Long Range Plan Meeting November 12, 2007

Long Range Plan Review Committee

Minutes - November 12, 2007

Members in Attendance:
Jerry Anderson Lana Hamilton Doug Jaworski Jill Neal Ronnie Semko
Rosie Astorquia* Chris Hammons Mary Larson Vern Newby* Lori Smith
Hazel Bauman* Sharon Hanson Kathy Liverman Dave Patzer Kevin Stevens
Steve Briggs* Katie Harris Bryan Martin* Joel Palmer John Swallow
Susan Clayton Christa Hazel John McLeod Tamara Poelstra Michelle Williams
Scott Fischer* Sharalee Howard Heather Montee Pam Pratt*

*Ex-officio members

Guest: Dennis Hinrichsen

Welcome:
Doug Jaworski called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m. The meeting was held at the Midtown Center meeting room. New committee members Jerry Anderson, Kevin Stevens, Christa Hazel, Michelle Williams and Heather Montee were ratified by the Board of Trustees at their last meeting.

Approval of the October 22, 2007 Minutes:
Jerry Anderson made a motion to approve the October 22, 2007 which he later rescinded after committee discussion regarding a minimum of three sections per grade level being ideal. Motion by Lana Hamilton to delete the sentence “The ideal school is a minimum of three sections per grade level” from the October 22, 2007 minutes, second by John McLeod, approved unanimously. Motion by Lana Hamilton to accept the October 22, 2007 minutes as corrected, second by Dave Patzer, approved unanimously.

Priority of 2008 S.P.F.L.:
Due to time constraints, Hazel Bauman stated that the hope is to have a consensus tonight on the next S.P.F.L. or bond (a decision will not be forced), finish up the final recommendation at the next meeting and present a recommendation to the Board of Trustees at their December meeting. This would give the Board ample time to make their decision and to receive public comment. In order to move the process along, the Agenda Planning Committee consisting of Harry, Hazel, Steve, Rosie, Pam and Doug came up with the following challenges that have risen to the surface based on past dialogue at Long Range Planning meetings in regards to facilities (not listed in priority order):
• Too many K-5 students in the northwest (Atlas, Ramsey and Skyway) Total = 9 dots
• Remodeling of older facilities (Winton, Sorensen, Borah, Bryan and Canfield) Total = 23 dots
• Lakes Middle School issues Total = 21 dots
• New - No property in growth areas Total = 2 dots
(10 acres – elementary, 20 acres – middle school, 40 acres – high school)
• Too many Grade 6-8 students in Canfield and Woodland (core facilities and portables) Total = 2 dots
• New - Not enough professional/technical facilities (82% of kids do not end up with 4-year college degree in North Idaho) Total = 4 dots

There was a suggestion to sell some of the District owned properties in order to buy property in the areas needed. The properties owned by the District are half of Person’s Field, 7 acres on Atlas & Nez Perce, Bryan Playfield, 5 acres across from Woodland Middle School, 10 acres behind Hayden Meadows, Hayden Lake Elementary School and 10 acres on Thomas Lane. Committee discussion followed regarding the 2006 priority list. Doug encouraged the new committee members to read the information in the binders that were provided to them. The binders contain minutes and a lot of other information regarding past committee meetings. They were also encouraged to contact the schools in order to take a tour of the buildings (Cheri will e-mail the administrators to give them a heads up).

At 5:20 p.m. the committee broke up into four small groups (to include new and veteran members as well as ex-officio) to discuss the challenges for approximately 30-45 minutes. Another challenge could be added to the list as a write-in if there was a group consensus. Once the small group discussion was complete (everyone weighed in), voting members were given 3 dots each (cannot place all 3 dots on one challenge) and were asked to rank the challenges from most important to least important.

At 6:08 p.m. the committee came back together as one group. Each of the four groups dots were counted by challenge. Hazel listed the totals next to each challenge on the white board (see totals on previous page in bold). There was a write-in for a kinder center (possible solution for too many K-5 students in the northwest).

Some issues came up in the small group discussions. There are some unresolved issues the committee is going to need to discuss at the next meeting (middle school solutions, Lakes - remodel, rebuild or relocate, prioritize the remodel/rebuild/expansion of the 5 older schools and bond vs. S.P.F.L.) Costs will be provided at the next meeting.

The committee members made the following comments:
• Can the District survive the next 3 years without another school in the northwest? The Ramsey portables could be used and Hayden Lake could temporarily be used.
• A kinder center, preschool center or Grades 1-6 elementary school could help with the northwest issue. We need to see some numbers on paper.
• Have a kinder center at Borah, Bryan, etc. This would take kindergartners from all over the district. This would take pressure off the northern schools and other schools. This could be made part of remodeling of the older facilities.
• Need the property value of Lakes Middle School.
• There is a huge political will to keep schools in the downtown corridor. We would receive a lot of pushback if we try to relocate Lakes.
• We need to survey the kindergarten population about a kinder center.
• Having a kinder center will not completely solve the overcrowding issues.
• Lockdown issues with portables
• There were not a lot of votes for property because most felt the District should sell a property in order to buy another one.
• We need the square footage costs for Ramsey and Skyway. This will give us the history on remodel vs. new.
• Can we have more than one bond and S.P.F.L.? Steve reported that yes we can have a bond and an S.P.F.L. Yes, we can have multiple S.P.F.L.’s but there are some limitations.

Next Meeting:
The next Long Range Planning meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 4:30 p.m. at the Midtown Center meeting room. This meeting was later cancelled and rescheduled for Thursday, December 20th at 4:30 p.m.

Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 6:32 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Cheri Beard
Administrative Secretary

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