The Board of Trustees of School District No. 58, Bingham County, Idaho met in regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 15th, 2024 at the Aberdeen School District Office in Aberdeen, Idaho.
CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUORUM
Chairman Todd Lowder opened the regular Board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Present were Amy Burusco, Sherrie Mauroner, Brian Rowlan and Elaine Blik. A quorum was established.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Those present recited the pledge of allegiance.
OATH OF OFFICE
Business Manager David Burke administered the oath of office for Trustee James Patten in zone 2 and Aimee Elliott in zone 3.
Chairman Todd Lowder invited Trustee Patten and Trustee Elliott to join the board. Todd Lowder and Elaine Blik took their seat in the audience.
BOARD REORGANIZATION
Business Manager David Burke as acting Chairperson opened the meeting for nominations from the floor for the office of Chairman. Trustee Mauroner nominated Brian Rowlan to serve as Board Chairman. Trustee Burusco made a motion to cease nominations and Trustee Rowlan was elected as Board Chairman. The motion passed.
Chairman Brian Rowlan continued with the Board reorganization.
Chairman Rowlan opened the floor for nominations for Vice-Chairman. Trustee Burusco nominated Sherrie Mauroner to serve as Board Vice-Chairman. Trustee Elliott made a motion to cease nominations and Trustee Mauroner was elected as Board Vice-Chairman. The motion passed.
Chairman Rowlan opened the floor for nominations for Board Clerk. Trustee Burusco nominated Aimee Elliott to serve as Board Clerk. Trustee Mauroner made a motion to cease nominations and Trustee Elliott seconded was elected as Board Clerk. The motion passed.
Chairman Rowlan opened the floor for nominations for Board Treasurer. Trustee Mauroner nominated James Patten to serve as Board Treasurer. Trustee Burusco made a motion to cease nominations and Trustee Patten was elected as Board Treasurer. The motion passed.
Chairman Rowlan opened the floor for nominations for Board Education Foundation Representative. Trustee Mauroner nominated Amy Burusco to serve as Board Education Foundation Representative. Trustee Elliott made a motion to cease nominations and Trustee Burusco was elected as Board Education Foundation Representative. The motion passed.
DELEGATION AND PATRON INPUT
Tara Pratt with the PTO thanked the outgoing Trustees Todd Lowder and Elaine Blik for their service, and she welcomed the new Trustees James Patten and Aimee Elliott. Tara gave an update to the board on upcoming PTO events.
SUPERINTENDENT and ADMINISTATOR REPORTS
Superintendent Ward discussed her written report. American Fidelity will be in the schools the week of January 15th. Health benefits are offered to faculty and staff that they can choose to purchase. Mrs. Ward asked if any Trustees are interested in attending the “Day on the Hill” meeting on February 21st 2024 at the state capitol to meet local legislators that impact public education. The district is working with the teachers on the school calendar and hopefully they will have something to present at the February board meeting. Mrs. Ward added that two trustees can attend the teachers union meeting for negotiations.
Travis Pincock discussed his written report. An information meeting about Idaho Launch and Advanced Opportunities was held on January 15th. Idaho Launch is a grant opportunity to help students pay for post-secondary opportunities. Advanced Opportunities is a program for students to take college classes while in high school. The new semester will begin January 22nd. The Aberdeen wrestling tournament will be on January 19th and 20th. Mr. Pincock added that he wants to focus on the ISAT during January and February and to not do the STAR tests.
Amy Burusco asked if there are any updates on the Idaho Career-Ready grants and Mr. Pincock said he will address this with Cody Park and Channey Upton for grant application questions.
Marina Taylor discussed her written report. The middle school offers homework help and tutoring after school Monday through Thursday. Several students are taking advantage of this service. On Friday January 26th, some of the Federal Programs Team will attend the Idaho Association for Billingual Education 2024 Conference. This conference will explore effective instructional approaches, assessment techniques, and differentiated strategies to enhance the literacy development of Multilingual Learners. All middle school faculty will meet individually with American Fidelity to update and/or renew their benefits. The Boys’ Basketball season started on January 2nd. The season will run until March 8th with Aberdeen hosting the district tournament. Ms. Taylor thanked Elaine Blik and Todd Lowder for their work as trustees for the school district. Ms. Taylor commented on how nice the musical was with the new projector in the auditorium, and how it helped enhance the musical.
Robi Jo Colton discussed her written report. Mrs. Upton and her high school class came to the elementary school on January 11th to present AG days to the 3rd graders. A vision screening was held for Kindergarteners, 2nd and 4th graders on January 8th. The 3rd annual Battle of the Books will be held in February for our 4th and 5th graders and the 3rd graders will be invited to attend. We have brought back our advanced math opportunity for our 5th grade students and our 3rd grade students have an advanced reading group this year. Mr. Pratt meets with students on Thursdays after school to offer STEM/IDX activities. Mrs. McCombs meets with 3-5 grade students during last recess on Wednesday and Thursday for Tiger Kids which is an extra music opportunity for those students wanting to participate. Mrs. Colton is working with publishers to get an additional three-year quote for our current social studies curriculum.
David Vaughn discussed his written report. Mr. Vaughn will be attending an Online Team meeting for the Directors Advisory Committee on 1/23/24. The state department is in the process of reviewing and revising the Specific Learning Disability criteria. Data day was held on 1/5/24 and they reviewed several students’ progress including students in Special Education. Mr. Vaughn is in the process of evaluating several students for Special education. Mr. Vaughn will be testing students for the WIDA access for ELL’s 1/29/24 through 3/8/24. This testing involves all students who are designated as English Language Learners. Mr. Vaughn will be continuing the state required training for Restraint and Seclusion Prevention and alternatives for all staff in the school auditorium.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion was made by Trustee Burusco and seconded by Trustee Patten to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed.
CONSENT ITEMS-ACTIONS
The following consent items were presented:
Approval of December Regular Board Meeting Minutes
Approval of December 2023 Claims
December 2023 Financial Report
County Tax Report
Building Budget Reports
Overnight Trip Request:
High School – Wrestling – Soda Springs & Bear Lake ID, 1/5/24 – 1/6/24, Pocatello ID 2/22/24 – 2/24/24
Trustee Patten requested the December 14th, 2023 minutes to include what was changed under Business Items – Actions Board Policies for Approval: 218 – Code of Ethics under item #9. This change was made.
A motion was made by Trustee Elliott and seconded by Trustee Burusco to approve Consent Items -Actions 9 A-E as modified. The motion passed.
There was further discussion on the overnight trip requests for the high school wrestlers staying in Pocatello, ID on 2/22/24 to 2/24/24. Trustee Burusco requested a work session to be held in April to discuss athletics.
A motion was made by Trustee Patten and seconded by Trustee Burusco to approve the overnight trip requests to Soda Springs & Bear Lake, Id on 1/5/24 to 1/6/24 and to Pocatello, ID on 2/22/24 to 2/24/24. The motion passed.
BUSINESS ITEMS-ACTIONS
Board Policies for December Review, January Approval:
224 – Membership in State and National Associations. 226 – Compensation for Expenses. 276 – Access to Public Records. 443 – Certificated Employee Evaluations. 445 – Probation of Certificated Employees. DELETED 465 – Employing Retired Personnel (formerly Employing Retired Teachers). 520 – Enrollment and Transfer (formerly Proof of Age and Identification). 523 – Enrollment and Attendance Records. 558 – Accommodating Students with Seizure Disorders or Epilepsy. NEW 565 – Immunization Requirements. 624 – Participation in Statewide Assessments. 639P – Parental Rights in Education – Procedures.639F1 – Parental Rights in Education – Notification Reporting Form. NEW form 658 – Social Studies. 680 – Transfer of Student Records. 686 – Permanent Student Records. DELETED 690 –Student Learning Plans. DELETED 870 – Board of Trustee Records. DELETED 871 – Storage and Retrieval of Business Records. DELETED 908 – National Motto. NEW
A motion was made by Trustee Buruso and seconded by Trustee Patten to approve board policies 224, 226, 276, 443, 465, 520, 523, 558, 565, 624, 639P, 639F1, 658, 680, 908 and to delete board policies 445, 686, 690, 870 and 871 as presented. The motion passed.
Approve Monthly Staff Changes
A motion was made by Trustee Burusco and seconded by Trustee Patten to approve the monthly staff changes. The motion passed.
Approve Changes to District Bank Account Signers
A motion was made by Trustee Burusco and seconded by Trustee Patten to approve adding Aimee Elliott and James Patten and to remove Todd Lowder and Elaine Blik as signers on the district bank accounts. The motion passed.
Approve Aberdeen School District 2024-2025 Board Meeting Schedule
After further discussion, changes were made to the board meeting times for months April through September changing the times from 7:00 pm to 6:00 pm and changing the June 19th budget hearing time from 6:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
A motion was made by Trustee Elliott and seconded by Trustee Burusco to approve the Aberdeen School District 2024-2025 Board meeting schedule as modified. The motion passed.
Excuse Absence for Faculty and Staff for Harvest Break
A motion was made by Trustee Burusco and seconded by Trustee Elliott to uphold board policy 350 – School Calendar and The Negotiated Agreement page 13 #5 and to not excuse the absences for faculty and staff for Harvest Break. The motion passed.
Approve 1/10/24 Certificate of Emergency Closure Due to Weather
A motion was made by Trustee Burusco and seconded by Trustee Patten to approve the 1/10/24 certificate of emergency closure due to weather. The motion passed.
BUSINESS ITEMS-DISCUSSION
Board Policies for January Review, February Approval: 522 – School Attendance and Habitual Truancy, 601 – Guidance and Counseling NEW
For discussion only, no motion was necessary.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Trustee Patten and seconded by Trustee Burusco to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed and the meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm.