May 7, 2007 Board Meeting

Regular Meeting May 7, 2007
Midtown Center Meeting Room 5:00 PM

Minutes

At 5:05 PM, Chair Vern Newby called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Trustees Edie Brooks, Christie Wood and Diane Zipperer were present. Trustee Sid Fredrickson was absent.

Approval of Minutes – Motion by Mrs. Wood, second by Mrs. Brooks to approve the minutes of April 23, 2007, passed 4-0. Motion by Mrs. Brooks, second by Mrs. Zipperer to approve the minutes of April 25, 2007, passed 4-0.

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

High School Student Body Reports:
Alex representing Project CDA shared a PowerPoint presentation with those in attendance and noted this will also be shared at a future City Council meeting. The presentation highlights an upcoming event “Black Ribbon Day” to be held May 24 at Project; a mock funeral in remembrance of friends lost to drugs. A recent May Day Sale netted $850.00.
Andrew representing CHS shared information about the Senior Ball and the Mother Daughter Tea to be held May 14.
James Souza and Nick Cotton spoke about the LCHS Senior Ball held last weekend; AP tests have begun and Spring Sports are wrapping up.
Jory representing Bridge Academy noted a record setting 1,610 lessons completed. Three scholarships from Rotary were awarded.

Identification of Citizens Wishing to Address Board
Dan Gookin, 714 W Empire Ave. Coeur d’Alene spoke against the district using LCDC monies to fund Sorensen ADA improvements. He thanked the Board for choosing to keep the school open however, is disappointed that the school district chooses to enter into a partnership with LCDC. He encourages the district to run a bond campaign for the needed funds and feels it would pass given the support to keep the school open. He feels this is an illegal operation and the district would be cheating by accepting these funds.
Debbie Morris, 2039 Sundown Dr. Coeur d’Alene believes the district has failed to comply with federal code. Requests to examine health curriculum have gone unanswered to her satisfaction. It is important to build relationships in light of the upcoming levy. She brought samples of a flyer about free speech, and asked that these fliers be distributed to teachers. Students may have been sexually harassed when participating in discussions about books that include sexual language; this can be considered offensive to the student. She encouraged Board members to take these concerns seriously and respond. She will help fund the printing costs of the fliers if necessary.
Mary Jo Finney, 6451 Kingswood Lane, Coeur d’Alene noted that her curriculum issues have not been resolved at the building or the administration level.

Approval of Consent Agenda Items:
A. Personnel
B. Approve Accounts Payable Check List Dated April 30, 2007
C. Approve Affidavit of Habitual Truancy
D. Approve Contract with Empire Vending
E. Approve Contract with Pepsi Bottling Group
F. Approval of Clerks and Judges for May 15, 2007 Supplemental M&O Levy Election
G. Approve Recommendations to Rehire Certified Staff
H. Approve Phone Systems Bid Award
I. Approve Voice Mail Systems Bid Award
J. Approve Fire Alarm System Bid Award (Woodland Middle School)
K Approve Copier Lease – Skyway Elementary
L. Wing Mower Bid Award (per governing authorized official)

Motion by Mrs. Zipperer to approve the consent agenda, second by Mrs. Wood, passed 4-0.

Consideration of Action/Information Items:

Bond Refinance – Eric Heringer, Seattle Northwest Pacific previously presented information on this topic. It is optimal to refinance between now and July. The savings we will realize must go to offset a lower tax burden. He looked at scenarios to shorten the length of the repayment term, which will save additional interest. Option 1 saves 303,870, pays off in 2013; Option 2 pays off in 2012, saves 381,291; Option 3 pays off in 2011, savings of 444,797. The drawback is an increase in the tax rate – from 16 cents per thousand to 18 cents per thousand. Mrs. Brooks asked if there was a recommendation for an option; Mr. Briggs spoke in favor of Option 2 which would keep tax rate level. Superintendent Amend asked if the tax base has increased by 10%, can we get to Option 3 without raising the tax rate. A final decision should be made mid-June. Chair Newby spoke about members of the community who are on a fixed income and he prefers to keep the amount stable. Motion by Mrs. Brooks to proceed with the refinance authorization and to receive further information for a recommended option at a future meeting, second by Mrs. Wood, passed 4-0.

Coeur d’Alene Education Association Report – Barbara Crow, CEA President reported that levy donations are coming in and they have collected $1,000 to date. CEA Delegates attended the Idaho Education Association Delegate Assembly held recently in Boise. The Coeur d’Alene School Board was nominated for the Region I Friend of Education Award for their support of Proposition One. Incumbent Trustees Vern Newby and Christie Wood have been endorsed by CEA.

Long Range Planning Committee By-Laws Revision – Chief Financial Officer Steve Briggs noted the committee’s work over the past few weeks. The main reason for the changes are to stay up to date. This committee is largely about planning and are focused on facilities. The committee’s official name is “Long Range Planning and Facility Review Committee”. Motion by Mrs. Zipperer to accept the revisions as presented, second by Mrs. Wood, passed 4-0.

Sorensen Magnet School Update – Director of Elementary Education Pam Pratt presented an update about the upcoming auction fundraiser to be held June 2.

Finance Report – Chief Financial Officer Steve Briggs noted the finance report for the month ending March with nothing extraordinary to report. Improvements will be made to the graph for future Board packets.

Special Education/Finance Report – Mr. Briggs referenced a previous dialogue with Board members about special education and announced a new report to be given on a quarterly basis about special education. Mrs. Wood thanked the finance department for producing this report, however stressed to not lose sight of working on a strategic plan regarding special education. This report will provide more information more often.

Some discussion followed about reimbursable Medicaid funds through purchased services in fund 248. Mrs. Brooks asked for a report of what we believe should be reimbursed vs. what is actually reimbursed. Medicaid reimbursements are received generally two months after the expense has been incurred

Policy 543/Student Suspension – Assistant Superintendent Hazel Bauman presented proposed changes to this policy. It was recommended that the Superintendent should provide an annual suspension report to the Board. A line will be added to the policy and brought back for action.

Call for Committee Reports –Ms. Bauman spoke about Complaints about Library and Resource Materials and reported that committee members are reading through the books in question and will make a recommendation. Ideally, this work should be finished before the beginning of next year. Each book will be presented to the Board individually. Mary Jo Finney stated that she was denied the ability to attend the first meeting, this has since been rectified.

Superintendent’s Report – Superintendent Harry Amend noted that levy presentations are winding down. The Admin team finished a 2-day training for Cognitive Coaching, and the retirement dinner will take place tomorrow night.

Board Comments and Information – Mrs. Wood thanked Mr. Amend, Ms. Bauman and Mr. Briggs for levy presentations held so far and she has been hearing good feedback from the community. Chair Newby concurred. Mrs. Brooks was impressed at last week’s Rotary lunch as she listened to speakers Mike Clabby, Tarragh Carr and Van Troxel.

Motion by Mrs. Brooks, second by Mrs. Wood for Executive Session: Idaho Code 67-2345, Subsection (b) to consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent or public school student; Roll call vote: Newby, Wood, Brooks, Zipperer each “yes”. Sid Fredrickson was absent.

The meeting returned to open session at 7:58 p.m. and adjourned.

Vernon L. Newby, Chair
Board of Trustees

Lynn M. Towne, Clerk
Board of Trustees

Summary Statement of Executive Session
At 7:00 PM, in accordance with Idaho Code 67-2345, Subsection (b) the Board held an Executive Session to consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent or public school student.

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