making with the levy building projects plan is impressive. Due to their exceptional leadership and expertise, our district has been very wise about when to do approved projects so that they minimize costs to the school district.  

Also extremely impressive is the increased energy savings the district will experience as a result of our geothermal commitment. Those savings will directly impact our general fund thereby allowing us greater financial resources to focus on our curriculum objectives and, hopefully, increase our teachers' salaries.  

During the October 19th Board of Trustees Meeting, Mike Chatterton read a letter from Morgan Hatt whose firm conducted the School District audit. We often talk of what we are not doing right and I think it benefits us to hear from highly experienced professionals when we are implementing best practices. What follows is an excerpt from that letter as it appears on the District's website.  

Here is the five- year info that 1 review(ed) with the Board: The last few years have been tough financially for Schools in Idaho. Note that this is the second year in row that District #61 revenues are down; both district-wide and in the General Fund. And yet the District continues to make steady progress by continuing to invest in equipment and facilities and at the same time pay down Long Term Debt.  

Without the Federal Stimulus dollars, some Idaho School Districts would he bankrupt right now. When the Federal dollars runs out at the end of Fiscal year 2011, things are going to get ugly at some school Districts. In contrast, District #61 is still financially solid. Because the District had the foresight to create a long term plan, which included building a solid General Fund reserve, #61 is not at the mercy of the State's failing economy right now, to the extent that other Idaho Districts are.  

It reminds me of the Biblical story of Joseph and the seven years of plenty followed by the seven years of famine. Like Joseph, District #61 has positioned itself well to weather the current State financial famine and you should be commended for it.  

The District’s accounting records are in good order.  

I am hopeful that this board will follow the best practices of previous boards and trust our administrators to do their jobs. My trust in them is based on their proven public record. Public officials today are sadly the targets of too much anger and rage. Mistrust of government and paranoia about how our government is operating is leading to horrific acts of violence.  

Let's work together as a community and support our district.  

Respectively submitted,
Theresa Castellano-Wood
Mid Valley

Dr. Lonnie Barber:  I am happy to report to the Board a new and exciting partnership that has been established with the College of Southern Idaho.  I was approached by Dr. John Miller several months ago with an inquiry about whether or not Blaine County School District and Silver Creek High School would be interested in partnering on a grant opportunity with the Albertson's Foundation.  The grant would allow students at our alternative school to have their concurrent college credits (both Mrs. Bailey and Mr. Parkinson are teaching classes this year that allow students to receive both a high school credit and a college credit for a core class) fully paid for by the grant.  

The grant has been approved by the Albertson's Foundation and two schools in Idaho will be piloting the program, Silver Creek High School and the alternative school in Twin Falls.  I am also happy to report that the student's college textbooks, which can be very expensive (often more than the credits themselves) are also to be fully paid for with the grant. The grant also pays for the Compass testing for all of our alternative students, which is the college readiness/placement test being required by the State of Idaho.  

In return for participation in the grant, all our students must commit to is 8-12 hours of community service.  As you know, our Silver Creek alternative students already do much community service such as super suppers, which will apply to the criteria.  It’s a great day for Silver Creek High School students! 

Computer Skills Curriculum Committee members, Kristi Turco, Bellevue, Hailey and Woodside Elementary GATE Teacher, and Bill Petzke, Wood River High School Business Teacher, presented the proposed Computer Skills Curriculum to the Board.  

Please click here to view the Computer Skills Curriculum.

The Computer Skills Committee will include a philosophical and/or concrete benchmark assessment piece in the curriculum and bring it back to the Board for approval at the Regular February Board meeting.

Please click here to view the International Baccalaureate update.

The next Town Hall meeting is scheduled for April 4, 2011.  Possible topics for the meeting are still being discussed by the Board.

Architect Jolyon Sawrey presented three budget/building scenarios for the Board to consider for the Maintenance Facility.  

Please click here to view budget/building scenarios A, B and C as presented by Jolyon Sawrey, Vital ink. 

Following the Board’s discussion regarding design scenarios and funding, Board Member Dan Parke made a motion to accept Scenario B (Estimated Cost: $1,600,000) as the Maintenance Facility budget.  The motion was seconded by Steve Guthrie and passed by roll call vote.  

Roll Call Vote:
Julie Dahlgren:  Aye
Dan Parke:  Aye
Steve Guthrie:  Aye
Kathryn Graves:  Aye
Paul Bates:  Nay

Committee Liaison Hilarie Neely reported on the Committee’s research and recommendations for the Community Campus Auditorium remodel project.  The Committee is planning to recommend an architect for the project at the next Regular meeting of the Board.  Mike Chatterton led a discussion regarding additional funding possibilities for the remodel project.  

Please click here to view the list of the Community Campus Auditorium Committee members.

XV. Public Comments Regarding Tonight's Regular Agenda

None.  

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 January meeting of the Blaine County School District Board of Trustees adjourned at 9:30 p.m.