April 9, 2007 Board Meeting

Regular Meeting April 9, 2007
Midtown Center Meeting Room 5:00 PM

MINUTES

At 5:10 p.m. Chair Vern Newby called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Trustees Edie Brooks, Christie Wood and Sid Fredrickson were in attendance. Trustee Diane Zipperer was absent.

Approval of Minutes: Motion by Mrs. Wood, second by Mr. Fredrickson to approve the minutes of March 19, 2007, passed 4-0. Motion by Mr. Fredrickson, second by Mrs. Brooks to approve the minutes of March 20, 2007, passed 4-0. Motion by Mrs. Wood, second by Mr. Fredrickson to approve the minutes of March 29, 2007, passed 4-0. Motion by Mrs. Brooks, second by Mr. Fredrickson to approve the minutes of March 30, 2007, passed 4-0.

Approval of the Agenda: Motion by Mrs. Wood, second by Mrs. Brooks to approve the agenda as presented, passed 4-0.

Identification of Citizens Wishing to Address the Board: None

Coeur d’Alene Education Association Report – President Barbara Crow reported that CEA voted unanimously to support the 2007 Supplemental M&O Levy. They also voted to individually support the levy and make donations to the campaign. The IEA Delegate Assembly will be held in Boise this week to plan for future of IEA. The Idaho Children’s Fund is totally supported by Idaho Educators; funds may be requested at any time for a needy child. Over the past 10 years, they have collected more than ½ million dollars. Officer elections will be held for the next 2 year term; Ms. Crow has been elected to serve as IEA Region 1 representative. The Teacher Recognition Dinner will be held May 8. Tickets will be available this week.

Response To Intervention Report - Dalton 5th Grade Teacher, Brandi Meade was selected to attend a meeting in Washington DC where she was able to share her expertise. Dalton Elementary was chosen as a pilot site in 1999. Representing Dalton as a model site, she presented information in Kansas City in 2005, and presented information in 2006 about progress monitoring. Her recent trip to Washington DC was to attend a Policy Forum on RTI; to offer a general educators point of view on a web cast for Title 1. Ms. Meade spoke about the challenges: schools are at different levels, getting buy-in from everyone, training/consistency, intervention programs/consistency, and money for materials and people. Some positives are that data-driven decisions are being made using research based materials, use of the switch model, and working with special education as a team. Mrs. Wood thanked her for attending and representing the district. She acknowledged that resources are needed and that future strategic planning will focus on training. Ms. Meade introduced the Dalton team including Cindy Garner, Cindy Clutter, Amy Callahan, Kathy Liverman, and Tammy Franzich.

High School Student Body Reports:
James Souza and Nick Cotton representing Lake City High School spoke about spring sports, and a dodgeball tournament planned by members of Key Club to fund raise for a school in Sierra Leon. Class and ASB elections are to be held this week. James Souza was recently named Rotary Student of the Month.

Students from the Bridge Academy will volunteer at the Spring Dash. Graduation will be held on May 29 at NIC. Summer School will be held in the month of June through the first week of July. Area seniors may participate.

Project CDA student Ricki Huston reported about the success of a program presented recently “Unstoppable You” by Craig Conrad. The Restaurant Op class began selling snacks out of the kitchen, mainly coffee drinks. A May Day Sale fundraiser is scheduled for May 5; fliers will be sent. After attending the Unstoppable You Program, students were motivated to share valuable information which led to the creation of a PowerPoint presentation about the affects of drug use. Mrs. Wood suggested sharing with SRO Walton to use for future presentations. Superintendent Amend thanked teachers Angie Beck, Val Martin and Shannon Gabby for their dedication to students as they prepared this information.

Approval of Consent Agenda Items:

A. Personnel
B. Approve Accounts Payable Check List Dated 03-27-07
C. Approve Affidavit of Habitual Truancy
D. Approve Transportation Request from Charter Academy
E. Appointment of Kelly Ostrom as Title IX Compliance Officer
F. Approve Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for 2007 Instructional Technology Equipment Bid

Motion by Mr. Fredrickson, second by Mrs. Wood to approve the consent agenda as amended. Item D shall be acted upon separately, passed 4-0.

Consent Item D. Chief Financial Officer Steve Briggs was approached by the Charter Academy about our ability to provide activity transportation. Their intent is to pay costs for this transportation, which could be as much as $12,000. The district would enter into an official agreement; looking for approval to begin negotiations and act on this as a separate motion. Motion by Mr. Fredrickson, second by Mrs. Wood to authorize the administration to pursue a contract with the Charter Academy, passed 4-0. Mrs. Bauman asked that we be sure not to compromise or deny our own students. Mr. Briggs noted he will bring a proposal for future consideration.

Action/Information Items:

Sorensen Magnet School Update – Director of Elementary Education Pam Pratt highlighted some of the fundraising efforts. The CDA Downtown Business Association will donate a percentage of sales over Memorial Weekend. Currently, there are 145 students wishing to enroll.

Board Policies:
506 – Student Harassment
514 – Student Safety
520 – Open Enrollment
541 – Prohibition of Weapons
545 – IDEA Discipline
560 – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
570 – Co-Curricular
575 – Transportation to Activities
600 – Philosophy
606 – Elementary Required Instruction
640 – Curriculum
740 – Duties of School Bus Drivers
741 – Special Use of Buses

Assistant Superintendent Hazel Bauman presented policies 514, 570, and 575 that are going to buildings for 30 day review. Mrs. Wood asked if rapid responder training will be provided in reference to policy 514. Ms. Bauman noted that this is required and provided annually. Mrs. Wood recommended an update to the Board following school lockdowns. Discussion about policy 570 included questions about participation as an extra-curricular activity vs. part of a class as a requirement. An exhibit will be added to policy 575; a log sheet must be signed if a student participant wishes to ride home with his/her parent/guardian.

Policies 506, 520, 541, 545, 560, 600 and 606 will be on the agenda for action at the next board meeting.

Surplused Federal Building Application – Superintendent Harry Amend reported that we received a notice about the Federal Building in Coeur d’Alene and that it will be surplused in next 2 years. The notice offered agencies the opportunity to indicate their interest in applying. We received the application packet on March 26th and it is due to Washington D.C. office by April 23rd. Many entities have shown interest in acquiring the building. It may be possible to collaborate with other agencies as we pursue this opportunity. District administrators have requested a tour. Motion by Mrs. Brooks to proceed with the application process, second by Mr. Fredrickson, passed 4-0.

Notice of Election – Mr. Amend presented a draft of the ballot. This was completed after a consultation with two attorneys. He suggested that it may be beneficial to voters if the ballot were to list items to be funded and he asked Board members to weigh in about this. Mrs. Brooks and Mrs. Wood commented about the format of the ballot; easy to read. Some discussion followed about the addition of items to be funded within Options 1 & 2.

Option 1
Curriculum materials
Remediation Programs
Advanced Learning Programs
Staffing
Student Safety & Health Programs
Extra Curricular Activities
Technology

Option II
Class Size Reduction/Staffing
Advanced Learning Program Expansion
Inflation Factors
Teacher/Staff Training
Technology Expansion

Motion by Mr. Fredrickson, second by Mrs. Wood to amend the ballot to include these items, passed 4-0.

Shred Identity Theft Community Event – Harry Amend reported on the progress of this upcoming community event. Most of the preparation work has been done by Numerica Credit Union. This has been a great partnership between the district and the credit union.

Recessed at 7:00 p.m.
Reconvened at 7:18.

Finance Report – Mr. Briggs noted that he looks forward to a year from now when the new state funding process will have been in place.

Hearing for Amended Budget – Chair Newby opened the Hearing for the Amended Budget. Mr. Briggs and Julie Day shared a power point presentation. Original is attached to minutes. Mrs. Wood asked if sales tax funding will be enough to cover K-12 education. Chair Newby will check with ISBA. Mr. Briggs was pleased to announce the amount of fund balance allocated to reserves this year is zero. This is a goal that the district set and now has achieved. Lakes funds are being held in abeyance and accruing interest. There was no public input or questions. The Public Hearing was closed.

Curriculum Adoption Update– Curriculum Director Jim Facciano provided a brief update along with the most current curricular adoption timeline from the State level. Adopting Elementary Language Arts/Reading program next year is critical. The district can begin to plan for professional/technical adoption in 2008-09.

High School Graduation Requirement Review – Mr. Facciano reported the remaining issue of the committee was how to infuse the new requirements. School District 271 requires 2 additional credits of humanities (world history), but should we recommend keeping 4 credits of humanities. Currently 2 of the 4 credits must be world history. The committee discussed the possibility of removing the requirement of computer technology. A recommendation is forthcoming to Board this spring.

Call for Committee Reports – Chair Newby reported about Long Range Planning Committee; he challenged them to look at areas of altering grade configurations K-6, 7-8. The idea was very well received and there may be benefit to offering some K-6 schools.

Superintendent’s Report – Mr. Amend reminded the Board of the additional load put on the finance department this year: levy, special education workshop, and the Sorensen issue. He thanked Mr. Briggs and his department for their extra effort. The district has not heard directly about a Title IX complaint, only what has been in the newspaper and on the news. The District has a proud record of providing equal access. Mr. Amend received letter from Larry Schwenke about a field naming opportunity. This will be revisited at the April 23rd meeting with an announcement expected shortly thereafter. The LCDC Board is meeting tonight as they consider funding the Sorensen improvements and possible fund an incremental shortfall back to taxpayers. Mr. Amend will attend their next board meeting on April 18. Mrs. Wood has had opportunity to meet with people who are speaking negatively toward LCDC and she feels the timing is good to meet and look at verbal commitment.

Board Comments and Information - None

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Vernon L. Newby, Chair
Board of Trustees

Lynn M. Towne, Clerk
Board of Trustees

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