School Board moves forward with budget reduction measures
An executive session, of the
Reports, recognitions and
enrollment
May enrollment was at 1,134
students – a decrease of three students from this time last month and less 89
students from this time last year.
Grants
George Clark explained an
Idaho System for Educational Excellence (ISEE) grant for the amount of $7,500
for a staff and student data base. Superintendent Durkee commended Mr. Clark for
a job well done.
Mr. Gustin received a $4,000
grant to help enhance awareness of native plants and their pollinators.
Mrs. Baggett received books
to enhance the library collection for the We the People Bookshelf Collection.
Carmen Griffith received a
TES Fruits and Vegetables Grant in the amount of $5,572 to introduce children to
fruits and vegetables that may be new to them.
Procedures
Job descriptions were created
for review for the following positions: Maintenance Director, Head Custodian,
Custodian, and Technology Director. They will be on the agenda for review in the
next regular meeting.
Policy 5320P for Drug and
Alcohol Abuse Testing Program and Procedures was brought up for consideration.
Board members wanted more time to study the issue, so it was set for next
month’s agenda.
Building and program reports
Principals and Directors of
programs presented information about their school programs in an effort to
increase communication and collaboration with the board and patrons.
Public comments
Annette Haag thanked the
board for increasing the Supplemental Levy amount and the community for passing
the much needed levy. She had concerns regarding the Last Best Offer that was on
the agenda. She noted that negotiations are still in progress. She encouraged
board members to go through all the steps fully. To impose the LBO, makes it
appear that negotiations have failed when there have been many positive strides
made.
Dean Gimmestad asked that the
information regarding grants for which teachers apply, be reported to the local
newspaper so that all patrons can see the positive work teachers have done to
receive these grants.
Action items
Mrs. Snyder read aloud the
supplemental levy election results: Cavendish-Teakean School 22 yes votes, 47 no
votes; Peck Elementary School 33 yes votes, 12 no votes; Pierce Community Center
73 yes votes, 23 no votes; USFS Building 88 yes votes, 70 no votes; Weippe City
Hall 74 yes votes, 81 no votes; Orofino Elementary School 221 yes votes, 140 no
votes; Orofino Jr. High School 154 yes votes, 72 no votes.
There were 1,111 ballots cast
with one rejected for a total of 665 yes votes and 445 no votes. The levy passed
with a 59.9% approval rate. Board members thanked the community and staff for
the support in passing the levy.
A motion was unanimously
approved to accept the canvassing of the supplemental election results.
Policies
Second readings were heard of
the following policies: 3310 Gangs and Gang Activity; 3335 Academic Honesty;
4420 Sex Offenders; 4250 Educational Research in District Schools; 5380
Professional Research and Publishing, and 9331 Resource Conservation.
A motion was approved
unanimously to put policy #4420 back onto the second reading calendar.
A motion was approved
unanimously to approve policies 3310; 4250; 5380, and 9331, and to delete the
words “where appropriate” and add parent or “legal guardian” to policy #3335.
Field trip request
A motion was approved to
grant the overnight field trip request by the OJH Natural Helpers.
Mrs. Nord proposed a plan to
include seventh and eighth grade to the
Mrs. Arnsberg noted that Mrs.
Nord does a fine job, and she felt that Mrs. Nord would be able to accomplish
this request as well as keep some students in the district that might go
elsewhere. Mrs. Arnsberg made a motion to approve Mrs. Nord’s proposal. The
motion died for lack of a second.
School Calendar
A motion was passed to adopt
the 2010-11 school calendar as presented.
Strength based intervention
Due to state cutbacks in
funding, Mr. Durkee recommended the elimination of the Strength Based
Intervention program. Mrs. Graber expressed concern regarding the cutting of
services for children with mental health issues. A motion to eliminate the
program carried with Mrs. Graber and Mrs. Arnsberg abstaining and Mr. Schwartz,
Mrs. Jared, and Mr. Ebert voting in favor of it. The motion passed.
Last best offer
Due to cuts in state funding,
the district will receive significantly less money for the next school year. Mr.
Durkee said the board has taken many steps to address the cutbacks with cutbacks
in personnel, relocation of students from OJHS, reductions in several line items
from the budget, and an increase in the supplemental levy. There still remains a
sizable deficit in the 2010-11 budget.
Negotiation teams from the
board and the Clearwater Education Association have met numerous times to work
toward agreement on items. The parties have not been able yet to come to an
agreement. Therefore, as authorized by Idaho Code, the following recommendations
were made: to change the insurance policy to a $500 deductible with a 3-tier
prescription coverage with a district payment of dependent coverage to 70%;
eliminate OHS Activities Director position from the extracurricular salaries
list and not fill some junior high extracurricular positions; eliminate
grandfathering of extracurricular salaries and reduce extracurricular salaries
by 5%; freeze movement on certified salary schedule for education and
experience; reduce the length of contract for certified staff by six days, along
with a corresponding reduction in the salary schedule, and issue a second
contract for certified staff for up to four additional days if a holdback is not
declared by the Idaho Governor for the 2010-11 school year.
The recommended changes would
allow the district to prepare a balanced budget for 2010-11. Mr. Ebert noted
that it is important to understand that they will continue with negotiations.
Mr. Schwartz noted that this is not a failure of negotiations but a timeline has
been imposed on the board. Mr. Ebert noted that a timeline for a Due Process
Hearing is put into place and everyone will be able to be heard at that time.
Mr. Durkee explained that the process needs to be complete by June 6, so the Due
Process hearing has been set for June 4.
A motion was passed to
approve the recommendations with Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Ebert, Mrs. Jared, and Mrs.
Graber voting Aye. Mrs. Arnsberg abstained.
Certified employees
A motion was unanimously
approved for the hiring of a full time, certified employee, on probation, for
the 2010-11 school year.
The meeting adjourned and
went into Executive Session
Next meeting
The next regular school board
meeting is set for June 21, at Timberline Schools.