School District 
#261

Board of Trustees present: Zone 1 Liz Bingham (arrived at 4:32pm), Zone 3 Jeff Schroeder, Zone 4 Annette Lott, Zone 5 Staci Leavitt. Board of Trustees not present:  Zone 2 Peter Gibbons. 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, District Social Worker Rachel DelValle, Tarrence Handyside, Kyle Cleveland and Matthew Tipton with SSC Services, Jonathan Gillen with Charter Impact (via Google Meet), community members, teachers and staff.

1. Call to Order 4:30 p.m. 

   1. Pledge of Allegiance - Jodi Stewart

   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 Annette Lott and seconded by Jeff Schroeder 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: Staci Leavitt

Annette Lott

Jeff Schroeder

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 December

      1. Certified Elementary - Amanda Mansell Horizon Elementary School

      2. Certified Secondary - Kellie Rushing Jerome Middle School

      3. Classified - Gabriela Becerra Jerome Middle School

      4. Administrator - Nicole Ferreira Jerome Middle School

   2. STAR and LKV Presentation

3. Consent Agenda (Action)

   1. Approval of Previous Minutes

      1. October 30, 2025

      2. November 18, 2025

      3. December 8, 2025

   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 Liz Bingham  and seconded by Annette Lott to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Staci Leavitt

Liz Bingham

Annette Lott

Jeff Schroeder

4. Scheduled Visitors (Information):  There were no scheduled visitors at the December meeting.

   
   

5. Correspondence to the Board (Information)

   1. Trustee committee report

      1. Teacher Leadership Team held Monthly 1st Thursday 3:45pm-4:45pm - Staci Leavitt

      2. Wellness Committee held Monthly 2nd Wednesday  3:45pm-4:45pm beginning September 10th, 2025 - Jeff Schroeder

      3. Facilities Committee held Weekly on Wednesday 8:00am-9:30am - Jeff Schroeder

      4. Policy Review Committee- Every other Thursday 3:45pm-4:45pm - Liz Bingham

      5. Foundation Committee Meeting held Monthly 1st Thursday 12:00pm-1:00pm -  Peter Gibbons

      6. Safety Committee held 3rd Wed. Monthly @ 10:00am - Peter Gibbons

      7. Curriculum Committee held TBD -Annette Lott

6. Reports to the Board (Information)

   1. Jonathan Gillen - Charter Impact

   2. Stephanie Clay - Chartwells

   3. Terrance Handyside - SSC

      1. SSC November Update

      2. Culinary Presentation with Nicole Prince

   4. Tim Hicks - Transportation Department

   5. Kim Lickley - Federal Program Department

   6. Tyler Wardle - Technology Department

   7. Gina Cakebread - HR Department

   8. Toni Harbaugh - Special Services Department

   9. Ryan Evans  - Curriculum Department

      1. Continuous Improvement Plan

      2. Continuous Improvement Plan - Metrics Template

      3. My Path Usage

   10. Brent Johnson - Superintendent

       1. Shared Goals/Building Admin Board Reports

       2. Marshall Industries Sole Source Update

       3. Traffic Study Update

       4. JMS Heat Exchanger Update

       5. Horizon Heat Pump Issue

       6. Chartwells Food Service Interim Director Update

       7. Breakfast with Brent Scheduling Plan

       8. Holiday Staff Meal December 17th

       9. Proposed Calendar Information Update

       10. New Staff Onboarding

       11. ISEE and Budget Work Ongoing

       12. HVAC Bid Process

           
           

7. Approval of Bills (Action)

   1. Bills Approval

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

AYE: Staci Leavitt

Liz Bingham

Annette Lott

Jeff Schroeder

8. Board Business 

   1. Continuing Business

      1. Policy

         1. 2320 Health, Sex Education, and Human Sexuality (2nd Reading Action)

         2. 2340 Controversial Issues and Academic Freedom (2nd Reading Action)

         3. 2435 Advanced Opportunities (2nd Reading Action)

         4. 3281Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation (2nd Reading Action)

         5. 3370 Searches and Seizure (2nd Reading Action)

         6. 7110 Budget Implementation and Execution (2nd Reading Action)

         7. 7218 Federal Grant Financial Management System (2nd Reading Action)

         8. 7220 Documentation and Approval of Claims(2nd Reading Action)

A motion was made by Liz Bingham and seconded by Annette Lott to approve Policy 2320, 2340, 2435, 3281, 3370, 7110, 7218, 7220 as presented. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Staci Leavitt

Liz Bingham

Annette Lott

(Trustee Jeff Schroeder asked to temporarily be excused from the meeting and did not vote on this item.)

2. New Business

   1. Policy

      1. 7230 Financial Reporting and Audits

      2. 7235 Fiscal Accountability and IDEA Part B Funds

      3. 7237 Retention of Records Relating to Federal Grants

      4. 7310 Advertising in Schools/Revenue Enhancement

   2. Approval to replace failing electrical gear with new panel at Jerome High School (Action)

      1. Quote 1 Breaker Exchange

      2. Quote 2 Panel Board Option

      3. Quote 3 Switch Board Option

A motion was made by Liz Bingham and seconded by Annette Lott  to approve quote # two (2), Panel Board option, to replace failing electrical gear at Jerome High School. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Staci Leavitt

Liz Bingham

Annette Lott

(Trustee Jeff Schroeder asked to temporarily be excused from the meeting and did not vote on this item.)

3. Community Engagement and Support (Information)

4. Meeting Schedules and Governance (Information)

   1. Special Board Meeting

9. Agenda Planning (Information)

   
   

10. Audience of Citizens (Information)

    1. Karen Hamilton - Concerns

    2. Shiloh Clark - My Why

    3. Lanie Bragg - My Story

    4. Mackenzie Rodriguez - Concerns

       
       

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 Liz Bingham and seconded by Annette Lott 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: Staci Leavitt

Liz Bingham

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

The board recessed into executive session at 6:44 p.m.

The board returned to open session at 8:50 p.m.

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

    1. Approve Certified Employee P2526-10  Release from 2025-26 Contract Request (Action)

A motion was made by Annette Lott and seconded by Jeff Schroeder to not approve Certified Employee release from 2025-26 Contract.  The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Staci Leavitt

Annette Lott

Jeff Schroeder

(Trustee Liz Bingham excused herself from the meeting at 8:50pm.  She did not vote on this item.)

2. Accept recommendation of district admin to dismiss Classified Employee (Action)

A motion was made by Annette Lott and seconded by Jeff Schroeder to accept recommendation of district admin to dismiss Classified Employee P2526-11.  The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Staci Leavitt

Annette Lott

Jeff Schroeder

(Trustee Liz Bingham excused herself from the meeting at 8:50pm.  She did not vote on this item.)

3. Finalized the Superintendent 2025-26 Evaluation (Information)

   
   

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

   1. Student Discipline:

   2. 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.

   3. Truancies

   A motion was made by Annette Lott and seconded by Jeff Schroeder to approve the District Clerk's Declaration of Truancy for ten (10) students as presented. The motion passed by the following:

   AYE: Staci Leavitt

   Annette Lott

   Jeff Schroeder

   (Trustee Liz Bingham excused herself from the meeting at 8:50pm.  She did not vote on this item.)

   
   

   14. Adjourn: There being no other business before the board, Chairman Staci Leavitt adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.