Below is a summary of the Caldwell School District Board of Trustees May 11, 2020 meeting intended to provide information about board decisions in a timely manner. It is not the official record. A video of the Zoom meeting is available here. Minutes, the official record of the meeting, are finalized the following month after approval by the board.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Dr. French shared two student highlights:
Caldwell High School speech and debate success - Students participated in 10 tournaments. Seven students qualified for championship rounds, medaled in multiple tournaments and won an overall first place. 9 or our 11 students were first-year competitors and we were recognized by the district debate leadership for excellence. Coach Lance Morris received a national nomination for “New Coach of the Year,” and the team was awarded the Superior Distinction from the national offices.
Nationally, CHS students were recognized
- Distinction Status: Kaylee Johnson. She also medaled 5 times, and won an overall first place; nominated for District and National Debater of the Year
- Honor Status: Fatima Amezcua (medaled); Eliza Farrell (medaled 2 times); Alexis O'Malley
- Merit Status: Ana Gonzalez; Hannah Tish; Erika Leos; Crystal King; Emily Warner (medaled); Ali Zischke (medaled)
- Other Members: Juli Hurja; Izzy Rivera; Kaila Ramos (medaled)
Girls Wrestling -- Dr. French introduced District Activities Director Jon Hallock who reported that the new Girls Wrestling program did well placing second at a state competition. The program ended the year with 24 team members, one of the largest teams in Idaho.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Board approved its consent agenda which included:
REGULAR AGENDA
- Zone 1 Trustee - Claudia Suastegui took the Oath Of Office. Chair Marisela Pesina reviewed the Code of Ethics Policy 1600 which trustees sign.
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- Rescheduled Yellowstone and Florida Trips - Dr. Melyssa Ferro updated trustees on three STEM activities for Jefferson and Syringa middle schools:
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- Habitat H20 Florida trip set for June 3-7 rescheduled to Aug 9-13 - about 36 students
- Expedition Yellowstone for advanced science students at both middle schools in March was rescheduled for students as 9th graders for Nov. 13-16 - about 35 students
- MASSI summer opportunity first week of June at the College of Idaho will be rescheduled - about 80 students
The Board approved rescheduled trips for Habitat H20 and Expedition Yellowstone.
- Magnet School Proposal - Dr. Matt McDaniel, Lewis & Clark Elementary School principal reviewed a presentation about magnet schools. Trustees will explore this model more at a summer retreat.
- Summer School - Caldwell High School Principal Anita Wilson reviewed plans for Advanced Opportunity and Credit Recovery summer schools. The schools will begin online and depending on conditions could move into small group instruction. The Board approved the slow opening of the district’s summer school.
- Career Technical Education (CTE) Certification - The Board approved allowing students in the engineering and welding programs to access Caldwell High School to complete requirements for their certifications. This small group would begin work on May 18 and follow physical distancing rules.
- State Funding - 2019-2020 & 2020-2021 - Finance Director April Burton shared that the district is expecting revenue reductions including:
- a 1% state holdback in state funds for the current year
- a 5% state holdback for 2020-21.
- Loss reflecting a drop in enrollment to new or expanding charter schools in 2020-21.
She shared district voters approved an increase in the supplemental levy that will help but not cover all of the revenue cuts. The district expects to receive some one-time federal funding earmarked for the next two years to offset costs related to distance learning and the pandemic. Burton said the state will provide more information this week on the holdbacks. The board will discuss the budget again at a May 18 special meeting.
- Reopening Timeline - Dr. French reviewed draft guidelines for restarting sports and activities that would be followed by all schools in the Southern Idaho Conference. The board will consider the guidelines at its May 18 special meeting.
- Personnel Report moved from the Consent Agenda - The Board approved the report after a discussion about hiring being paused.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT/ADOPTION
Superintendent French shared that the following policies are under review by the district policy committee:
First reading
The board approved sending this policy back to the committee for further review:
The board approved for first reading:
Second and final reading
The board approved for second and final reading: