School District 
#261

Board of Trustees present: Zone 1 Liz Bingham, Zone 2 Peter Gibbons, Zone 3 Jeff Schroeder, Zone 4 Annette Lott, Zone 5 Staci Leavitt. Others present: Superintendent Brent Johnson,  Assistant Superintendent/Curriculum Director Ryan Evans, District Clerk Jodi Stewart, HR Director Gina Cakebread, Transportation Director Tim Hicks, Federal Programs Director Kim Lickley, Special Services Director Toni Harbaugh, Technology Director Tyler Wardle, District Social Worker Rachel DelValle, Terrance Handyside Kyle Cleveland and Matthew Tipton with SSC Services, Jonathan Gillen with Charter Impact, community members, teachers and staff.

1. Call to Order 4:30 p.m.

   1. Pledge of Allegiance - Liz Bingham

   2. Waive reading of the minutes of the previous board meeting as submitted to each board member.

   3. Approval of Agenda (Action)

A motion was made by Peter Gibbons and seconded by Annette Lott to waive the reading of the minutes of the previous board meeting and approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Staci Leavitt

Individuals who wish to address the Board of Trustees regarding any action items must sign in prior to the start of the regular board meeting at 4:30 p.m. and placed before each action item on the agenda.

2. Jerome School District Presentations:

   1. Excellence in Education Staff Awards for March

      1. Certified Elementary - Jorma Fletcher Horizon Elementary

      2. Certified Secondary - Rachel Del Valle District Social Worker

      3. Classified - Betty Herrera Jerome High School Food Service

3. Consent Agenda (Action)

   1. Approval of Previous Minutes

      1. February 24, 2026

      2. March 12, 2026

   2. Financials

      1. Financial Report

      2. Building Financial Reports

         1. Jefferson Elementary School

         2. Frontier Elementary School

         3. Horizon Elementary School

         4. Summit Elementary School

         5. Jerome Middle School

         6. Jerome High School

         7. Falls City Academy

         8. Special Services

   3. Personnel Changes 2025-26 SY

A motion was made by Staci Leavitt and seconded by Jeff Schroeder to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Staci Leavitt

4. Approval of Bills (Action)

   1. Bills Approval

A motion was made by Staci Leavitt and seconded by Annette Lott to approve the bills as presented. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Staci Leavitt

5. Scheduled Visitors (Information):  There were no scheduled visitors for the March Regular Meeting.

   
   

6. Correspondence from the Board (Information)

   1. Trustee Committee Report

      1. Staci Leavitt

         1. Teacher Leadership Team

      2. Jeff Schroeder

         1. Wellness Committee 

         2.  Facilities Committee

      3. Liz Bingham

         1. Policy Review Committee

         2. Legislative Update

      4. Peter Gibbons

         1. Foundation Committee 

         2. Safety Committee

      5. Annette Lott

         1. Curriculum Committee

7. Reports to the Board (Information)

   1. Chartwells

   2. Terrance Handyside - SSC

   3. Tim Hicks - Transportation Department

   4. Kim Lickley - Federal Program Department

   5. Tyler Wardle - Technology Department

   6. Gina Cakebread - HR Department

   7. Toni Harbaugh - Special Services Department

   8. Ryan Evans  - Curriculum Department

   9. Brent Johnson - Superintendent

      1. Shared Goals/Building Admin Board Reports

      2. Chartwells is still in the process of interviewing for the directors position

      3. Chartwells is currently working on the summer school food service plans

      4. Annex Inspection Update

      5. The District Office Move Information

      6. The Jerome High School electric work is starting this weekend

8. Board Business 

   1. Continuing Business

      1. Policy (Action)

         1. 7430 Travel Allowances and Expenses (2nd Reading Action)

         2. 7430F Travel Expense Reimbursement Form  (2nd Reading Action)

         3. 8100 Transportation  (2nd Reading Action)

         4. 8103 Vehicles Other than School Buses Used to Transport Students  (2nd Reading Action)

         5. 8105P Extracurricular Transportation - Discipline (2nd Reading Action)

         6. 8110 Safety Busing  (2nd Reading Action)

         7. 8120 Bus Routes, Stops and Non-Transportation Zones  (2nd Reading Action)

         8. 8130 Transportation of Students with Disabilities  (2nd Reading Action)

         9. 8140 Student Conduct on Buses  (2nd Reading Action)

A motion was made by Staci Leavitt and seconded by Peter Gibbons to approve Policy 7403, 7430F, 8100, 8103, 8105P, 8110, 8120, 8130 and 8140 as presented. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Staci Leavitt

2. New Business

   1. Policy (Information)

      1. 8000 Series (1st Reading Information)

      2. 8170P District Owned Vehicles (1st Reading Information)

      3. 8180 Driver Training and Responsibility (1st Reading Information)

      4. 8185 Use of  Wireless Communication Devices by Bus Drivers (1st Reading Information)

      5. 8190 Emergencies Involving Transportation Vehicles (1st Reading Information)

      6. 8195 District Vehicle Idling (1st Reading Information)

      7. 8320 Fire Drills and Evacuation Plans (1st Reading Information)

   2. Approve scheduling the Annual Budget Hearing for the Jerome School District on June 23, 2026 (Action)

A motion was made by Staci Leavitt and seconded by Peter Gibbons to approve scheduling the Annual Budget Hearing for the Jerome School District on June 23, 2026. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Staci Leavitt

3. Consideration and Approval to Authorize Administration to Proceed with a Reduction in Force of four (4) additional Certified Positions Effective the 2026-27 School Year (Action)

A motion was made by Staci Leavitt and seconded by Peter Gibbons to approve authorizing Administration to Proceed with a Reduction in Force of four (4) additional Certified Positions Effective the 2026-27 School Year.  The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Staci Leavitt

4. Approval of the New English Language Arts (ELA) Curriculum for Grades 6-12 (Action)

A motion was made by Annette Lott and seconded by Jeff Schroeder to approve the purchase of the new English Language Arts (ELA) Curriculum for Grades 6-12.  The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Staci Leavitt

5. Approve an adjustment to the 2025-2026 school calendar, contingent upon there being no additional snow days. (Action)

   1. The revised schedule would designate May 19 as the last full day for students, May 21 as the final teacher contract day, and June 4 as the last working day for principals and secretaries on 210-day contracts. This change would not impact year-round staff.

A motion was made by Staci Leavitt and seconded by Peter Gibbons to approve the adjustment to the 2025-2026 school calendar, contingent upon there being no additional snow days as presented.  The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Staci Leavitt

6. Approval of Out of State Travel (Action):

   1. Jerome High School Fine Arts travel to Sandy Utah (Action)

A motion was made by Staci Leavitt and seconded by Jeff Schroeder to approve the out of state travel for Jerome High Schools Fine Arts program to travel to Sandy Utah.  The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Staci Leavitt

7. Approval of an Adjusted Schedule for Jerome High School on April 15, 2026, as presented (Action)

A motion was made by Peter Gibbons and seconded by Annette Lott to approve an adjusted schedule for Jerome High School on April 15, 2026 as presented.  The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Staci Leavitt

9. Trustees Agenda and Meeting Planning (Information)

   1. Meeting and Calendar Schedules (Information)

      1. Calendar discussion for an early April Special Meeting

The Trustees agreed to hold a special meeting on April 2nd, 2026 at 5:00pm.

2. 2026 ISBA Spring Leadership Institute - Twin Falls - March 19, 2026 5:30p-8:00p

   1. Liz Bingham

   2. Peter Gibbons

   3. Annette Lott

   4. Jeff Schroeder

   5. Brent Johnson

3. 2026 Education Law Seminar April 27-28, 2026 in Boise

   1. Attendees

      1. Brent Johnson

      2. Ryan Evans

      3. Liz Bingham

      4. Peter Gibbons

      5. Annette Lott

      6. Staci Leavitt

   
   

   10) Audience of Citizens (Information)

   1. Aimee Mangum - Spoke regarding the four Day Topic

   2. Nicole Ferrieira - Spoke regarding the four Day Topic

   3. Cam Stauffer - Spoke regarding the four Day Topic

   4. Sam Sharp - Spoke on Building Trust

   5. Betty Maciel  - Spoke regarding the four Day Topic

   6. Juie Kirk - Spoke regarding the four Day Topic

   7. Rachel DelValle - Spoke regarding the four Day Topic

      
      

   11) Executive Session (Action)

   1. IC 74-206(1)(b)(d) – Personnel or Student.(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; and (d) to consider records that are exempt from disclosure as provided in Chapter 1, Title 74, Idaho Code.

A motion was made by Staci Leavitt and seconded by Peter Gibbons that the Board of Trustees of Jt. Jerome School District #261 recess into executive session in the manner and for the purpose authorized by Section 74-206(1)(b)(d), Idaho Code, regarding personnel issues involving employees or student issues involving students of the district. The motion passed by roll call vote: 

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Anette Lott

Staci Leavitt

The board recessed into executive session at 6:16 p.m.

The board returned to open session at 7:43 p.m.

12. Consideration of Personnel Executive Item(s) (Action)

    1. Approval of 2026-27 School Year Classified Administrative Assignments and Certified Building Administrators Contracts. (Action)

A motion was made by Staci Leavitt and seconded by Peter Gibbons to approve the 2026-27 school year classified administrative Assignments and certified building administrators contracts.  The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Staci Leavitt

13. Consideration of Student Executive Item(s) (Action)

    1. Per Idaho Code 33-205(3) and 74-206(1)(b) the board considered one (1) student discipline issue and took action accordingly. Such action shall be documented in the students educational record and is confidential pursuant to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable state and federal code and regulation provisions and parents and student were notified of the decision.

    2. Truancies:

A motion was made by Staci Leavitt and seconded by Annette Lott to approve the District Clerk's Declaration of Truancy for eight (8) students as presented. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Liz Bingham

Peter Gibbons

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Staci Leavitt

14. Adjourn (Action) There being no other business before the board, Chairman Liz Bingham adjourned the meeting at 7:45p.m.