School District 
#261

Board of Trustees present:  Zone 1 Liz Bingham, Zone 3 Jeffrey Schroeder, Zone 4 Annette Lott, Zone 5 Staci Leavitt.  Others present: Superintendent Brent Johnson, Business Manager Brian Bridwell, District Clerk Jodi Stewart (Appointed Clerk of the Board of May 10, 2024), Technology Director Tyler Wardle, Special Education Director Toni Harbaugh, Child Nutrition Department Director Vanessa Fitzsimmons, Payroll and Benefits Clerk Gina Cakebread, Lorri Prescott, community members, teachers and staff.

Call to Order 6:00 p.m. 

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman Staci Leavitt.

Pledge of Allegiance - led by Business Manager Brian Bridwell

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

Approval of Agenda (Action)

A motion was made by Liz Bingham 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: Staci Leavitt

Liz Bingham

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

1. Consent Agenda (Action) 

   1. Approval of Previous Minutes

      1. Regular Meeting June 25, 2024

      2. Special Meeting July 2, 2024

      3. Special Meeting July 10, 2024

   2. Financial Report 

      1. Cash Report

         1. Reconciliation Report

      2. Accrual Report

         1. Revenue and Expense Summary 

         2. Balance Sheet 

      3. Building Financial Reports

         1. Jefferson Elementary School -- Reconciliation -- Check Register -- Balance Sheet

         2. Frontier Elementary School -- Reconciliation -- Check Register -- Balance Sheet

         3. Horizon Elementary School -- Reconciliation -- Check Register -- Balance Sheet

         4. Summit Elementary School -- Reconciliation -- Check Register -- Balance Sheet

         5. Jerome Middle School -- Reconciliation -- Check Register -- Balance Sheet

         6. Jerome High School -- Reconciliation -- Check Register -- Balance Sheet

         7. Falls City Academy – Reconciliation – Check Register – Balance Sheet

         8. Special Services -- Reconciliation -- Check Register -- Balance Sheet

   3. Personnel Changes 2024-25

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

Shane Humphries

Liz Bingham

Annette Lott

Scheduled Visitors (Information)

1.Angela Compton, Special Education Instructional Coach and Toni Harbaugh, Special Education Director presented on the Summer Vocational Rehab Work-Based Learning Program that several Jerome School District students participated in.

2.Pam Frampton, Samantha Marshall and Lindsey Westburg  presented on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of the Magic Valley program offered to Jerome School District students.

Audience of Citizens: Community Members Dani Nunnally and Steven Nunes spoke to Agenda Item: Superintendent’s Report 2024-25 Bussing Routes and requested that the Trustees review the bus routes and add stops to Day Care facilities in city limits.

Committee Reports/Correspondence to the Board:  No Committee Reports for July, 2024. 

Reports (Information)

Superintendent’s Report: Construction update Michael Arrington gave a report on Jefferson, Frontier and Jerome High School Projects; Superintendent Updated on Facilities Use Policy, Substitute Training and Cell Phone Policy..

i)    2024 Secondary Summer School Report

ii)   JHS Idaho Agriculture Teachers Association Letters

iii)  2024-25 Bussing Routes

Approval of Bills

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

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Board Business 

Continuing Business

Policy 2705 Military Compact Waiver

Policy 3060 Education of Homeless Children

Policy 5360 Dress and Appearance

Policy 5407 Sick Leave Banks

Policy 7407 Public Procurement of Goods and Services

A motion was made by Liz Bingham and seconded by Annette Lott to approve Policy 2705, Policy 3060, Policy 5360, Policy 5407, Policy 7407,as presented for second reading. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Staci Leavitt

Liz Bingham

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

New Business

i) Consideration of Zone 2 Vacancy Trustee Selection-Interview of candidate(s); Informal interviews were conducted by trustees.

ii) Declaration that an area of need exists for the 2024-2025 school year in the schools and departments as listed

1.Emergency Provisional Certification:

a. Francisca Peralta, Jefferson Elementary School Teacher Dual Language Immersion Grade 2

b. Morgan Durham, Falls City Academy Teacher Physical Education

2. Alternative Authorization Content Specialist, Teacher to New Endorsement, Pupil Service Certifications:

Johana Garcia, Jefferson Elementary School Counselor

Larisa Thorne, Jefferson Elementary School Teacher English Language Learner

Lizzet Corona Leon, Summit Elementary School Counselor

Hadley Banner, Summit Elementary School Teacher Music

Jakob Shaw, Summit Elementary School Teacher Physical Education

Nuvain Blackburn, Summit Elementary School Teacher Special Education

Jennifer Howell, Frontier Elementary School Teacher Music

Ivy Sackett, Jerome Middle School Counselor

Gabriella Owens, Jerome Middle School Teacher English Language Arts

Austin Jensen, Jerome High School Counselor

Mayra Byeon, Jerome High School Teacher Special Education

Keyene McNabb, Jerome High School Teacher English Language Arts

Sharmy Steele, Jerome High School Teacher Drama

James Davis, Falls City Alternative School Teacher Social Studies

Rebekah Rodriguez, Falls City Alternative School Teacher English Language Arts

Mattison Rongen, Jerome School District School Psychologist

Amy Whitby, Jerome Early Education Program Teacher Preschool Special Education

A motion was made by Liz Bingham and seconded by Annette Lott to declare that an area of need exists for the 2023-24 school year in the schools and departments as listed. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Staci Leavitt

Liz Bingham

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

iii) Approval of Jerome High School and Middle School FFA Out of State Travel Request.

A motion was made by Liz Bingham and seconded by Annette Lott to approve the request by Jerome High School and Middle School FFA request for Students to travel in October 2024 to Indianapolis Indiana for the National FFA Convention & Expo. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Staci Leavitt

Liz Bingham

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

iv)    Policy 2385 English Learners Program (1st Reading - Information)

v)     Policy 2415  Supporting Students with Characteristics of Dyslexia (1st Reading - Information)

vi)    Policy 2435  Advanced Opportunities (1st Reading - Information) 

vii)   Policy 2435F  Advanced Opportunities Form(1st Reading - Information)

viii)  Policy 5470  Leaves of Absence-Military Leave(1st Reading - Information)

ix)    Consideration of Jerome School District Supplemental Levy election: 

         Finance Manager, Brian Bridwell discussed historical supplemental levy results.

Agenda Planning:  Trustees confirmed they plan to attend the planning workshop scheduled for Tuesday, August 6th.

Executive Session (Action)

1. IC 74-206(1)(b)(d)(j) – Personnel or Student. Negotiations.(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;(j) Negotiations.

   1. Personnel Issues

   2. Student Issues

   3. Negotiations

A motion was made by Annette Lott and seconded by Jeff Schroeder 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)(j), 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 7:41 p.m.

The board returned to open session at 8:23 p.m.

Consideration of Personnel Executive Item(s)

a) Classified Employees Reduction in Force from Food Services Department

i) P2425-01

ii) P2425-02

iii) P2425-03

A motion was made by Annette Lott and seconded by Liz Bingham to accept the recommendation of the Department Director and to dismiss Classified Employees P2425-01, P2425-02 and P2425-03  from the Jerome School District. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Staci Leavitt

Liz Bingham

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

         b) Certified Employee Release from 2024-25 Contract Request:

A motion was made by Annette Lott and seconded by Liz Bingham to release Certified Employee P2425-04 from the 2024-25 contract due to personal circumstances, contingent on hiring suitable replacement and direct Superintendent Johnson or his designee to send written notice to the employee. The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Staci Leavitt

Liz Bingham

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Consideration of Trustee Candidate Selection

Appointment of Zone 2 Trustee

The board reviewed the Letters of Interests received from Peter Gibbons, Walt Cooley and Jackie Cooley for the Zone 2 Trustee Vacancy, and an interview was conducted during the New Business session of the July 23, 2024, regularly scheduled board meeting. A motion was made by Liz Bingham and seconded by Jeff Schroeder to approve the appointment of Peter Gibbons as Zone 2 Trustee for the remainder of the current term.  The motion passed by the following:

AYE: Staci Leavitt

Liz Bingham

Jeff Schroeder

Annette Lott

Adjourn: : There being no other business before the board, Chairman Staci Leavitt adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.