David Chehey

The meeting included recognition of students with exceptionalities through the Yes, I Can awards, highlighting their determination, resilience, and excellence in academics, arts, community activities, self-advocacy, technology, and transition. The Golden Apple Award was presented to Terry Shu for his commitment to the well-being of Washington Elementary students, staff, and families. The Red Apple Award was presented to Aaron Luthie for creating a deep sense of belonging in his classroom and his commitment to clarity in teaching and learning.

The meeting included recognition of outstanding classified staff members and professional educators with the Golden Apple Award and Red Apple Award, respectively. The board also presented a Friend of Boise Schools award to Doug Holloway for his contributions to the district through partnerships and community engagement. Discussions covered the DTEK program, movies under the stars, community centers, after school programs and shared facilities.

The board meeting included discussions on healthcare capacity in hospitals, community spread trends, and updates on the vaccine rollout. Healthcare leaders provided insights on hospital capacity, noting improvements since the holiday season. The community transmission rate was discussed, with a focus on case rates and recommendations for school operations. Updates on the vaccine rollout were provided, highlighting the high demand and efforts to administer vaccines efficiently.

The presentation discussed the various services and supports available within the schools and community to aid students, especially in light of recent student deaths. The Student Support Services report aligns with the strategic plan, focusing on emotional safety. The crisis response protocol was explained, detailing the process followed when notified of a student or staff death, emphasizing collaboration between district leadership, school principals, and the crisis response team. The team was expanded to 11 members and trained in the PREPaRE model. The discussion also covered suicide prevention, highlighting the high number of student suicides in the state and the district's initiatives to support mental health and emotional well-being.

The special board meeting of the Boise School District was convened to review the pandemic plan for the 2021-2022 school year. Discussions included updates on community transmission rates, local health professional guidance, and district data. Key points involved the recommendation to require face coverings indoors for all students, staff, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, and outdoors only for large gatherings. The board also addressed quarantine protocols, the impact of mask usage and vaccination on in-person learning, and the continuation of other mitigation measures.