Board Minutes: 02/21/2024

The Board of Trustees of School District No. 58, Bingham County, Idaho met in regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 21st 2024 at the Aberdeen School District Office in Aberdeen, Idaho. 

CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUORUM

Chairman Brian Rowlan opened the meeting at 5:30 p.m.  Also present were Amy Burusco, Sherrie Mauroner, James Patten and Aimee Elliott.  A quorum was established.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance

DELEGATION AND PATRON INPUT

Crystal Vollmer discussed her concerns of having students starting school earlier and leaving later for the school day on the four-day calendar.

Heidi Brown discussed and provided a handout of a petition signed by approximately 150 patrons living within the boundaries of the Aberdeen school district to transition to a complete four-day school week.

SUPERINTENDENT and ADMINISTATOR REPORTS

Superintendent Ward reviewed her written report.   The Chamber of Commerce held a meeting with the legislators on February 14th from 7:00 am to 8:00 am.  Mrs. Ward attended a meeting with all the superintendents in the region at Idaho Falls on February 1st and 2nd.  It was a Steven Covey workshop entitled The 4 Essential Roles of Leadership.  Leaders should inspire, trust, create vision, execute strategy, and coach potential.  The health fair was held on February 8th with the blood testing beginning at 7:00 am.  The mammogram bus was at the school district on February 9th.  The city will be using our building to train their employees on the computer.  Aaron Spence will be the teacher.  Mrs. Ward added that she is applying for a safety grant for the buildings to have additional door control units installed using key scans for authorized entry into the school facilities.

Travis Pincock provided a written report.  Both the boys’ and girls’ basketball seasons have come to an end.  Mr. Pincock would like to thank the student athletes, coaches, parents and fans for supporting the programs.  The wrestling district tournament was held on February 14th.  State wrestling will be February 23rd-24th in Pocatello.  Mr. Pincock congratulated the boys’ basketball team as academic state champions who had the overall highest GPA.  Mr. Pincock added that the high school received a grant for a sprinkling system in the greenhouse.

Marina Taylor discussed her written report.  The middle school had 14 “Paws”itively Awesome students receive all A’s during the second quarter.  They received a breakfast burrito of their choice and their picture in the paper.  February 16th and 23rd are ski days at Pomerelle.  Marci Bradley had organized these two days to offer skiing and snowboarding for our middle school students.  We have about 40 students who have signed up for this opportunity.  Erin Johnson and Marci Bradley will be taking some of their STEM students on a field trip to Bengal STEM Day on February 22nd.  The ISU College of Science and Engineering hosts this event which is designed to inspire middle and high school students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematic career fields.  Ms. Taylor added that the high school FFA students held an AG Olympics assembly for the middle school students on February 21st.  The middle school students participated in various activities.  The AG Olympics is held to help recruit middle school students into the FFA program when they become high school students.

Robi Jo Colton discussed her written report.  The annual bookfair is scheduled for February 26th through March 1st in the elementary school library.  The health curriculum that we are hoping to get is being reviewed by the state according to Glencoe/McGraw Hill.  We are expecting a smooth adoption for health curriculum after the state’s approved list is available.  We will likely need to order the curriculum in August.  The state’s new review process has changed, and we should not experience this issue next year when we are adopting the K-12 ELA curriculum.  Mrs. Colton thanked Chavonne Woods for her help with the Battle of the Books.  Mrs. Colton added that the curriculum costs for next year should be available by the March board meeting.

David Vaughn discussed his written report.  Mr. Vaughn attended the online meeting for the Directors Advisory Committee on 1/23/24 and the state is in the process of reviewing and revising the Specific Learning Disability criteria.  Mr. Vaughn added that this should not make a big difference on the students that would qualify for special education.  The GSFR (General Supervision File Review) process was completed and all changes were made to bring the files into compliance.  Mr. Vaughn is continuing to test students for the WIDA access for ELL’s.  The window for testing is open until March 8th.   The testing involves all students who are designated as English Language Learners and the students are being assessed in Reading, Speaking, Language and Writing with their scores being available in May.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

There were additions to the agenda to add a Gear Up trip request to Boise, Idaho from March 7th to March 8th 2024 under Consent Items – Actions 7F Over Night Trip Requests and to approve a safety grant for $58,460.42 under Business Items – Actions 8D. 

A motion was made by Trustee Burusco and seconded by Trustee Mauroner to approve the agenda as modified.  The motion passed.

CONSENT ITEMS

The following consent items were presented:

Approval of January regular Board meeting minutes

Approval of January 2024 claims                                          

January 2024 financial report                                                

County tax report                                                       

Building budget reports                                                                                             

Overnight trip requests – State STEM Conference – Boise, ID 4/10/24 – 4/12/24, Gear Up – Boise, ID 3/7/24 – 3/8/24

A motion was made by Trustee Burusco and seconded by Trustee Mauroner to approve Consent Items-Actions A-F as presented.  The motion passed. 

BUSINESS ITEMS – ACTIONS

Board Policies for January Review, February Approval: 522 – School Attendance and Habitual Truancy.  601 – Guidance and Counseling, NEW, 680.50 – Student Surveys and Medical Exams

A motion was made by Trustee Elliott and seconded by Trustee Burusco to approve board policies 522, 601 and 680.50 as presented.  The motion passed.

Approve 1/18/24 Certificate of Emergency Closure Due to Weather

A motion was made by Trustee Burusco and seconded by Trustee Elliott to approve the 1/18/24 certificate of emergency closure due to weather.  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 Safety Grant for $58,460.42

Superintendent Ward discussed the proposal from System Tech for $58,460.42 to install additional access control units on doors throughout the school district using key scans for authorized entry.  After further discussion, a motion was made by Trustee Patten and seconded by Trustee Mauroner to approve the $58,460.42 proposal from System Tech contingent on the safety grant being awarded to the Aberdeen School District.  The motion passed.

BUSINESS ITEMS-DISCUSSION

2024-2025 School Calendar

The 2024-2025 school calendar was reviewed and discussed.  A work session was scheduled to be held on Tuesday, February 27th at 5:00 pm at the district board room for further discussion on the school calendar options.

Resolution Calling for Supplemental Levy Election to Be Held on May 21st, 2024

for discussion only.  No motion was necessary.

May 21st 2024 Supplemental Levy Ballot Wording

For discussion only, no motion was necessary.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Trustee Mauroner and seconded by Trsutee Burusco to adjourn the meeting.  The motion passed and the meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.

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