Julia A. Corder

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance, followed by the recognition and congratulation of a state championship team led by Mrs. Paige and Mr. Cotton, acknowledging their dedication despite facility limitations. Important administrative notices were given regarding the upcoming annual board meeting scheduled for January 20th and a special board meeting on January 8th for executive session student hearings. A report update indicated that the IRI data presentation would be postponed until February to allow for better trend analysis of new testing results. The status of the Community Schools Grant, which is set to expire on December 31st, was discussed, noting that a letter of support was submitted for an appeal pending by December 18th, otherwise the grant funding for programming and staffing may cease. It was also mentioned that the district's library bill status was up for final reading that night, in response to outreach from Idaho Ed News concerning non-compliant districts. A request was approved for two individuals to attend the IASA and IARESA spring conference on March 2nd and 3rd in Boise, focusing on legal rulings and general district discussions. Revisions to the library materials reconsideration policy were reviewed to incorporate required statements from Idaho Code regarding harmful to minors definitions. Following an executive session, the meeting concluded with well wishes for Christmas.

The meeting commenced with the official swearing-in of trustees. Key administrative actions included the election of district officers: Ralph for Chairperson, Christine for Vice Chairman, an unnamed individual for Clerk, and Levi for Treasurer. The board discussed legislative updates, noting optimism regarding holding district budgets harmless despite higher revenue projections potentially leading to future midyear holds. Updates included news of a local teacher being selected as BFW's Teacher of the Year. The board received updates on federal funding prospects. Discussions also covered healthcare funding increases for non-state plan districts. The board united regionally to advocate for no further budget cuts. Several new business items were approved, including the schedule for regular board meetings for the year, the continuation of established public posting locations (bulletin board, website, Facebook), and the approval of district officers and records custodians for 2026. The board approved a 15-day student trip to Australia and New Zealand focused on science-related activities, including engineering, conservation, and ecology topics. Additionally, approval was sought for sending four new special education teachers to an advanced training session in Boise/Nampa to enhance their knowledge and support staff retention. Finally, approval was granted for three IT department members to attend the IETA conference in Boise.

This Continuous Improvement Plan outlines the district's strategic direction across five key goals: ensuring college and career readiness for all graduates, preparing students for successful performance in high school and junior high, improving community engagement and public perception, updating facilities and technology to meet 21st-century educational demands, and achieving K-3 literacy at grade level. The plan emphasizes strategies such as rigorous curriculum, quality staff, parental involvement, and effective intervention programs.

The discussion focused on staff bonuses following the passage of a levy. The proposed bonus amount was set at $500, considering fiscal constraints and the potential for a deficit in the next fiscal year (2026-2027) projected at $600 billion at the state level. The board members expressed appreciation for the staff's work, agreeing that $500 was a reasonable amount for the current year, while acknowledging this might be a benefit that phases out due to anticipated future budget tightening. It was noted that due to recusals and absences, no formal action could be taken during this session.

The meeting commenced with an acknowledgment and presentation honoring a student, Denise Martinez, for her heroic and quick thinking in providing life-saving medical aid to a student experiencing a serious medical emergency, with aid delivered within 15 seconds. The Superintendent provided updates regarding a voting discrepancy in Elmer County elections that could impact the supplemental levy, noting that authorities are consulting with the attorney general. Additionally, a plan was discussed to seek approval from the IHSA on December 10th to move sports classifications back to region three, with football moving in 2026 and all other sports following in 2027 after the current scheduling cycle concludes. Public engagement included a report on attendance at a policy center meeting concerning tax rebates and standards for private schools, where legislators expressed willingness to review reporting requirement removals for public schools upon request. The board approved the first reading of several policy revisions, which involve adopting the ISBA format for various policies, including grievance procedures. New business included approval to join the PowerSchool class action lawsuit resulting from a data breach and approval to switch the auditing firm from Saurin to Quest CPAs for FY26, which is projected to save approximately $24,000 annually, partly by avoiding the completion of GASB 75 reporting.