The Board of Trustees of School District No. 58, Bingham County, Idaho met for a regular Board meeting session at 5:30 p.m. on January 18th, 2022 at the Aberdeen School District Office, 268 S. 4th W. Suite A, Aberdeen, Idaho.
CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUORUM
The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m. by Board Chairman Todd Lowder. Also present were David Wahlen and Elaine Blik. Sherrie Mauroner attended by phone. A quorum was established.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
OATH OF OFFICE
Board clerk Elaine Blik administered the oath of office to Trustee Amy Burusco representing zone four and to Trustee David Wahlen representing zone one.
Amy Burusco was welcomed as a new Trustee of the Aberdeen School District and was present for the board meeting.
BOARD REORGANIZATION
Chairman Lowder opened the floor for nominations for Chairman. Trustee Wahlen nominated Todd Lowder to serve as Board Chairman and Trustee Burusco seconded the motion. Trustee Blik made a motion to cease nominations. Trustee Wahlen made the motion and Trustee Burusco seconded the motion to elect Todd Lowder as Board Chairman. The motion passed.
Chairman Lowder opened the floor for nominations for Vice-Chairman. Trustee Wahlen nominated Elaine Blik to serve as Board Vice-Chairman and Trustee Burusco seconded the motion. Trustee Blik made a motion to cease nominations. Trustee Wahlen made the motion and Trustee Burusco seconded the motion to elect Elaine Blik as Board Vice-Chairman. The motion passed.
Chairman Lowder opened the floor for nominations for Board Clerk. Trustee Blik nominated David Wahlen to serve as Board Clerk and Trustee Burusco seconded the motion. Trustee Blik made a motion to cease nominations. Trustee Blik made the motion and Trustee Burusco seconded the motion to elect David Wahlen as Board Clerk. The motion passed.
Chairman Lowder opened the floor for nominations for Board Treasurer. Trustee Wahlen nominated Sherrie Mauroner to serve as Board Treasurer and Trustee Blik seconded the motion. Trustee Blik made a motion to cease nominations. Trustee Wahlen made the motion and Trustee Blik seconded the motion to elect Sherrie Mauroner as Board Treasurer. The motion passed.
Chairman Lowder opened the floor for nominations for Board Education Foundation Representative. Trustee Blik nominated Amy Burusco to serve as Board Education Foundation Representative and Trustee Wahlen seconded the motion. Trustee Wahlen made a motion to cease nominations. Trustee Blik made the motion and Trustee Wahlen seconded the motion to elect Amy Burusco as Board Education Foundation Representative. The motion passed.
DELEGATION AND PATRON INPUT
There was no delegation or patron input.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
There were additions to the agenda to approve Consent Items-Actions 9G: overnight trip request to Grand Jct. Colorado from 4/20/22 to 4/23/22 for the high school music program and Business Items-Actions 10F: to approve the retirement letter from Wayne Millett.
A motion was made by Trustee Blik and seconded by Trustee Burusco to approve the agenda as modified. The motion passed.
SUPERINTENDENT and ADMINISTATOR REPORTS
Superintendent Ward discussed her written report. Mrs. Ward would like to thank all those who worked during the holidays and throughout the year, to keep our buildings and buses warm, safe and free from the problems that arise from inclement weather. Schoology training will be on February 4th for our faculty members. Mrs. Ward added that the board will meet with administrators before executive session. Mrs. Ward is asking for parents to help with the vandalism problem at the schools. A reward is being offered if anyone hears or knows about who is causing the vandalism and to call the school or the district office if you have any information.
Travis Pincock discussed his written report. The 11th grade students will be participating in the ASVAB in February. The BPA club will compete in regionals on January 20th. There will be twenty students competing this year.
Robi Jo Colton discussed her written report. February 24th from 1:30 to 9:00 pm parent/teacher conferences will be held and the 22-23 kindergarten registration will begin. Parents and board members will be invited to view samples of the curriculum – Health/Mental Well Being. Teachers from each grade level will voice their choices on which curriculum to adopt.
Ann Mennear went over her written report. Erin Johnson, Marci Bradley, and Eliza Morris attended a professional development with Mrs. Mennear on project-based learning sponsored by the STEM Action Center on January 13th and 14th. The middle school offers tutoring Monday through Thursday. Several students are taking advantage of this service.
David Vaughn discussed his written report. There are currently 134 students receiving special education services. WIDA Access for ELL’s testing will begin at the end of January. All ELL students in the district will be tested. Teachers will receive results in the spring. Mr. Vaughn added the student’s test results are lower than last year for now, but there is spring testing in April.
CONSENT ITEMS-ACTIONS
The following consent items were presented:
Approval of December Regular Board Meeting Minutes
Approval of January 11th 2022 Board Work Session Minutes
Approval of December 2021 Claims
December 2021 Financial Report
County Tax Report
Building Budget Reports
Overnight/Out of State Trip Requests: State Cheer – Nampa, ID 2/11/22 – 2/12/22
High School Music – Grand Jct. CO, 4/20/22 – 4/23/22
A motion was made by Trustee Wahlen and seconded by Trustee Blik to approve Consent Items-Actions A-F as listed on the agenda. The motion passed.
After further discussion, a motion was made by Trustee Blik and seconded by Trustee Burusco to approve Consent Items – Actions G: Overnight/Out of State Trip Requests. The motion passed.
BUSINESS ITEMS-ACTIONS
Approve Emergency School Closure Due to Blowing & Drifting Snow on 1/4/22
A motion was made by Trustee Burusco and seconded by Trustee Blik to approve the emergency school closure due to blowing and drifting snow on 1/4/22. The motion passed.
Approve Purchasing Stotz Equipment John Deere Gator
A motion was made by Trustee Blik and seconded by Trustee Burusco to approve purchasing the Stotz Equipment John Deere Gator for $18,900 or lowest price offered. The motion passed.
Approve December-January New Hires
A motion was made by Trustee Burusco and seconded by Trustee Blik to approve the December and January new hires. The motion passed.
Approve Aberdeen School District 2022-2023 Board Meeting Schedule
A motion was made by Trustee Wahlen and seconded by Trustee Blik to approve the Aberdeen School District 2022-2023 board meeting schedule with the stipulation that meetings will change if they conflict with the school sports or performing arts calendar. The motion passed.
Approve 4-Day 2022-2023 School Calendar
After further discussion, a motion was made by Trustee Blik and seconded by Trustee Burusco to approve the 4-day 2022-2023 school calendar with the stipulation grades and attendance are closely monitored to review in the 2023-2024 school year prior to approving the school calendar for 2024-2025 school year.
A roll call vote was held: Sherrie Mauroner – yes, Amy Burusco – Yes, David Wahlen – yes, Elaine Blik – yes, Todd Lowder – yes. The motion passed.
Approve Retirement Letter from Wayne Millett
A motion was made by Trustee Burusco and seconded by Trustee Wahlen to approve the retirement letter from Wayne Millett. The motion passed.
With great appreciation and sadness, the Trustees of Aberdeen School District accept the resignation letter.
BUSINESS ITEMS – DISCUSSION
Board Policy 354 – Emergency School Closure
After further discussion, a motion was made by Trustee Wahlen and seconded by Trustee Blik to approve board policy 354 – emergency school closure with the stipulation if practices are held, it is understood that some students may not be able to attend and coaches can’t mandate that all students attend the practice. The motion passed.
Board Policy 517 – Student Dress Code
For discussion only, no motion was necessary.
TRUSTEE INPUT
Sherrie Mauroner left the meeting at 7:15 p.m. She said the board is trying their best to do the right thing with the policies and she appreciates everyone’s work they put into this. She appreciates the teachers and administrators for what they do.
David Wahlen said it is a pleasure to be here and he welcomed Amy Burusco as a new board member. He is grateful to consider next year’s school calendar and thinks it will work out great and he understands the board can’t please everyone. He appreciates the administrators and school staff and said there are a lot of positive things going on and the patrons are positive.
Amy Burusco appreciates the board allowing her input on the four-day calendar at the January workshop before she was sworn in as a new trustee. She is excited to be part of the school board to help make a difference. She appreciates everyone’s input on the four-day calendar and knows that the board can’t please everyone on this.
Elaine Blik welcomed Amy Burusco to the school board and said she will be a great addition. She wants everyone to go into the four-day calendar with an open mind and to think outside of the box. She thinks the four-day calendar will be a success and our schools will blaze their own trail. This is something new with a lot of positive things for our district. She would like Erin Johnson to help with teacher recruitment.
Todd Lowder said the dress code policy does need to be updated and doesn’t want it to deter our students from concentrating on what they are here for. He thanked the administrators for what they do and the hard decisions they need to make sometimes. He thanked Amy Burusco for being on the school board.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Trustee Blik and seconded by Trustee Burusco to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed and the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.